[alfa] Youth

[Linda and Don Brubaker <ldbrubaker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Regarding the younger members.  I really enjoy the enthusiasm of younger 
members.
I also enjoy the experience and perspective of the older members.  In 
Chicago, we have
a reasonably active club, but we provide a variety of events.  With a wide 
variety of interests,
our members won't show up at every event and they shouldn't have to do 
so.  We have tours,
track events, car shows, tech sessions, etc.  You first have to understand 
that this club is
more like an MG or Triumph club than a Porsche or Miata club.  Those cars 
are still being
sold in the U.S..  There hasn't been a new Alfa sold in the U.S. for 8 
years.  As the cars age,
they become rarer due to the vargaries of rust, accidents, cost of upkeep, 
etc.  Younger drivers
have more accidents.  We were young once too.  I know how I drove when I 
was 25.  I know
how I drive now.  We, old farts, destroyed cars when we were young.  We 
expect that today's
young drivers will do the same.  With a limited number of Alfa's available, 
we lament the loss
of each one.  As the older cars become more valuable, many people are less 
and less likely
to put them at risk - either on the road or at a track event.  We see fewer 
and fewer Alfa's at
our track events each year.  Would you jeopardize a million dollar 
Ferrari?  An Alfa is nowhere
near a million dollars, but for some of us, it is still a big investment in 
time and money.  Many
Alfa owners are over 40 and the demographics of our club suggest that many 
are over 50.
As much as we can appreciate the exuberance of youth, we also understand 
the problems
that can occur.  Sometimes that is very difficult for a young person to 
understand.  It was and
still is occasionally for me.  Yes, it is an "age thing".  We can't help 
that.  Hopefully, both young
and old members will try to understand.  All organizations have similar 
problems, not just car
clubs and particularly not just Alfa clubs.  We all share an enthusiasm for 
the cars.  Some of
us appreciate the aesthetics, some the performance, some the feel, 
etc.  Our club TRIES to
have something for all of our members to enjoy.  That means that we don't 
do enough track
events for some of our members and we don't do enough tech sessions for 
other members.
We can't afford to do everything!  Every event takes a "pusher" - someone 
who wants to make
the event happen.  In a volunteer organization, you have to identify people 
who will do an event,
and then not burn them out by asking them to organize multiple 
events.  Members have children,
jobs, lives that also demand their time.  When you are young, you may not 
have the demands on
your time and energy that seem to come with age.  Sadly for us old folks, 
we don't have the energy
we once did and it has become harder for us to handle as many things as we 
once did.  If you are
young, please retain your enthusiasm and drive.  Allow us old folks the 
benefit of the doubt.  We
may actually be right on occasion.  If you are an "old fart" as I am, let 
go a little and specifically
ask a younger member to be on the board of the club, head a committee, or 
help with an event.
If it is a simple event, let them run it entirely.  If it is a complicated 
event, let them head a committee
to handle the event.  You can have them populate the event with experienced 
event people who
can help them make it happen.  The young leadership will bring in some new 
ideas - not all of them
good, but most interesting.  The experienced members can provide the 
continuity to bring the young
member up to speed.  They think they have thought of everything and the old 
guys have never thought
any of anything.  Both of you will be surprised to find that there are 
clever people in every age.
Enough philosophy.  I have done my best to corrupt another generation of 
car nuts through my
children.  Let's continue the process.
Don
69 GTV
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