TDR Central Chapter - The Road Ahead...

["Mad Max"]

Folks,



As Jeremy has stated, he is requesting to step down as Chapter President, and I am submitting a request to step up and take his place. I know many of you, and many of you know me. Contrary to my call sign I am actually a pretty rational guy, and I will try my best to continue the fun and excitement, tech and how-to articles, that the TDR Central Chapter has enjoyed. I also have a proposal that I want to offer to the Central Chapter membership, one that I feel will be of tremendous benefit and for sure increased Chapter activity,... and fun.



I have been thinking about the scope of the Central TDR area, and I feel the scope of the territory encompassed by the Central area is nearly impossible to manage just by virtue of the area one would have to travel to 'attend' single-location Central chapter activities. We have 9 states spanning 3 separate interstates and two time zones. It isn't a matter of not wanting to travel from Colorado to a local event in Iowa, just that I know I will most likely never be able to travel that kind of distance for any event with the exception of a national event requiring things like vacation time, lots of $ in fuel, and time away from family. I truly feel that because our Chapter spans such a large area it is virtually ineffective as an activity-generator, and management of such a large area is nearly impossible, at least by one person. Posting activities happening in Denver is great, but the folks in Missouri can't really participate other than knowing about it.

We have too much information, and Jeremy worked this issue as well, and I admire his efforts to bridge some of the local members together. While it worked to a degree I have a similar idea to help us have a better relationship with our local TDR comrades.



With the Central Chapter's blessing and the TDR administration's approval, I would like to submit that the TDR Central Chapter be redesignated into three smaller, tighter chapters, allowing for better event planning and localized, logical communication.



I would like to propose the activation of the TDR "Mountain" Chapter, the TDR "Northern Tier" Chapter, and the TDR "Heartland" Chapter.



I propose these new chapters be identified as follows:



TDR Mountain Chapter - Wyoming and Colorado

TDR Northern Tier Chapter - N. Dakota, S. Dakota, and Minnesota

TDR Heartland Chapter - Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa



Doing so would also bring on 3 Chapter leaders verses one, which I know will increase chapter participation and a more localized sense of involvement. It would also bring increased communication between the chapters, and would also bring new Chapter decals and patches.



I realize this all sounds like a bit much, too over the top, but it is very easy for me to visualize these upgrades to the chapter designations and I am comfortable managing such a transition and will ensure nothing happens without total review, insight, and approval fro the TDR administration, and more over, approval from you, the Central Chapter TDR Members.



Accomplishing these changes means I will be asking for volunteers for two ambitious future chapter leaders to both aid the transition and lead your new chapters. The three of us can work together to make our chapters tight and smooth, and when the timing is right, we can work towards joint central US chapter events and participation in national events.



I love all you guys, however I feel the area the Central Chapter encompasses is almost too large to be truly effective, and I feel that by activating new, regional TDR chapters we can get a better sense of the events going on in those areas closer to our own homes, and I feel doing so will bring those regions closer together and more of a team.



I know this is not a pefect solution and I know it will not appeal to everyone, and for sure I am not trying to push any unwanted policy, but I do feel I have responsibility to post my thoughts and ideas about the future of our Chapter.



Also, please understand I will still seek your vote for TDR Central Chapter President if there is no redesignation of chapters.



If our 9-state chapter branches into three tighter, more effective chapters I feel it will be much more effective and fun, and for sure much easier to manage. It's not that we don't love all nine states, we just can't get to all of you.



So, it's up for discussion. First, I would like to hear from the congregation on my accepting the post of Central Chapter President. Second, if I assume the post, I would like your thoughts on expanding our chapter into three. I will not proceed with anything until I get a good feel, yay or nay, from you, the members.



Meantime, I already have ideas from my previous experience in several other clubs as activities director and editor, for upcoming dates for fun and excitement. Some of the initial thoughts are: Multi-day camping trips to locals such as Moab Utah, Estes Park Colorado, Vedauwoo WY, road trips to places like the Mopar Nationals Ohio, Mile High Nationals Colorado, RamJam off-road events at Tellico Tennessee and Moab Utah, and chapter holiday events like Christmas and 4th of July Parties, plus, of course, dyno and power tuning events semi-annually at a minimum.



Did you notice a trend there? I only know of events and areas in the Rocky Mountain region, and I can only plan events for those areas I am familiar with. We would still need additional chapter leaders just to plan events for those areas I am not familiar with, but that becomes very difficult without a separation of the areas involved. Three chapters can work much more effectively than one, and then the posts within those new chapters would pertain to your localized areas, making understanding what is going on near our own ball park a lot easier and fun.



Please let me hear from you, my brothers and sisters, of the TDR Central Chapter.



Thanks for reading and your consideration. Keep the shiny side up (except where covered with soot!).



- Sam Ayars, a. k. a. "Mad Max"

 

[J.Keith]

I think thats an EXCELLENT idea!

This is just the kind of thing that I feel needs to happen and would like to have had the time to implement myself.

I think Sam would be the man for the job in this case. He's got the energy and dedication to make this happen.



I'll still be around and doing diesel stuff I just don't want to see the local scene die because I don't have time to get events and stuff organized.





Let the ball roll!!!



Jeremy

 

[Nschroeder]

That sounds like a good plan to me

 

[TPCDrafting]

It's all you Sam! I work way too much to be fully involved, but I can scare up a convoy anytime.

 

[mlockner]

Why are you talking about a Central chapter when we can not even get a group of locals to participate in events. And by participate I mean helping out. My experience as RMTDR president was such. It turns into a one man show and that person doing most everything. I broke up the Rocky Mountain TDR area by getting Sam and Tim to cover the South and North areas which I thought was a great way to get things moving, but that did not turn out to be very fruitfull. I guess I did not know that there were Chapter Presidents for the different divisions that the TDR set up and why this discussion would even be taking place. I have been around in the backround waiting to see what happened when Jeremy took over as he was young and energetic. He managed to get a web site going which I know was a lot of work. My hat's off to him for that, but look at the usage of the web site. It is next to nothing in comparision to some other ares and brands of trucks. Mostly a posting place for Jeremy and his friends. Not much for the RMTDR. I guess what I am saying is it all comes down to participation. Most people have a wait and see attitude. Most people have been waiting and seeing for a long time now. Maybe it's time for "PARTICIPATION". I know even before I was president of the RMTDR that I set up event's and assisted in events with minimal assistance from the president or other members of the group. This is what needs to happen to make this successful. Enough said.



Mike Lockner

 

["Mad Max"]

Mike makes good points. It has been my experience though that we cannot 'ask' for participation and for people to come out to the events - we can only set up events and have high hopes for a big turnout. But, as we all know there is never any guarantee of participation. Participation is never a fault of the members. All we can do is continue to do the best job we can with what we have. Since we're all volunteers for running the show all we can do is be persistent with the organization and scheduling, and try to make a good show of things.



I need to hear everyone's thoughts about the chapter branching out into three smaller areas. By having a smaller area to manage we can feel more a part of the organization that we live near, and I think that will give local TDR members more a sense of membership, and I hope that will up the numbers are club events, etc. Seeing lots of folks coming to events is always cool to see, and that's all we can hope for. If we get big numebrs, great. If not, no sweat.



Mike, you and Jeremy have both tried very hard and done great work, and I'm not saying this method I wrote about will work any better - just one idea I had to try to re-energize the benefits of being a TDR member.



We always want a lot of folks to come out to the events, but there will never be any guarantee of that, and in my mind a stall in participation is never the fault of the members.



We need to increase the advertising, increase and highlight the events schedule, and increase the perks of membership - but mostly we need to increase the advertising. I also want to merge events with other regional clubs, like the Mopar muscle car clubs and the Ramcharger club. There's lots of stuff folks are in to, lots of other clubs and things to do besides TDR stuff, so maybe we can merge events with other forms of entertainment and share the fun together.



There are two camping trips coming up Oo. . The first is up and over Tin Cup Pass - a nice average trail ride over the top of Mt. Princton, starting at St. Elmo. We're planning a 2-day trip (Sat and Sun) over 14-15 July. Bring the tents and all provisions... and at least one good spare tire. Any 4x4 can do it and some skilled 2wd's can make it.

The second and biggest trip coming up is RamJam 2007 - Moab, UT Oo. . You drive a Mopar truck? Wanna 'wheel it without tearing it up? This is your chance for possibly the most amazing 4-wheeling you'll ever do! Sept 28th through Oct 1 2007, at Moab. Convoy's already forming up for this one.



Stay tuned for details



- Sam

 

[mlockner]

I do not not mean to come on strong. There has always been a good showing of participation at the events that get set up. I guess what I mean is something like Jordan Amos is doing to get people together at the Hooters in North CO. next Friday. He is doing something to get people together with common interest and that is what the TDR/RMTDR is about or should be. Being said I do not think you are going to be there as it is quite a drive from your home to do that. I understand your frustration with the areas being so large. As you know it is hard enough to get people in one state get together, let alone surrounding states and areas. I think that is why there is a RMTDR president and not a chapter president as one person could not do that. That is why I asked for assistance and participation when I was trying to organize things. And then there is the large group who suscribe to the magazine only and do not access the internet. I still get calls from people wanting to go to things, but do not know where to look or who to look to for information about what may be going on.



Mike L.

 

["Mad Max"]

10 - 4 Mike, we're on the same highway bud . One of the thoughts I had about the regional verses city management was this: Assuming I become president, and presuming we branch out the chapter, I will then ask for activity directors for the major cities in the area, for example Colorado Springs, Denver, and Cheyenne. I will double for COS, but I'd ask for a dedicated activity director for organizing and directing possible events in those areas solely because of that person's knowledge of their local area. As we set up events the people in those major cities will need convoy and area info (exit numbers, distances, times places open and close, etc), and that way we can organize more efficiently.



You are correct that I typically will not attend a 'lunch' get together in Denver, but I definitely want to be sure our local TDR bubbas use the chapter forum to advertise just such an event. I think that if the coverage for our chapter gets more localized we may see an increase in local activity. When I advertise a local event I do kind of feel like I'm shorting out the folks I know cannot attend. While that is of course not the intent it does feel that way. I do not think the Rocky Mountain region needs its own website, but I do think that we need to up the comm potential, which is what I feel will happen with a Mountain Chapter, and I feel we will accomplish our local event generation at the same time.



Folks, let us hear your thoughts. I can't push further unless I get a good feel from the Central members. Please chime in and be heard.



Thanks!



- Sam

 

[BILLVO]

Here in ND we are having the same troubles as stated above. Not enough people to come to get togethers. All people want to come to is big events. Even that is a stretch in just 1 state none the less trying to get people from 2-3 states. Here in the state of ND TDR chapter Pres. Dave H just through in the towel from frustration and time also and handed it over to me to try something. I would like to try and get an all makes diesel club together to get more interested, but with fuel prices its the long travel distance that bites it all in the but in the end. As far as ND,SD and Mont together that is over 1k miles east to west and about 700 miles north to south. Not going to work well. The area and club that are going good are eastern ND and SD and Minn area. The population thins and area spreads out as you go west.



I too would like to see something go but there simply isn't the interest to overcome fuel prices for the distances we in the upper plains and midwest have to overcome.

 

[JAmos]

I hear ya'll. Life is very busy with all the new things going on--getting married, step son and baby, fixer upper house, bigger truck for the expanded family, work-including a few months of out of town work, garage that truck doesn't fit in yet, ect.



I would like to thank Jeremy, Laser Bob, Mike, Mad Max, ect. for their time and money and sweat put into rmtdr. As for the rmtdr website-great job Jeremy but most of the time I have a hard enough time keeping up with tdr-2 nights a week is doing good.



Things are starting to become a little more stable. My job should be stable through the end of summer atleast. I would like to be more involved with helping, planning, DOING. Any lack of participation certainly wasn't by lack of interest.



What about monthly meetings or atleast setting a goal of some sort of event(meet n greet, wrench day, dyno run, sled pull, ect. ) every other month?



Max---think ya pretty much hit the nail on the head. If things get broken down into easier manageable and easier rallied groups that would be great.



Jordan

 

[AndyMan]

I applaud you guys for even attempting to keep a group together in one state, much less one that encompases several states.



Our group (Mid-Tenn TDR) covers only the middle tennessee area. Even then, our membership is pretty much comprised of only the mid-norther part of Tennessee. Basically 60miles around Nashville.



I like what Mad Max is proposing with the split, but you may take that a step farther and get a little more granular. By being "small" (~15 REAL active members, and 40 more that will show up to a meeting) we have a "core" group of guys that all know each other pretty well and see each other fairly often. We get together for sledpulls, local dyno's and the like. I think our biggest success was t-shirts that we had made. Probably 200 shirts across two orders. They were EXTREMELY popular and I believe they really gave a sense of "belonging" to our group.



Maybe we're just lucky, but I wanted to throw out some food for thought. I have no dog in your race, but I served as VP of our group for several years, and may be able to assist somehow. I might be able to provide input on what's been successful for us, and problems we've encountered over the years. If I can, let me know.



Best of luck to you guys.

Andy

 

[JAmos]

What have you guys done to promote your events? What was the "money arrangement" for the shirts? Did ya charge enough to just cover the cost of having them made, or did ya put some money into a club treasury, or donate the excess?



Jordan

 

[AndyMan]

Usually it's just word of mouth promotion. We have leveraged the power of the TDR on several occasions as well. The TDR will send out nice postcards to your area announcing your event. They will also put an announcement on the front page of the TDR. Usually if we're trying to have a "big" meeting, we'll invite local vendors to come put up a tent and sell some stuff. We've had TST, DPP, and Perfection Clutch show up at meetings. Perfection Clutch actually did a "workshop" presentation of sorts at one of our meetings. Since then, Gary Croyle of Perfection Clutch and I have become good friends. Several of us (including me) now run their clutches and are VERY satisfied... but I digress...



As far as shirts, I'm the one that handled that. What I did was come up with a design that everyone seemed to like. Then I got in contact with a screenprinter and kinda got rough estimates for cost. I announced prices and everyone gave a "soft" order. I then got finalized cost and everyone gave a "hard" order and started mailing me checks and/money orders. Once I had collected all the money, I placed the order. When the shirts came in (~14 days later), we had a meeting where I distributed them. Anyone that couldn't meet me somewhere or come pick them up I would mail their shirts and they would send me $5 for shipping. Oh, in our situation, shipping from the printer was free and the exact cost of the shirt was charged.



We need a treasurer, and a way to collect money, but we don't have such a thing right now. Everybody pitches in a few bucks at the meetings and the cash goes to the host for his trouble and expenses he might have incurred. It works okay, but not great.



It also helps that we have two people local that have business with shops attached. We meet at those places A LOT.



Now we're a local group, and it was convienent for us to meet to exchange shirts, but for you guys that are spread out you'd have to figure out a better way.



I have a WAY cool spreadsheet that my accountant wife helped me develop that makes it real easy to keep up with orders. Different colors and sizes cost different ammounts, so it could get really squirrley if you didn't have something like this spreadsheet. I'm happy to share for anyone that's interested.



Hope that helps,

Andy

 

["Mad Max"]

Folks -



I talked with Robin Patton from the TDR administration and we have her blessing and horsepower to branch the Central chapter into three tighter chapters. While I know it isn't a cure-all I firmly believe it will be a good evolution for the chapter.



First, nothing will happen without a vote, and I will establish a vote poll for the branch as described.



Second, I will set up a poll for myself taking over as president of the chapter as is, and manager of the division of the chapter, and later as the Mountain president.



Third, I will need volunteers for president of the Northern Tier and Heartland chapters.



These activities are forthcoming, but not for at least a week, because I got married this past Saturday and we're going on our honeymoon to Hawaii Oo. . So, more to follow, and thanks to all of you for your input. With good communication and ideas I think we'll have this gig smokin' in no time.



Thanks everyone. See you in a week.



- Sam

 

[JAmos]

Cool beans Sam. CongratulationsOo. Oo. Oo. Good luck on your honeymoon. Don't do anything the rest of us wouldn't do. HA HA HA.



Jordan

 

[J.Keith]

Well, looks like it's game over for Sam



Congrats man!

 

[JAmos]

Whats the status for the tdr central chapter?



How was the the honeymoon sam?



Jordan

 

["Mad Max"]

Hiya Jordan - the honeymoon was great... and we did everything you and everyone else wouldn't do... . or would do..... or. . wait, what did we do??? Well we relaxed, that's for sure. Drank yummy drinks with funny names and little umbrellas in them. It was great... and Hawaii does not suck!



Central Chapter going's on: The poll will end at the end of the month, and after that time I will assume the helm for the Chapter, and as it looks now we will be beginning a new era for the TDR members in our congregation.

I have already had a volunteer to help start up the Heartland Chapter - Mr Craig Wilson has very graciously volunteered to take the helm for that area of responsibility, which I was very happy to see. He e-mailed me and offered to help in any way, including getting the Heartland Chapter up and running.

I want to further ask for a volunteer to help with the Northern Tier Chapter.



About future efforts. Assuming I head the Mountain Chapter, I have been thinking hard about what I want to make happen. First off, I can guarantee at least two parties a year - One for Christmas (nice semi-casual dinner with lots of TDR schwag) and one for summer (very casual picnic, probably at a national park - think huge tailgate party involving lots of BBQ).

Next off, semi-annual all-diesel dyno time. Thirdly, wrench fests - hosted in major cities, focusing on power tuning, upgrades, bolt-on services, and troubleshooting sessions. I can host those at my shop similar to the one I did a couple months ago. I will ask for other folks to host.



Lastly - attendance. Alright. In my experience it is impossible to make people attend an event. The only course of action is to plan events that anyone could attend... but they have to be of good enough quality and function that making the drive is worth ones time and money. We all know we want to attend everything - but we also know that is just not realistic, but, I can also guarantee that attending these events generates good times and great friends, not to mention your truck usually comes away happier.

So, I will never take attendance and/or scold folks for not coming out. It's not about that, never has been. People these days are so wrapped up in 'life' that these TDR, SCM, RCC, Boy Scouts, wife, husband, kids, soccer, school, work - where do I begin to say how tough it is to get away to do something selfish?! It is hard, and it requires planning, and it requires money, and it requires time - all very precious items, and therefore if the showing of people is low, so be it - I will not stop planning events because we have 3 trucks when last time we had 20. That is life. But, I can promise this - coming out will be fun, exciting, and worth it, and if it isn't, don't tell me how bad it was - I will want to know how to make it better next time.

Oh, and no complaining about fuel - ever . Fun costs money. If ya wanna have and attend fun events it's gonna require a bunch of #2, so, realize that and plan accordingly. I'll try to manage the locations so that they're not always a Denver or Colorado Springs or Cheyenne-only gig - best I can do, and I'll try my best to do it well. There will be multiple events and real good lead time to plan for them. Attend what you can, and be happy you came afterwards.



Yae's and Nay's: Please respond to posts, yae or nae. Let us know you saw and read about it, and please post that you can or regretably cannot attend. It's the response to an event that generates the enthusiasm for it, high numbers or not. No response to an event generates more non-responses. Positive responses generate a snowball effect, and if you can join that, well you're in for a pretty good time!



If folks think they will be looked down on because they had something 'come up', shoot - we've all been there and we all hate to bail, but sometimes you just have to. Please take care of yourselves when those times come up. I know everyone can't make all the events we'll plan. I will not keep track. If you can make events, hey, that will be great and it will be fun. If you can't, we'll hope to see you at the next one - and there will be a next one.



I'm an active member of three car/truck clubs - Southern Colorado Mopars, Ramcharger Central, and the TDR. Each have lots of events that all 'want' participation. So, sometimes I will be combining events among clubs just to keep things interesting.



One last thing - and this is the kicker. If after reading about an event you think your rig wont make it... or you think it is too far... or you think it won't be worth it... or you think yours doesn't have enough horsepower to 'qualify', please reconsider. I will not schedule an event that will damage a truck. Take dyno day. Sounds like a professional-level event requiring big dollars, big horsepower, semi trailers and big sponsors. Nope. It requires folks who want to experience some professional-level fun that most folks do not otherwise experience... or even know about. You may not have the highest horsepower rig there... but do you really want that rig? And will it matter if you have the least hp? Who cares - not me, not anyone else. I want to meet all of you, personally, and I could care less how much hp and smoke you make - I care that you come out and meet me, make the effort, and above all else... have a good time Oo. . Now, if we can make your rig a bit more powerful, a bit more reliable, a bit more efficient, well... these kinds of events are where you meet the folks who can make that happen, often for little to zero cash flow. It is all about knowledge of the trucks and where to apply it, and that is why these events are so great - the corporate knowledge is fantastic. Add a BBQ and a dyno sheet with cool graphs, and you got a day you'll be happy you came to.

So, be excited, be ready, because you are going to have lots to think about, lots to plan, and lots to do.



Looking forward to it - see y'all on the road.



Keep the shiny side up -

- M2

 

[silverram03]

Sam, that has got to be the most well thought out paln of action I have seen in a long time. I support your efforts and look forward to participating and helping out in many events. Like you said it's all about comradery more or less. I will be the first one to admit that my truck is not the most powerfull but I just enjoy being around others with a similar interest in these great vehicles. I know it can be challenging to plan and attend events, it just takes commitment. Working 60+ hours a week I look forward to anything TDR or any other type of motorsport related event. Good luck in moving things forward.

Greg

 

[msperos]

Looks like a good plan Sam, How many will be at Bandimere for the drags? In the intrest of improving participation we should look into promoting the site Jeremy has set up, I check it out from time to time but the traffic is not there. Maybe bumper stickers with the site, Club Shirts? Come on guy's we can't let the NW boys have all the fun