Smoke Signals?

[stevep]

I am a past POCI president and a former long time POCI Board member and if it wasn't for my local chapter, I too would let my membership lapse. I have been a POCI member since 1980.
It just does not seem that POCI's focus is on the membership's needs. It seems that the focus is on certain people's ego and adjenda.

Bruce, what is the website that you are referring to?

[Larry]

As many know, I have no desire to even discuss POCI any longer. I decided I did not want to work for them any more (after 23 years) because of the current people "in charge".... end of story. Get over it, move on and produce all the things that they said they would do so much better than I did.
I am sick of reading almost every issue containg some slam against me and trying to blame me for all of their shortcomings. As everyone should know (but they seem to want members to think otherwise), I turned over the complete POCI data base of members to them and any items I had that did not belong directly to me (I, of course, kept all my personal reference books, ads, brochures, etc.). I produced a product (magazine) and offered a service (office and web manager) as an outside supplier. They seem to think I sat on some wealth of products that they were supposed to receive.
The only "wealth" I sat on was my wealth of skill and knowledge as an artist, graphic designer (by trade), printer, editor, businessman, etc.
They have made their choice, now get to work.... perhaps with a lot of work, training, LOTS more money, and a lot of luck, they will be able to catch up to where I had taken POCI over the past 23 years.
I appreciate all the people who have taken the time to contact me, and others, to learn about what happened. Please feel free to discuss the matter amoung yourselves, but this is the only comment I will make here. Any personal requests will be answered, but I do not wish to speak of them any more myself. I have far more important things to focus my energies on bringing everyone more Pontiac information every day.
Thanks for everyones' support!
Larry

[87_FieroGT]

Well, it's near the end of March and still no March Smoke Signals.

Pretty sad.

[87_FieroGT]

Yay! Finally, my March Smoke Signals arrived today. It has a nice story on the G8.

[stevep]

I got my March issue a few days ago. Only 1 old Pontiac in it. The BOD election is a waste of time. I was on the election committee many times and we would never have had so many uncontested races.
If Larry was still the editor, I would have had my April issue by now.
The current POCI situation is just very dissapointing.

[super]

I have not received my Smoke Signals. "Finally received my issue after being almost 45 days late." Some of the advertisements needed to be delivered on a time line. One of the events had already passed. I realize that most people are already aware of the events they want to attend, but it is unfair to the advertisers if they plan on picking up additional spectators, racers and participants.

[RWPgarage]

I understand the aforementioned gripes, as I have some myself. I've been 'sitting on the sidelines' for the past few months, waiting for the truth to shake out, but I still don't feel I have heard the entire story, either For or Against, in as unbiased a manner as possible.

However, I for one am not ready to let POCI die. I will be very interested in reading Bruce Fulper's take on the subject when it appears. I have never heard/read the full story of Larry Kummer's departure from POCI, but heard about it shortly before it happened, and was damned sorry to see him go. Same goes for Don Bougher, which I just read here for the first time.

If I decide for myself that some or all of these accusations/critiques/arguments are true, I'll be contacting Mr. Desrochers about it myself. As Bruce mentioned, and as I can affirm (as a former Local Union President) there are certain legal ramifications to disregarding the Constitution and By-Laws of any lawful, chartered organization. POCI is not some group of little boys, running a 'club' out of a cardboard shack in the woods.

I would encourage everyone, especially long-time members, past or present, of POCI to work within the Club to repair whatever needs attention. This site, while a great asset, is not exactly the same thing. I would like to see it as a compliment to, not in competition with, POCI.

That said, these are my complaints (which I'll be forwarding to POCI's upper management):

1. Smoke Signals: I do not care for the new format at all. Font is hard to read; columns crammed too tightly against the margins; glossy paper reflects all light around me back into my eyes. Every page looks the same....and cluttered. Headers are bland, boring. Worse than all that, since the format change, for some reason, every one of my issues has arrived looking like the mailman dragged it behind his truck as he drove up my street. That never happened before. Change for change's sake (or spite) is not always a good thing.

2. President's Message: I believe this past month was the first one where he didn't slam Larry K. If he truly believes Larry was unfair or the man to blame for their current mess, then Larry should have been allowed a column in POCI to respond to the charges, THEN DROP THE SUBJECT. In the absence of that, monthly bashing is only whining, of which I'm sick of reading from what should be a professional organization. I don't think I'm alone here.

3. Editorial: Somehow, although subtle; this has already taken on a monthly tone of "This is how it's going to be done. Sorry if you disagree (but we're going to do it anyway). Those who complain will be disregarded".

In closing, I admit to being guilty in the past of occasionally sitting back and shaking my head, while doing nothing....but not always. I finally became tired of that stance, which is exactly the reason I became a Local Union President in 1995. I didn't want to be one of "those" people. I would therefore like to respectfully suggest to everyone to see what you can do personally to keep the Pontiac hobby alive, in any form. Work within the organization to effect a 'Course Correction', if need be. Support Larry. Support POCI. Neither is expensive; both are invaluable to us.

Reid W. Prinkey
POCI #015733

[stevep]

Reid,
Thanks for posting your opinion. I also believe that PR and POCI can co-exist. I for one am still very bitter about the way things went "down" at POCI.
I will be more that happy to give you my point of view over the phone, if you want to hear it.
Doug Klein, Larry and myself all resigned at the same time. My reason was that I was jerked around and when I brought an issue to the forefront, it seemed that no one on the BOD cared.

[RWPgarage]

I've sent you an email, Steve. I would enjoy talking to you about this.

I just received my 20-year pin today, and feel like I need some answers.

[stevep]

Reid,
I emailed you back.
Steve

[ozpont]

.. Internationally.. POCI has worked a great deal in favor of American's traveling abroad that want to find a friendly face... and in return the hosting "aliens" want nothing .. but most do become envious of the standard of Pontiac you guys have...
Internationally the magazine has not been forcoming either.. during the last 8 months I've received now three magazines.. prompted by persistant request.. I complained & complained..... and was understood .. but my fellow international members.. who DO NOT MAKE UP even 2% of POCI membership.. did not deserve to be forgotten ... Wasted... I've been in poci 20 yrs this year... to help .. putting my money where my mouth is as of last month I'm packing & now more economically mailing Smoke Signals out for POCI members in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa & .. Mexico.. .. .. and I will do it for the members.. simple as that.. simply to help out.. & shore up the complaints...

I don't agree with the way things have happened.... find it bloody pathetic really... a lack of planning but getting past that is the troublesome fact that its SO easy to loose thousand's of members right now and set the club back 15 or more years in a year or less.. and that's NOT what we want.

For heavens sake this is one of the financially richest clubs in the GM world.. we should be able to get past this... LIFE IS TOO DAMN SORT GUYS...

Tell me to shut up if you like.. but I've run enough events, organised successfully more major conventions then you would know about (some here do) , organised tours for American POCI members to come downunder & enjoy.. written enough articales over the last 20 years to brave a voice from the wilderness....
... bottom line if you don't like it.. ..... REVOLT... vote them out.. just be sure your right....
.... and work to make it better again... don't just quit....! NEVER EVER EVER QUIT......!

[ThomasL]

Amen, amen, and amen.

[lightning]

Your right! The word "bribe" is very interesting. POCI has for many years offered money to the chapter that votes the have the highest percentage of members voting.

The reason or "bribe" is that the percentage of POCI members voting has always been extremely low. The Bribe is for the chapter leaders to get the message out to the membership to vote.

You would think that a chapter leader or newsletter editor would use a word like "incentive". But, there have been many cases of Chapter leaders or editors holding with some type of grudge against POCI. This just maybe another case.

[RWPgarage]

It will be two weeks tomorrow that I sent a letter detailing my concerns to both Robert Desrochers and Don Keefe. No response to date.

At this point, I do not feel it is as yet appropriate to post my letter here, but I will say that I believe it was civil, direct, and not threatening or argumentative in any way. In fact, I included changes that I like. I simply stated my concerns, both which I have had for awhile and those I have heard here.

I specifically asked for each of them to comment. I neglected to ask for a 'received reciept' by email, but since neither email bounced, I have to assume they each recieved a copy. I am wondering if I am simply being ignored.

I could give them the benefit of the doubt and give them more time, allowing for busy personal and professional lives, but it may soon be time to contact Chapters directly and share with them my concerns and a copy of my letter.

I've been a POCI member for 20 years; submitted articles to Smoke Signals, attended conventions, bought and sold parts between members, made friends, and have never had any trouble or real problems with the Club until now.

All I ask of Mr. Desrochers and Mr. Keefe is an honest response to my honest questions.

[lightning]

I would suggest channeling your concerns to Don Keefe. Don is very cordial and will answer you. On the other hand, the POCI President will just ignore you as he does so many others.