You wanted it, you GOT it.

 

Lets hold off a week on the voting and see if we can get some Floridians in on this vote, ya think?

And no, Steve & I don't party, you'd have to STOP drinking to begin partying and that would interfer with our drinking schedule.

 

I second that.

 

Agreed

 

I dunno...we all know what happens when we let Floridians vote...

 

Well, they deserve their day at the polls like all the rest of us. But does anyone else see anyone like him standing up? Be a shame if this sucker - I mean CANDIDATE - changes his mind in the next seven days.....

 

BUMP!

C'mon guys and gals. I know some of you are still breathing. Lets wake up Florida!

 

Tony, I removed Grewolf's 2 threads announcing you as the CL already. That may have been chasing any Floridians away. Those threads made it look like it was a done deal so probably saw no need to speak up.

 

I think that the Florida area of members is too spread out. I think we should devide it up so no one has to drive 2 hours to attend a function.
CARLENE: I see you live in the Silver Springs area....do you go to the Ford show @ the park in January?? I've seen several nice Ford Trucks there each year!

 

Thats a good idea. Im in south florida and dont make it up north much.

 

Great Idea.....I'd thought about checking into having the state split in either 2 or 3 regions before since Florida is such a long state.

Right now I don't think we need to get a new chapter leader and then work with that person to get things going.

I think Tony (surewhynot) would be good one to hopefully get this Chapter kick-started.

Oh yeah, Supercab, I didn't even know they had a Ford show at the park and I drive by it every day on my way to/from work. I'll have to keep an eye open and attend this year. Thanks for the heads up.

 

I would be willing to help out supporting the southern FL region. Being new to the area, Im not sure how much of an asset I can be, but please keep me posted as I would like to see the FL chapter get fired up again!

 

When i was down there it was discussed however there needs to be one chapter leader overall. It could be setup with two divisions ie: north and south but there still needs to be one leader, At least the way i was told via Ken.

 

Hey Harry - how about the South and More South. You met Steve and I don't think I could get him to say he is in the "North".

 

Well, at Carlene's request I am chiming in on this. However, she's right . . . there is no need for us Floridians to chime in at all. It is obvious that a decision has been made for us . . . by "northerners" none the less. lol (just messin with ya there)

anyway, I'll tell ya why (if you don't already know) this whole Florida chapter doesn't work . . . why I think anyway. We ARE too large a state with members spread out too far other than central/north Florida where even if ya'll ARE spread out it doesn't matter cause you can just drive 1-2 hours to a meet/event.

Where does that leave the guy in the keys, or in Miami? When someone (me for example) sees the north and central florida people planning stuff, automatically I know I cant go. Then you guys in turn see that we don't go so you inadvertently form a clique of sorts and leave anyone who can't come up out. Not on purpose, but it happens

So friendships are made, stories and jokes are rehashed on here and everyone that wasnt there feels left out and figures there's nothin for them here.

It's nobody's fault really, its just the way it happens.

Supercab hit it on the nose, there SHOULD be two or three separate regions. Will this solve all the problems? No cause North and Central would still do what they do now which is figure they are close enough to hang out together . . . would someone in miami ever be able to say that? Probably not. Why? Cause, you guys are in the "country" (relative to us) and we are in the big bustling city where time runs much much faster. Weekends are booked solid weeks in advance. There is no time for anything and even less money to do not do it with.

SO when you ask someone in North or Central Florida if they can meet up for a bbq or for muddin (something we dont really have down here except for a few miraculous and weird exceptions) its no big deal cause you are on country time . . . think about it, I mean, I know you guys have busy lives and all but its different here. This is city time and with city time, you have NO time.

I know some will say I'm wrong but its true.

With all this lack of interest by anyone on the FTE staff (no offense) and its members in the Florida Chapter (again no offense) for South Florida, we all just say "***** it!" cause there will never be anything in it for us.

Plus, there aren't a lot of South Florida people here to begin with. They all leave to Ford Truck World cause there are a couple more south florida people there and that chapter is a bit more lively and more inclusive of the south florida people (last time i saw anyway) which is amazing cause their bulletin software sucks @$$


So whats the solution? Two chapters? Two regions in the chapter? Two region leaders?

As it is evident, that has already been decided for us. Tim or Tom or whatever his name is . . . oh, Tony thats it (sorry Tony) has already been elected as the CL (by people who don't even live here mind you which is hilarious) and you guys (that again, don't live here) have already decided he should be the only leader and not have the Florida chapter(not their chapter or even their state) be divided.

don't get me wrong, a. I'm not trying to be an a-hole and b. I don't pretend to ignore the fact that the reason we have people from other chapters coming in here and making decisions FOR us is cause we won't do it for ourselves and that we don't come in and speak up at all to begin with--thats another issue)

I am however disappointed to see the way things have been going (how it's been dead in here), how things are being done and how there isn't really a solution.

If I were a regional leader or whatever I would try to get people to come by here, I would hand out flyers, card, stickers whatever . . I would try to organize meets, bbq's etc. I do that now. I have printed out flyers, even created my own. I have dropped them off at dealers, I have put them on windshields at the mall I have given them to friends.

I do those things cause I am proud of this place and want to see it grow and get healthier. Has it made a difference? I don't think so . . . maybe cause it would be hard to find this chapter from the main page, maybe cause they see nothing's going on . . . who knows.

If this chapter isn't split up into 3 regions with a revolving "presidency" or leadership role that changes by vote every year then this place will end up dying.

That's the way I see it.

Have a president or leader for each region: North region, Central Region and South Region; give each person a 1 yr term; have the person be elected by their peers every year. Create a board type system perhaps with other members per region like a vp or a secretary and a treasurer or controller or whatever and you will not only have more than just one guy trying to do everything, but you will have people feeling involved in every aspect.

from president/leader to secretary and even to voter. everyone will feel a sense of loyalty and responsibility and will join together to help their organization grow.

If you just have one guy trying to set up a bbq you will get what has happened to us here in south fla whenever I or others down here have tried to set one up. You get the two or three people to show up.

Once you have a board that puts actions forth, you need to run with it. Advertise it . . . have someone on that board be in charge of flyers . . . get volunteers to pass them out, put them on every ford truck they see etc etc


Sorry if im lecturing but this is what i do . . . advertising and promotions

I sit on a board for a users group of a software for the university I work at and it has grown from a couple of hundred attendees in a shack of a hotel to 700 users at a beachfront resort with thousands in giveaways and operating expenses.

I have designed and distributed flyers for small companies who have grown exponentially due to response by new customers.

Advertising is a powerful thing. If we get our house in order and then advertise to our regions about events or events or about the board itself, pretty soon we wont know what to do with ourselves cause we'll be too busy with this place.


ok, im done yellin at you guys. sorry, i just had those things on my chest.

good luck to Tony in his new gig.

if there's anything you need, let me know. I'm happy to help any way I can.