Abandoning the fight is not an option: as many have said before:
"Then THEY would have won, would'nt they?"
Another option might be just to drop the MVPA altogether and
create a splinter group, a new club, new charter, different
managing methods etc... No doubt that many of the posters on
this list would follow you, not only as a show of support but
also because many are frustrated at the "old ways" the MVPA and
before it the MVCC are regulated... Plus, there are a number of
newbies out there in search of a club, and they might be much
less intimidated by a smaller group of dedicated hobbyists...
And monopolies are universally disliked even though they seem to
be the American Way...
But, of course, what I suggest is the European way... look at
Euro-politics: many parties, forming coalitions with each
other tailored to each separate issue... An approach that many
see here as a danger to our American institutions: listen at the
outcry when there is mention of letting in a third party!
"Divide and Conquer" is always a good strategy, IMHO.
Anyway: create a Club and keep it small at the beginning. Form
alliances with European collectors groups: in reality they are
usually reluctant to "play" too close to the MVPA for fear of
being chewed and spat by the behemoth (even though they are
linked "on paper").There is some really excellent WWII materiel
in the French, Belgian and Italian clubs. Quality restorations
are also abundant in the UK, but over there, the "insular"
attitude is prevailing, especially towards continental Europe
and -to a lesser extent - America: all ex-colonies of the
British Empire, of course...<G> Watch the new Club grow with
the
ardent work and dedication of your fresh membership... When a
Club becomes too big, or too rich...every task becomes someone
else's problem...
I have found that the Internet and members of this list have
been infintely more helpful for the hobby than any club could
ever dream to be..This is definitely a resource to tap very
seriously, and with a lot more presence than just a site with
outdated information and dead links, just paying lip service to
the Internet era... This is the best possible way to keep in
touch with a membership with up-to-date information and "Supply
Line" would be a lot more useful as "Supply On-Line" (r) than in
printed form.
I personally was part of the founding group of the French MVCG,
under Bernard Faivre's presidence in the mid-seventies. We were
small then, just an offspring of Peter Gray's MVCG in the UK.
Peter and his group were terrific people and it was a lot of fun
at the time... Now, I just pay my dues and see the boys every
five years in Normandy...
Anyway, that's my two centimes worth...and that's too much blurb
for two centimes...sorry!
Antoine Compin
(Sherman Oaks, CA)
1943 Willys MB & '44 MBT
1942 Harley WLA
1942 Harley XA (restored)
1942 Harley XA (in restoration)
MVPA 14803 - MVCG (France)
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