Joining a Club Question

[BillCNC]

Hello Gentleman,

I would like to join a Model A club in Southern California and I see there is actually quite a few. I was wondering if you guys just pick the one closest to your home or do you search for the better club.

The reason I ask is I am a very inquisitive and a hands on kind of guy who is the first one to volunteer doing things I have never done before. I guess I want to avoid a laid back kind of club. I'm not saying there's anything bad to them, but I'm just wanting a real hands on type of club and I don't mind traveling for the right one.

Regards
Bill

[russcochiolo]

Bill, check the mafca chapter locations and attend a meeting or two, then make your choice. Russ

[Bill G]

I can't help with Southern CA, but I can tell you I really lucked out.

There is a great club in the city I live in with several who are very "hands-on" and very willing to share their talents, garage space and equipment. I bought a Tudor a couple months ago and soon it became evident that the clutch linkage had severe wear, and then finally the clutch arm just plain broke on me.

I don't have much of a garage, but one of the local members said to bring it on over. Two of them got together and they are used to working as a team, and this was not their first rodeo. We had the engine out in no time flat and then the bad news. The engine bearings had little life left in them. So, I got a rebuilt engine and a new clutch out of the deal and all I had to do was pay for the parts. It would have taken me months and who knows how many mistakes. These guys knew everything.

Mr. Plucker on this forum has also been a great help, and I thank him for steering me towards joining!

Kudos to the folks in the Walla Walla club!

[ronn]

good point. search out the clubs, as they are very different.

would like to be in an active club here in NJ, but nothing nearby.

[Bob C]

You might try Paradise Valley, they are right down the hill from you.
Here's the link to there web site, check out there news letters they seem
very active. http://www.pvmafc.org/Organization.html

Bob

[BillCNC]

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Thank You Gentleman,

I do have a list to chose from http://www.mafca.com/chapters/CA.html#south but I guess my question should have been, … Does anyone that lives in Southern California have any experience with any of these clubs and if so, do you know if they are a very hands on type of club or a club that just likes to talk about the good ol days and work on something every now and then?

Just trying to narrow down my search

Regards
Bill

[100IH]

About being willing to volunteer, find a large club rather than a small one. You might get railroaded into being the president on the second meeting. Some clubs are about touring - social, some clubs are about the monthly meetings at the local diner. Some are about hands on helping and learning with the newby.

[BillCNC]

Hi Bob, ...

I was looking at that one, it does seem active. The Pamona Valley site is all jacked up, ... I wonder what up with that website. I wonder if it has been hacked, ... but I cant figure out why.

Regards
Bill

Originally Posted by Bob C

You might try Paradise Valley, they are right down the hill from you.
Here's the link to there web site, check out there news letters they seem
very active. http://www.pvmafc.org/Organization.html

Bob

[Bob C]

Originally Posted by BillCNC

Hi Bob, ...

I was looking at that one, it does seem active. The Pamona Valley site is all jacked up, ... I wonder what up with that website. I wonder if it has been hacked, ... but I cant figure out why.

Regards
Bill

I contacted them about their site.
Here is a link they sent me that works. http://www.pomonavalleymafc.com/

Bob

[larrys40]

Bill,

Contact Arlyn Bieber.. he's in San Diego area. Arlyns a great guy and can get you hooked up with the right group. He and Bill Hansen also do Model A work so they are a great resource.
Look him up by Name under the Community Directory.
All the Best!
Larry Shepard
St. Charles, MO

[H. L. Chauvin]

FWIW:

1. Listed above is some very serious compassionate advice about looking around prior to choosing.

2. Actually "Joining a Club" is not that much different from "Joining a Wife".

3. A close friend may advise that you must check out this wonderful hot Chick ..... another very close friend has another well built knock-out Chick for you, etc., etc.

4. After dating both, even though both are in great shape, exotic, and beautiful, both spend all of their spare time on different telephones with their part time jobs of trying to get Hillary re-elected.

Hope this helps.

[Bob C]

double post

[Scottio57]

Hi Bill. There are a couple of clubs in my area but they are all hot rod clubs. Even the Antique car club is all classic cars from the 60s and 70s. When they go out for a tour it's 50 to 100 miles away at 70 mph. No active model t or model a clubs around at all. The closest is 1 1/2 hours north or 1 hour south. It's very frustrating because I would really like to join a club to be involved in.

[duke36]

One important factor is whether the club is accommodating and inclusive of new members. Some club members can be very clique oriented so check some clubs out as in post 2.
Also, one can read the club newsletters if on -line and get a sense of the social,tour and other activities. A larger club may have more diversity of members' interests.

[Railcarmover]

Went to my first Model A club meeting,had a good time.lots of like minded folk,hell we even said the Pledge of Allegiance before it started..I was hooked ..Not to name drop but I sat behind a fella with a flat top,turned out to be Les Andrews..Im not much for the social side,but there is a hardcore group who wrench together,hoping I fit there..

[glenn in camino]

My wife & I were in the Orange County chapter for 37 years before we moved to Northern Calif. We are now in the Hangtown As in Placerville. Most clubs are good and if you have a problem with your A there are lots of people to help figure it out and help you fix it.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

GET REAL!--ALL Clubs are CLIQUE ORIENTED!--It's just the way it is!
Bill Practical

[H. L. Chauvin]

Hi Bill,

1. The gentlemen who offered replies #14 & #17 and other replies above sound like this is not their First Organizational Rodeo after their joining any different new organization.

2. However, Cliques in any different new organization, or Cliques in any different new Club are not always bad.

3. What appears important in any different new organization or new club is if a new different member can Clique with either of the opposing Cliques within this new organization or club; and/or if either or both of the opposing Cliques can Clique with this different new member.

4. Then this new member has to be careful if he appears to Clique more with one club Clique more often than the other opposing club Clique; or be careful if this new member is leaning more towards double Cliqueing.

5. Then if one of the opposing Cliques does not Clique with this new different member, it is best for this new different member to learn how to smile .... and take a licking and keep on Cliqueing.

Simple. Hope this helps!

[mhsprecher]

As with most things, you will get out of it what you put into it.

I do what I have always done, which is try to be friendly with everyone and ignore factions, if they exist. No need to waste time picking sides or gossiping. I am a member of two Model A Clubs, two V8 clubs and the local Model T club. I enjoy them all and try to participate in all of them as much as I can.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

YOU'RE GOOD, H.L,
I NEVER tire of your down to earth "WISDOM"--LOL
You must be a GREAT Typist!---AND, "TRICK" with wurds!
Bill Slowtipist