Alfa Club membership?

[conedriver]

Group,

In response to a statement about non-availability of workshop manuals, I mentioned that the Alfa Romeo Owners Club has reprints back to the 6C1500. I almost highjacked the heater blower motor thread with a promotion for Alfa Club membership, but thought to start this new thread promoting membership in an Alfa club as an addition to participating in the BB.

Now, to prevent a flame war, I recognize there are apparently a few people who have had bad experiences with Alfa clubs or chapters. These people, for whatever reasons, are no longer inclined to be members, along with owners who are just not "joiners". On the other extreme are club loyalists who are already members. With the popularity of the internet, a lot of Alfa information that was available from AROC or ARA (and individual chapters) can now be found here. The Alfa BB is, without doubt, a GOOD THING, but this is a message to the great mass of "in between owners", those who are neither members or are not "non-joiners": please consider joining whatever club suits your needs, either AROC, the Alfa Romeo Owners Club http://www.aroc-usa.org/community/index.asp or ARA, the Alfa Romeo Association http://www.alfaromeoassociation.org/about.html. These organizations have kept the Alfa Flame alive for years, and need your support now. Wonderfull activities like the 2005 AROC Convention in Seattle can't occur without Alfa Clubs and active local chapters. If you're an Alfa lover, there is likely a club chapter available somewhere around your area. Please consider joining.

Thanks for listening...

[dretceterini]

I have had bad experiences with both AROC and ARA. I have ZERO interest in being involved in any way with either group....hell, they "blew off" my good riend for 30years, Pat Braden, who was basically "Mr.Alfa" for the US! We are setting up an sports car club here in Salt Lake City, Utah. Many of the members so far are Alfa people.

[Bill77]

George -- that's a good reminder about what these clubs have to offer. Although I'm not a member, it's easy to see how these clubs would be worthwhile for many Alfisti -- especially all the events and meets.

I may try to plan a vacation around one of the more significant gatherings. The photo galleries on the websites show events where many of the greatest Alfas are on display. Also, there's a great set of videos showing a lap around VIR -- it looks really cool here in cyberworld, but the clubs give us the opportunity to experience the real thing.

[conedriver]

dretceterini,

Here's what I intend as a reasoned response:

You have had bad experiences with Alfa clubs, are unhappy with Alfa clubs, and included this in your post; which you are priviledged to do. However, I think you are painting the Alfa club community with too broad a brush. I acknowledge your dissatisfaction, and whatever circumstances brought it about, but suggest that is in the past and there may be benefits for others to participate in the Alfa club "world".

My proposal was for Alfa owners or enthusiasts to consider joining a club or chapter of their choice and hopefully provide a general strengthening of Alfa Romeo in the U.S.


BTW, Pat's books are for sale on the AROC website, and his widow was a guest at the Seattle convention...

Quote:

Originally Posted by dretceterini I have had bad experiences with both AROC and ARA. I have ZERO interest in being involved in any way with either group....hell, they "blew off" my good riend for 30years, Pat Braden, who was basically "Mr.Alfa" for the US! We are setting up an sports car club here in Salt Lake City, Utah. Many of the members so far are Alfa people.

[conedriver]

Hi Murray,

To add other website links to a post, "Highlight, Copy & Paste" the web address into your post, just like a word document.

I don't have a picture of my Spider manual, but it is a copy of Alfa publication PA446600000000. February 1990. Spider Model Year 1991, 50 State Version. Don't have a page count, it is about 1 1/8 in. thick. Since it came from AROC, it must have official Alfa Romeo copywrite authorization.

Good luck with starting an Omaha Chapter. There must be a bunch of Alfas around the same area as Jack Beck...

When I bought my first Alfa around 1962, a friend spent a lot of time assisting me with features of an Alfa I had never seen before. His response to my profuse thanks was to be sure to "pass it on when you have a chance", and it sounds like you are doing this, too. Great!.

Regarding personalities; surely no one in the Alfa world is a class "A" personality?.... Ahem... when we get a bunch of high powered personalities talking about Alfas, surely we're gonna agree to disagree at times and there's nothing wrong with that. With just a little self-control, it makes things interesting.

Regarding more objectionable personalities, one of my favorite quotes is by a character in a Tom Clancy novel: "He believes his personal feces are not oderific". Heh, heh.

Quote:

Originally Posted by msiert Hi George, How did you post those links? Could you post a Pic of your "91 Spider Workshop Manual" in the other Thread just want to see if it is the same one as mine? Oh......I am a member of the KC Alfa Chapter, the Chicago Alfa Chapter and the BB. I pay my dues and try to help others when ever I can. We are even trying to get a local Alfa club started here in Omaha. Belonging to the BB has been a learning experience for me. At first I was the one asking all the question's but as time went on I started to learn about my Alfa and now I can answer some of the questions the new owner's have. But sometimes the other's get offended because of what you said was taken as a personal insult or just a generial dislike developes. Sometimes it can get real ugly. I remember one guy that I swear would follow me around and post negitive comments to what ever Thread I posted in. I can see why some get feed up and quite. There are some who feel there s*** don't stick and treat the club as theirs and their close circle of friends and make it their job to keep the ones they don't like out or make their life miserable. I feel that there is a lot be be gained in belonging to these clubs. Helping others with their questions makes me feel good. George, you have help so many including myself many many times. You never boast to what you have........ you just seemed to be there for all of us. Thankyou, Murray

[Alex Csank]

I would like to echo George's post. Any club is really what the members make of it. I am very lucky that I am a member of a really great club, both locally here in our Hampton Roads Branch and in the Mid-Atlantic Alfa Romeo Club (MAARC) Chapter of AROC. I have met my best friends through the club and have had a fabulous time organizing and participating in the many fun events and meetings we continue to have on a frequent basis. By joining whichever Alfa Club you choose to join, you will be able to make use of all the expertise, publications and assistance of the club and its membership.

In fact, when you are an AROC member, you can let AROC know what assistance you are prepared to provide to other members. I have signed up for most of these. This means that if a member has a break-down near where I live, they can count on me for a meal, a bed, mechanical assistance and maybe even the tools and parts required to fix their car. And similarly, I know that if I decide to take a cross-country trip in any Alfa...I will be able to count on the assistance of AROC (and AlfaBB) members across the country should I need their help.

[turbolarespider]

I'm all over George's comments!

BTW, in terms of the manuals, we've been trying to find ways to digitize the copies that we make, but it takes money to do it... Oh well. The list of stuff that we have is enormous, just ask papajam- he's the librarian of the club.

Clubs, being a bunch of people who volunteer to do stuff, will always find ways to rub some people badly. I wish I could say it was otherwise, but even within the very inner circles of running of the club, it's that way. We are just a car club... But that is the way people are, and other clubs have similar issues.

I just hope you can overlook some of this, and at least try it out! The magazine has gotten better every month, I think. What's hard is that we are getting flack finding places to do things- like my chapter always has issues finding lots for autocrossing... But every car club out there has issues like that.

At least give it a try, and also try to be active in your chapter. Hopefully, they will be glad to see you, and you will have fun!

Eric Storhok

[Hooligan]

Just got my AROC stuff in the mail over the weekend... I even affixed my AROC sticker to my windshield- and seriously considered carrying my AROC card in my wallet!

[fetta78]

I think everyone that can should join the National Club. I've been a member since joining the Ohio Valley club back in the 80's then out in Arizona for a few years, and now with Kentucky. Do I agree with everything the club does? Nope. Do I "get" a lot of benefits from the National club?. Nope. Do I like all the people associated with the club? Nope. But for the most part, Alfa people are the best, when stranded with a bad water pump south of Nashville I had a guy I never met pick me up with a trailer, and fed me dinner while I waited for my backup ride to arrive, I've had people send me parts before I sent them money, and always had a list of helpful folks ready whenever I decided to drive a Sport Sedan from Tucson AZ to the middle of KY!

People that complain loudest about the clubs are usually the ones that want something for nothing. Do you want to see better articles or pictures? Submit some! Have some ideas? Let the board know, or better yet run for office!

[Paradiso]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fetta78 Do I agree with everything the club does? Nope. Do I "get" a lot of benefits from the National club?. Nope. Do I like all the people associated with the club? Nope. But for the most part, Alfa people are the best, ...

[dretceterini]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paradiso Well said. I've been known to gripe about AROC yet every Fall I write a check and renew my mebership. Just seems stupid not to.

[John M]

Doc, its a lot more fun and exciting visiting with fellow Alfisti in person rather than online. The Alfabb is great. But a bunch of Alfisiti in a garage gathered around someone's Alfa that is having trouble is much better. AROC is the foundation for these types of events, but the local people is really what counts. I know you had trouble in the past with your local folk, but maybe the SLC people are a better sort.

Best Regards,
John M

[dretceterini]

Quote:

Originally Posted by John M Doc, its a lot more fun and exciting visiting with fellow Alfisti in person rather than online. The Alfabb is great. But a bunch of Alfisiti in a garage gathered around someone's Alfa that is having trouble is much better. AROC is the foundation for these types of events, but the local people is really what counts. I know you had trouble in the past with your local folk, but maybe the SLC people are a better sort. Best Regards, John M

[Alex Csank]

Stu,

Well done, old bean! That sounds great. If I were there, I wouldn't miss your lecture for the world!

Here in the mid-Atlantic area, we also don't have enough owners in any given city, so that is why we have a number of "Branches" of MAARC. In Winston-Salem NC, for example, they have an Italian Sports Car Club (they also allow British and even German cars in) called 'Corsa Rossa', but they are a branch of our MAARC. Right now, folks in both Charlotte NC and Richmond VA are trying to create new Branches in their cities.

Good luck with the new club and also with your lecture!

[Alfa Hopper]

I can see that there a different points of view about AROC. I haven't been a member very long, but have found many pepole who are very helpful and friendly (as is the BB and Alfa Digest). I happen to know a few of the AROC "old timers/former members" (personal friends and relatives of mine) that kinda have a chip on their shoulder about things that happened many years ago. Obviously, I wasn't there and I don't know the details, but things change over time.

Just another point of view.

"It's hard to yell at volunteers"

Andy Menapace

P.S. Dr E., There are several Alfa Owners in your area. Specifically, one in Ogden who helped me on a cross country trip. I called him out of the blue, and he let me use his shop and tools. I thank him and AROC. If not for AROC, I'd been stranded there in Ogden and not known where to turn.