Associations

[Don Sargeant]

It is a tribute to the CCDOA that so many folks are interested in starting up more "localized" associations (How about a Cape Dory Middle Association?) The Information Exchange (as well as some other well thought out aspects of the Association) are such an important component of what has brought us all together, maybe we're ready for a truly national approach with chapters or some such. What think Walt?

Don Sargeant
CD25D #189



don@cliggott.com

[D. Stump, Hanalei]

Don,

Now, I think you've got the right idea. It would be a shame if all the information about Cape Dory's was fragmented between a number of local associations. Where would one look? It does make sense to have local chapters, then we in the Northeast would know who to call for a party or raft-up! Same for all other owners in other parts of the US.

Yes, definately a good idea, maybe Walt will be the guiding light to all of this?

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei (CD-30)



stumpdg@gwsmtp.nu.com

[Walt Bilofsky]

It is a tribute to the CCDOA that so many folks are interested in starting up more "localized" associations (How about a Cape Dory Middle Association?) The Information Exchange (as well as some other well thought out aspects of the Association) are such an important component of what has brought us all together, maybe we're ready for a truly national approach with chapters or some such. What think Walt?

I've commented on this in the past, but am happy to repeat my opinions.

First of all, running this Web site doesn't make me a sage on the topic of Cape Dory groups. I really believe that the Internet is self-organizing anarchy, and this board is made up of the people that gather here. Giving me credit for this board is like giving Thomas Jefferson's writing desk the credit for the Declaration of Independence. So take this not as an offical pronouncement, but just one guy's opinion.

As I see it, there are two distinct kinds of purposes that Cape Dory people associate for. Some things are best done by local groups, some by national means.

Exchange of information and for-sale/want-to-buy notices are national functions. This message board does pretty well at that. But you don't need to be a member of any group to use the board - although I'll surely do whatever I can to help publicize any Cape Dory group. And the board doesn't reach non-Internet people (a shrinking segment).

Local groups are needed for meetings and on-the-water get-togethers. Trying to do this through a national group could slow things down. OTOH if there were a national group that had a process for helping a chapter get going, that might encourage more chapters to form.

My thought has always been that if there's enough energy to announce and put on one local event, that should be enough to start a group going, without national support. I've also thought that there's more energy when local boaters get together and create their own thing. A national organization might want to dictate process to the local people actually doing the work.

The one thing a national group might do would be to produce a regular newsletter, carrying information for each participating local group, and mailed to everyone nationwide. The two big advantages of this would be that each group would not have to maintain its own mailing list and do the production and mailing, and a newsletter would reach the people who do not have Internet access. But I don't think that these advantages would overcome the pride and energy of local autonomy. And producing a few newsletters or mailings a year is not a big job, especially with computers. If there were still a Cape Dory factory, there still might be a factory-supported national owners group and newsletter, but absent a factory, I'm pessimistic about that happening.

I hope these random comments are helpful. My suggestion continues to be: Plan a local event - a float-in/drive-in rendezvous, or a winter get-together. Publicize it through this message board and the local boating press. See who comes and what kind of ongoing group they'd like to put some work into having. It ain't that hard - just do it.

- Walt



bilofsky@toolworks.com

[Robin Meigel]

As posted before, my biggest concern with a national association is fragmentation of information. I do not want to lose the one-stop-shopping benefit of one message board. The arguments posted elsewhere about lobbying strength of a national organization are not compelling to me. There is a surfeit of discount programs as well - I can't keep track of them all. If someone wants to research quality marinas and vendors on their own, more power to them, and we welcome the info on a central message board. If they want me to finance it with dues that are unnecessarily high to support the additional overhead, forget it. I agree with Walt - local energy is best directed to local gatherings.



rlmeigel@aol.com