Cal Club Autocross Forums

As a region, we have been supporting FSAE West since it's inception. There is debate going on right now whether we should continue this support or not. Our concern is the struggle to get volunteers to work the event. Financially it is a boon to our region which helps with our operating costs and keeps entry fees low. More importantly, it's a worthwhile endeavor that helps our future engineers and promotes SCCA. On top of that, it's fun. Follow the link below to an overview if you're not familiar with FSAE West. Be sure to scroll down far enough to see the pictures of some of the cars these kids have built.

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=100&p=962&hilit=fsae#p962" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Personally, I feel this deserves our support, but the reality is we need bodies to pull this off. The event will be held at AAA Speedway sometime in June. The majority of volunteers are needed on Friday and Saturday. I'm sure we will continue the tradition of offering a free practice to those from our group that participate, but don't do it for that reason. Do it because it's a way to give back to your sport. We need about 150 people over two days to pull this off. I know this is a long way off, but the decision needs to be made now.

Please add your comments of support, questions or disagreement.

Who are those in opposition?

Bob Beamesderfer wrote:Who are those in opposition?

We are all concerned Bob. There's no hidden agenda. We need committed bodies to make it happen. Last year we were stretched pretty thin.

But we had some serious promotional shortcomings last year.

Its a pretty big embarrassment if we don't do it. And we invite trouble if other groups have to pick up our broken pieces.

Steve Ekstrand wrote: And we invite trouble if other groups have to pick up our broken pieces.

Good point.

George Schilling wrote:

Bob Beamesderfer wrote:Who are those in opposition?

We are all concerned Bob. There's no hidden agenda. We need committed bodies to make it happen. Last year we were stretched pretty thin.

Define "We all".

I thought we did quite well last year. And with a few slight changes we have the potential to do great. To say our region is thinking about not doing this early in the planning process is certainly not going to make it any easier to make it better.

Marshall Grice wrote:Define "We all".

Those of "us" that conspire behind closed doors. We as in your regions' chosen leaders.

I worked FSAE for the 1st time this past year and had a blast. It was great to see what these kids from all over the world did and as a Mech Engineer, I even got more out of it. I also enjoyed the free practice!

I encourage continued support....as a Dad of an incoming ME student, I hope the program continues and the events are run as professionally as this year's event....

I'll even go so far as to volunteer to be in a leadership pos'n for next year's event.....

Steve G #424

But that's not what our leadership is doing...

Instead of doing a positive promotion, they are playing the whiney martyr game.

Eeyore Mode on

Guess nobody wants to support the kids... So, we'll bailout unless we get a big push to save this....

Eeyore Mode off

Steve Ekstrand wrote:But that's not what our leadership is doing...

Instead of doing a positive promotion, they are playing the whiney martyr game.

Eeyore Mode on

Guess nobody wants to support the kids... So, we'll bailout unless we get a big push to save this....

Eeyore Mode off

I guess i was being overlly passive aggressive.

Steve makes my point more directly. The fact that there is even the consideration of not 'hosting' the FSAE event pisses me off.

George Schilling wrote:

Marshall Grice wrote:Define "We all".

Those of "us" that conspire behind closed doors. We as in your regions' chosen leaders.

Not exactly. They/we are in support of it and I think that is supported by the fact that there is action this early. The main call is to start increasing awareness and build support in the form of volunteers. There is concern that the support isn't there and therefore there is a calling for ideas on how to get people interested in it. Messages like George's first post here. It isn't a financial issue. It's more of making sure we can deliver what we promise.

KJ Christopher wrote:Not exactly. They/we are in support of it and I think that is supported by the fact that there is action this early. The main call is to start increasing awareness and build support in the form of volunteers. There is concern that the support isn't there and therefore there is a calling for ideas on how to get people interested in it. Messages like George's first post here. It isn't a financial issue. It's more of making sure we can deliver what we promise.

Then why is George's second sentence

George Schilling wrote:There is debate going on right now whether we should continue this support or not.

sounds an awful lot like the board is in favor of dropping support. Had there been a "debate going on right now on how to improve our support for FSAE west" that would be a significantly different tone then what was presented.

Seems like we had acceptable levels of participation at the event itself, we could use more and I don't think that will be tough. Let the kiddies at it. Christine, Aaron, and Marshall seem pretty darn good at everything they do.

The failure was the practice event. And I don't want to trash Renee on that one, but she failed. No way around it.

But I've always been suspect of that event. It doubles the commitment time. Do we need that?

My original intent of this post was to have a positive influence on the FSAE event. I was hoping for posts like Steve Guzman's or questions from people wanting to get involved. To that end, could a moderator please move the negative stuff and critiques about prior events to a private forum, either CASOC or Committee Room please. I'd rather this be a forward looking post.

oh geez... Now censorship...

FSAE WEST is a blast. And regardless its a prestigious event we should be proud of being associated with.
Get involved people, you won't regret it.

The negativity is over the misguided approach of the "leadership" in trying to roundup support. I thought you were the diplomat George!!!

Let's use the technology. Let's setup a form or atleast a thread for signing up people. Start the ball rolling now. Forgot all the we're bailing out BS, that just pushes people away.

WE ARE DOING THIS!!! Let's go! Who's first to show their support and sign up? Bring a friend. Bring that cute office girl that likes cars. Tell her you can get her inside the ropes at a major international motorsports event!!!

Marshall Grice wrote:

KJ Christopher wrote:Not exactly. They/we are in support of it and I think that is supported by the fact that there is action this early. The main call is to start increasing awareness and build support in the form of volunteers. There is concern that the support isn't there and therefore there is a calling for ideas on how to get people interested in it. Messages like George's first post here. It isn't a financial issue. It's more of making sure we can deliver what we promise.

Then why is George's second sentence

George Schilling wrote:There is debate going on right now whether we should continue this support or not.

sounds an awful lot like the board is in favor of dropping support. Had there been a "debate going on right now on how to improve our support for FSAE west" that would be a significantly different tone then what was presented.

I think George's second sentence is poorly worded. The preference would be to support the event. The fear is committing to something we can't deliver on. One club rep actually mentioned that they expected little support from their members. (Unless I took that out of context, I believe what was meant is there would be little support in finding committed volunteers. I disagree with that.) If we choose as an organization to accept the offer, we have to ensure we have the headcount to pull it off.

Someone mentioned to me offline that costs were mentioned, and that is true. But this was a separate issue, one that I don't feel is a sticking point. The uncertain liabilities that we faced can be dealt with.

The main takeaway is to go out and point out why we do this, how it is good for the sport and why others should develop a similar attitude. Let's make sure we can pull this off. I didn't volunteer last year (work related), but have every intention of doing it this year. Sounds like several others are too. That's a good start, but we need to continue because we need a lot of people.

Steve Ekstrand wrote:Let's use the technology. Let's setup a form or atleast a thread for signing up people. Start the ball rolling now.

half step ahead of you. Aaron's already created a forum, it just hasn't gone public yet.

I'm telling you... I'm loving the kiddies here.
Even if Marshall can be a Neanderthal, you got to be doing something right based on your girlfriend :heyes:
And Christine and Aaron are :gpower:

KJ Christopher wrote: If we choose as an organization to accept the offer, we have to ensure we have the headcount to pull it off.

see that's the thing. We've already pulled it off twice. to now say that our participation is in question...i dunno.

I mean maybe this is some sort of committee procedural thing where something must be proposed before it can be accepted and i'm just blowing it out of proportion.

George Schilling wrote:To that end, could a moderator please move the negative stuff and critiques about prior events to a private forum, either CASOC or Committee Room please.

Sorry George, but disagreements do not amount to censorship. Threats of violence, slander, illegal activities...yes. And I know the lawyers on here agree. What was the concern is the failed practice, and the last minute to roundup volunteers, as was evident in the message posts begging for people to come out. KJ is just stressing that if we commit to FSAE we have to have committments from the clubs. But yes one club did mention that they may not have support from its members but not too sure if that was the intent of the person stating this.

Marshall Grice wrote:

Steve Ekstrand wrote:Let's use the technology. Let's setup a form or atleast a thread for signing up people. Start the ball rolling now.

half step ahead of you. Aaron's already created a forum, it just hasn't gone public yet.

Haha, that forum has been there since the beginning to aid the coordinators of the FSAE event this year.. I agree it's had about as much use as SVTOA and M+4's forums.

I'll be there, just like I was at the First and Third FSAE West events.

Steve Ekstrand wrote:But that's not what our leadership is doing...

Instead of doing a positive promotion, they are playing the whiney martyr game.

Eeyore Mode on

Guess nobody wants to support the kids... So, we'll bailout unless we get a big push to save this....

Eeyore Mode off

Interesting, considering you weren't at the meeting.

Please don't speak for those of us that were.

Was there some concern over getting volunteers? Yes. Was the overall attitude about putting the event on positive? Absolutely. Was part of the topic how to better market and promote it? Yes. Was the tentative calendar planned around the possible dates for FSAE West? Yes.

Well if I accomplished nothing else, were talking about it now.

I would like to point out that I am totally for this event. In fact, I have already thrown my hat in the ring again as the Director. The key to the success of this years event was putting the right people in charge of the right venues. I agree as to the failure of the practice; however, you can't make someone work - all you can do is promote & encourage.

I think the two (2) free practices are unnecessary. The Solo 2 Board discussed several ideas on how to promote this event and I feel there is enough positive attitude in getting th is approved. However, the bottom line is getting the people to volunteer.

Rick Brown wrote: Interesting, considering you weren't at the meeting.

Please don't speak for those of us that were.

Hey Rickster, you just pissed me off...

HELLO!!!

I don't give a flying Fuego* what you guys did or didn't do at the meeting. I'm responding to George's presentation in this thread which sounds pretty damn clear to me. Leadership is in whiney mode playing the martyr game.

Chew George out. I call'em as I see'em.


*