posted 07-04-2002 06:56 AM                  

Let's use this thread for ideas and suggestions on how to raise the money to help pay for Prowleronline.com

All suggestions and ideas are encouraged!! Not sure how we should decide on what to do. Perhaps we should give everyone a week to post ideas, Mike could calculate which are the more popular ideas and then put up a thread for everyone to vote on. Of course, we could have more than one fund raising effort.........

1. DaimlerChrysler contribution (Bob and I will get to work on this one).

2. Voluntary donations

Okay, everyone.......jump in with your ideas!

posted 07-04-2002 07:10 AM                  

2. Sell items such as Polo Shirts, Jackets, Duffle bags with Prowler Owners Assn logo embroidered in the different colors.

posted 07-04-2002 10:15 AM                  

There are 1561 members of the POA. Make a voluntary contribution plan of $24.00 per member per year ( $2.00 ) per month and you have more than you need. Charge $10, per car per major event event, for the POA, and again, you have a significant amount of cash flow.

Lastly, and this is simply an out of the box idea, charge Alley Cat for each of his posts that are not funny! Charge Gary $1,000 for each new motor vehicle that he purchases during the year and $13,000 would be easy to raise.

On the serious side, I belong to several other groups and this is the only one that is free. While it would be nice if it could remain free, it is ceratinly understandable that we need to share in the expense. A $24 fee per year would not be too offensive for the return that we all get.

Gotta run as today is the Fourth of July and I am scheduled to be the Grand Marshal in a parade and ride on a float with several fresh stuffs who are 90 years younger than me. Whole thing makes my pucker string vibrate.

Scot

posted 07-04-2002 11:40 AM                  

1. The current bulletin board is phenomenal. It tries to be everything to everyone, and largely succeeds. The fact that it is free to the users is amazing.

2. Before we go into "how do we raise money", can we define "what do we want to raise money for?". Personally, when I have the choice on other bulletin boards, I turn off the graphics since I'm interested in the content (pictures within the post dealing with the specific subject would remain, of course). Taking this approach (default to text with only relevant pictures) would probably solve the bandwidth issue, take a big chunk out of the processing problem and leave full graphics available to those who specifically choose them.

3. Does everything, from forever, need to be immediately available online? The banter, a lot of it extreme, gives the board its personality. Do we need to save it forever, or would 6 months suffice? Or, since POA is 2 years old, can the first year be archived (again, no graphics other than content). I would certainly pay $10 or so for a CD. Or, is there a more economical way to have it available for bulk download? It would be great if the archive could be saved locally and searched as part of the board search if the time parameters are set that way (I just looked and have 17 gig available on my C: drive with 45 gig available on a D: drive that I don't even use, and this is a 3 year old machine). By the way, I have a cable modem and speed is no issue on my end - this is not coming from someone with limited bandwidth. Continuing the CD approach, this could be done annually and raise enough money to sustain the whole board (but again, let's decide if everything currently available is necessary). 1500 members, $10 each, 50% pay dues/buy annual archive.

4. In my professional life, I make it a practice to never make long-term decisions based on short-term circumstances. The current lifecycle situation of the Prowler is a short-term circumstance. I am VERY concerned over support 5 or 10 years out. If DC was still making Prowlers, it would be one thing. There's a LOT of interest right now since there are still new ones available from the dealers. A year from now, after this becomes a used market only, and the novelty of the Prowler has worn off today's buyers (I know, this doesn't apply to anyone reading this - Right!) will the current high-level of interest be sustained? I think not. At that time, there will be a more hardcore interest, more emphasis on maintenance (where have all the certified Prowler techs gone?) and the level of use (bandwidth, processing and storage) will be lower. I'd like to see other opinions on this - I see the long-term requirements for this board going down, not up.

5. There are very few Prowlers in the world, and there aren't going to be any more; approximately only 10% are POA members (yes, we need to adjust that not all members own Prowlers, and some members own more than one). If there are charges, what percent of the 10% will remain members? We're getting into very low numbers and probably can't sustain anything. With a very small Prowler population to start with, every member we lose is a major loss.

6. I think it's phenomenal that this board has remained free to users based on advertising revenue. This is work for someone, but have the advertisers been approached to donate product rather than $$$? By raffling off a product, be it a $3,000 hardtop or $75 Shimmers or a $10 keychain, the advertising value to the vendor would be phenomenal. A dollar of donated product costs the vendor less than a dollar cash spent for advertising, and the bidders would have the opportunity to contribute directly to POA by bidding over the value of the item.

That's probably too much for now. I guess I'm saying let's define what we want POA to be, not alienate ANYONE who wants to participate, and then figure out how to pay for it.

posted 07-04-2002 01:20 PM                  

Anyone else wanting to donate to help support the POA can send a check to:
Prowler Owners Association
5900 Allday
Houston, TX 77036

Since the initial concensus is not to make any amounts public, I will honor that wish. We'll look into creating a "Help Support the POA" page and also into using Paypal as an alternative funding method.

Thank you in advance for your support!

posted 07-04-2002 01:33 PM                  

Yes, I have read that thread. I don't believe that I inherently disagree with anything that anyone has said, it's only a matter of degree. Yes, if POA continues on as it has, it needs more money. Level 1 question - SHOULD it continue on as it has - there's A LOT of graphics (too much, in my opinion, but maybe that's not the concensus). There's TOO MUCH ONLINE STORAGE (save it to a CD, dump it, sell copies to whoever wants it). Do we need 2 years of heavy-duty banter on offline discussions, or should it be dumped after 3-6 months? Cost, as the threads say, are based on processing power, bandwidth and storage. Mike has been good enough to give everyone everything they have asked for. If we look at this from the point of view of economics, HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH? can we get by with less bandwidth, less processing power, and less storage? I'm ready to spring $10 for a CD of the first year discussion board, and that will reduce the discussion board storage by 50%. That moves the search to my computer, reducing the processing power for searches and bandwidth into the board.

I have no idea what the concensus will be, I'm just offering opinion. In my case, as a heavy user, there's 10 times more overhead (at least processing power and bandwidth) than necessary to keep me 100% happy.

Also, future predictions of Prowler interest can not possibly continue as a straight-line increase - at best, it will level off when all the new ones are sold and, I believe within a year after that, drop by 50%. A new system at this time should not be designed for a future peak when that peak has most likely already happened. This is where I believe the focus of the discussion should be even though it will sound very negative to future interest of the Prowler.

Nobody wants this board to survive 5 or 10 years into the future more than me, and this discussion is going to have a direct impact on this long-term survivability.

posted 07-04-2002 03:25 PM                  

I think we're seeing an artificial surge in POA activity right now. Consider the following:

1. Every car magazine has said something about the Prowler since DC announced production would end - let's say January, February, March issues.

2. There was a resurgence when the last one was auctioned off (Thanks, Mike, for keeping it in the family) and everyone, including my wife (who has NO interest in this) heard about it if only on the Rosie show and the Today Show and the thousand other TV and radio spots.

3. DC over-ran production to keep it in the 2002 product line - they haven't made any in almost 5 months, and there's still plenty in stock (did someone say they wanted a blue? There are two of them at KOONS Chevrolet/Chrysler in Vienna, VA. At least one has been there at least a year - they should be VERY negotiable). This keeps it lingering as a "semi" new car, further pushing back the plateau.

4. DC held some hot colors til the end, especially candy apple, to keep the interest up til the end. If the last 300 were blue, I'd guess there would be more still sitting at KOONS.

5. I agree with you, Ed, when you said, "a lot of people are just now getting their first Prowler, whether that is new or used." Extending this statement 6 months into the future, there won't be any new ones - with just used ones changing hands in a fixed pool, there can not physically be an increase in the number of owners (I don't want to say it, but the pool will also shrink due to accidents).

6. There's certainly the mentality now of, "I better get one now before they're gone". That, too, will be over in 6 months.

As I write this, I do see a bias emerging on my part - since I consider myself in this for the longterm, I'm nore interested in the hardcore members, who are owners, where we can help each other support these unique vehicles into the indefinite future. Admittedly, I am showing my bias with less interest towards the casual browsers. But again, they're not going to be heavy, longterm users of this site.

JM(not so)HO

- GRROWL

posted 07-04-2002 06:00 PM                  

Creating CD's of historical data is a great idea, helps reduce current operating costs and by selling the "VALUABLE DATA" (Intellectual collection of ideas and past solutions )once a year would bring additional monies.

Many of the other ideas being put forth are also excellent.

Summary, I am in for the duration, Mike, Just let me know what I am in for and what I can or need to do?

Mike K. thanks for your unselfish contribution and providing such a great site. Now we all need to take those "Thanks You's" we have been giving and term them into Actionable deeds that result in the continuance of this site.
PROWL ON ...
Dan G.

posted 07-04-2002 09:18 PM                  

1. Continue to have a post of the week but stop giving away the goodies. If people want the goodies, have them purchase them. I don't know how much "The Site" (Mike, Judy, etc.) spend on goodies each month (including postage) but I am sure that will help.

2. Monthly dues payable in either a monthly or yearly installments. Pick one or the other but not both. You can use a password system and change it monthly with a newsletter going out each month to members with the password. This can be a headache and may need the services of a membership chairman that is willing to donate the time to keep things current.

3. I think it is important not to charge people at events because that can turn people away. We want to encourage people to join and that may be an initial turnoff for people that don't use the site but like to gather with others. I think raffles are okay but I don't think they will bring enough to pay for the site. In addition, you have the headache of making sure the funds get where they need to be (sorry for the trust issue, coming from a person who sees A LOT of fraud - I know people here are honest but this is still an issue).

I think the fact that Mike is willing to open the books to the site is phenomenal. I appreciate his openness! I don't know how many people will leave after dues are charged but you have to take that into account and hope enough stay to pay for the site. At $10 a month ($120 a year), you would only need 45 members to keep the site up. The rest of the money should be used for site maintenance and upgrades. I think if events start to get sponsored, there may be issues of "why is their event sponsored but not ours?" - Sorry, but I have seen this in other forums.

There will need to be a way to come up with a way to encourage people to become members instead of "lurkers." Maybe a members package as part of a one year payment with an option to go month to month after the initial year. Or vice versa - I don't know.

posted 07-04-2002 10:38 PM                  

LET'S DO IT!

posted 07-05-2002 07:10 AM                  

I'm not sure what the best answers are for all of this, but..

1. I'm for voluntary donations, not membership dues. The people on this board have proven to be very generous people and I believe that the money can be collected voluntarily.

2. I'm not for raffles.

3. I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with anything anyone else has said. I do believe, however, that most of the people who frequent this site are "hardcore" and will be around for some time to come. True, Prowlers are no longer being built. We have a great collectible car, however, and I think that like any classic car....muscle or otherwise, there will always be a need for a "club" to keep in touch with other owners.....to have events and to establish a long-term "community". Our cars will always be one of the most "collectible" due to the small number!

4. This site provides a lot of things for the owners.

a. Comraderie
b. Events to attend
c. Aftermarket parts (provided by companies and by owners who have taken the initiative to produce and provide cool stuff for the Prowlers.
d. Community feeling......new friendships
e. Apparel and merchandise
f. Lots of humor
g. The opportunity to freely express opinions, thoughts and ideas........not just about Prowlers, but most anything.

5. I would like to see, at least, the forums archived for continued use. Whether this is done on the site or on cd for purchase. I use the search function A LOT, looking for older posts and/or pictures and I would hate to lose that function.

I'm sure there is a lot more that will come to mind. So far, most of this has been accomplished through the generosity and time of Mike K, Tony G and a few others that help with the website. In addition, there have been a lot of people who have stepped up to the role of event planners. Some have done it for a long time, others are new at it. All of the events, "national" and "local" have been great. There are Prowler owners who have developed products and ideas for all of us to be able to purchase for our cats. Remember too, that these things are done voluntarily. There are a number of other members who provide ongoing information and "services" (myself included) who do what they do for the love of the car and this site and all of the owners.

If it is decided to contribute voluntarily (versus mandatory dues), I think everyone will contribute and base it on the value that they derive from this site. I don't think any of us will find a place that offers so much for so little. I feel that this site and this association is "priceless" and none of us will find a better car group.