[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Don Keefe

To take nothing away from Mr. Wangers, I am only 49 years old and I think I have a few good years left in me. Though I have been in the Pontiac magazine world for 25 years, I am far from all used up at this point.

Many of the problems that POCI has experienced over the years have been addressed and countered. The problem is that so many of you left so long ago, that you haven't seen the changes that have been made.

First off, our membership has been stable for the past five years, we generally stay in the 8,700 range give or take. This huge loss of membership recently hasn't happened. Yes, the numbers were over 10,000 but that was in the late 1980s.

Yes, the web site could use an update but if you are a member, there is a whole section that you haven't seen and it is not half bad. Look into it.

As editor-in-chief and art director since August of 2006, I can say that no "Aztek brainwashing" or "GMC force-feeding" is going on. I try to keep my editorials light-hearted and positive. Mostly I talk about my adventures and misadventures with my '66 Tempest and 2000 GTP. The editorial is geared to the membership and not necessarily to the entire Pontiac hobby. We don't do a lot race engine builds, or late-model coverage but we do cover a lot of features on some great cars owned by members, we cover POCI and Pontiac-related events and we do quite a bit of DIY tech stuff. Chapters activities get a lot of ink as well.

If you want hard-core engine builds, I also write for HPP so I got you covered there. As a club publication, Smoke Signals does exactly what it needs to. We redesigned it about a year ago and it won its seventh Golden Quill in a row. I am very proud of that.

Like I said before, many of the problems mentioned have nothing to do with what is going on now. Don't believe me? Just get a digital download of Smoke Signals. I believe there is a free copy available on our web site. Things have changed, it isn't perfect but let's let go of the anger about what happened 20 or 30 years ago and move on.

Originally Posted by Don Keefe

The annual membership dues is $35 and a full annual accounting is available to all members, through the web site. It is a very transparent system now and every penny is accounted for.

Originally Posted by 65 Cat 2+2

True - POCI finances are completely transparent. An organization this size has expenses most people don't even consider. Part of each membership dollar goes to the following:
Smoke Signals magazine - one of (if not THE) highest quality auto club publications on the planet (credit to Don Keefe).
Insurance - a blanket policy to cover all the shows put on by regional & specialty Chapters, underwriting their financial liability.
Staff - a small office staff of one or two, I think. All officers are unpaid volunteers.
Office expenses
Postage (a considerable amount to mail the magazines)
Website
Generous contributions of money and time to the founding and ongoing operations of the Pontiac Museum.

Having personally participated in Board meetings, I can vouch for the conscientious deliberations that determine how carefully the members' money is spent.

Interesting.

I’ve enjoyed (and paid money for) many excellent photo shoots and articles in the past authored by Don Keefe, even the recent GTO resto book.

That said:

• So perhaps some of the POCI staff are too close to see it? It appears that, as presented here and above, Pontiac representation is “The Don Keefe Show?” "As editor-in-chief and art director since August of 2006, I can say that no "Aztek brainwashing" or "GMC force-feeding" is going on."
A brief check, as far as I can tell, I let our membership expire 11/2008 due to the same OP topic issues.

Also, is there any consideration by POCI “Lieutenants’” of possible “over saturation” by one contributor, or a handful at best?

• "Smoke Signals magazine - one of (if not THE) highest quality auto club publications on the planet (credit to Don Keefe)."

• " I also write for HPP so I got you covered there."

Have you asked yourselves - Why in the world would anyone want to spend duplicate $ annually for poci, HPP, plus GTOAA, etc. to see and read the same content? Also covered by HMM, WAC, etc.? Have you checked out those competing “free Pontiac information” sites to compare with your own?

Suggestion: Instead of general statements made of website links, as a “customer service” – why not simply Post the direct links here to promote the “new improvements” for a free look. Younger and potential members certainly aren’t going to waste time searching for ambiguous link references Such as:

• "Yes, the web site could use an update but if you are a member, there is a whole section that you haven't seen and it is not half bad. Look into it." How can anyone - a non-member - "look into it?"

And why would I even have to suggest the posting of the links here, really?

Originally Posted by muscle_collector

...as for poci, I have nothing against them, but it seems like after letting my membership expire I realized that I wasn't missing anything.

I agree. Any indications that I’ve no skin in the game or have no right to comment are bogus. We’ve paid good money for duplicitous Pontiac memberships, content, organizations and volunteered, etc.; currently and in the past; all to promote and enjoy the Pontiacs we love. No need to be “schooled” on the subject, really.

So, are poci “members” considered customers or robots by the hierarchy? No reply needed. I’ll keep my $35+ dollars and let the dust settle before considering another membership.

To me this IS the “same POCI ‘discussion’ for the past 35 years.” Nothing’s really changed. Fall in line and STFU! Please feel free to use OPM (Other Peoples’ Money) to promote your POCI special interests and dictates.

To those here; such as “Engine-Ear” and the rest; who are currently seeking to make it a better Pontiac experience in all they are involved - Good Luck and best wishes for your efforts. As pointed out by some posters on this thread -my POCI membership, or lack of, won't matter. "P-O-N-T-I-A-C 'Nuff Said!"