[Deadhead]

Originally Posted by gtohurstjudge

there is going to be politics involved.

......all of the complaints in this thread are thirty five years
old.

there are people above you in rank that have
to make decisions, a lot of which you probably won't agree with.

For me, this is the problem. Stipulating that there must be politics involved and that there are "people above you in rank". That is not the case. This is not a military organization. We are not going into battle. There may be those who make decisions and take action on behalf of the club, but they are not ABOVE any of the other members. The predisposition to assuming that members will not like what is decided is also unnecessary. If this were the case then there would be no organizations devoid of discontent. While I am fully aware that some people can not be satisfied, I refuse to believe that is a given for the majority.

The fact that the problems have existed for 35 years is what I would like to see addressed.

[Helge71]

As the I in POCI stands for International i would also like to chime in... I am a member since several years and will have to renew my membership now...However, I am seriously contemplating if I am really going to do so.

Being an international member the only really benefit is the monthly Smoke Signals - I enjoy having a real paper magazine to read and always find something interesting in it (in addition to the classifieds and lots of interesting vendor ads/adresses) and think that Don Keefe is doing a great job. However the quite long delay in overseas delivery is sometimes a bit annoying and my personal feeling is that the content has drifted away a bit from the (for me) very interesting tech tips and restauration stories/tips to more show coverage and show car descriptions. As it is at least very difficult for me to attend any of the POCI shows, my personal interest in a lot of show coverage is only limited. Therefore I can not really see that the "International" part of POCI offers that much benefit or interesting topic.

One of the major problems (that has already been mentioned repeatedly in this thread) is the really quite horrible and more or less dead website/forum. Especially from outside the US the internet is the easiest (only?) reasonable way to keep in touch with the club, it's memebers and join maybe some online activities. In the current situation I have contact with the POCI only once a month through the Smoke Signals, whereas I frequent the PY forum on an almost daily basis and there is always something interesting new to read or learn. So I feel much more connected to the PY than to the POCI - and the PY is even for free...

As for the GMC part - i also own an old GMC (at least with a Pontiac motor) and can not say that i ever found something in POCI or Smoke Signals that was of any help or interest to me GMC-wise. My GMC questions also get answered here at PY...

I know that the interest in Pontiacs is truly international and I know several people here in Germany and a lot in Sweden who own really great cars (more fullsize than GTOs...). However, all these people I met either on the PY forum or on another international forum for classic hot rods (and only a few at local meetings) - none so far via any POCI connections.

So maybe it might really be an idea worthwile contemplating for POCI to join up in some way with an active and established internet forum like PY - it would probably be much easier than getting some life in the so called POCI forum and would most probably give a more active and alive feeling to the whole club with more member interaction - and also attract some younger members (i am 42 - not that young anymore but still quite at home online).

Helge

[PMD1969]

The disturbing reality is that there are countless numbers of Pontiac owners out there that are reluctant to join POCI (or have quit) for the reasons listed. I personally have met/know quite a few that are Pontiac fanatics (more than 20 Pontiacs!) that will not join.

I really like Formulabruce's ideas and would quickly side in implementation. Smoke Signals is awesome but to keep the POCI thriving the website and internet/social media desperately need to be updated and maintained. I am sure there are plenty of experienced and savvy folks that would assist in getting it up to speed.

It appears that the answers are obvious.

[gtohurstjudge]

OK, you guys have convinced me that POCI sucks because they don't cowtow
to my every need and whim. I'm submitting my resignation today. Also, I don't get along
with one of my neighbors down the block so I'm putting my house up for sale as soon as
I can get a realtor on the phone. Also, the Dallas Cowboys lost last Sunday so I'll be damned
if I'm going to be a Cowboy fan anymore.....I'm tuning out! Thanks to everyone for helping
me see the light! I feel better already!

[Ben M.]

Originally Posted by gtohurstjudge

OK, you guys have convinced me that POCI sucks because they don't cowtow to my every need and whim. I'm submitting my resignation today.

Your attitude sucks. I was on the fence about the organization before but if this is how the people in charge feel and are willing to go out in public with this attitude, well I say I'm glad I never bothered wasting my time again.

[gtohurstjudge]

Originally Posted by Ben M.

Your attitude sucks. I was on the fence about the organization before but if this is how the people in charge feel and are willing to go out in public with this attitude, well I say I'm glad I never bothered wasting my time again.

Where did you get the notion that I speak for those in charge......I'm just a simple
peon POCI member........excuse me ex member! Folks the membership in POCI is now 8499.
What a relief to get out of that horrible excuse for a club. Thanks to all for explaining to me
that a club is lousy when it doesn't entertain me 24/7. Again, thanks for setting me straight!

[PMD1969]

Originally Posted by gtohurstjudge

OK, you guys have convinced me that POCI sucks because they don't cowtow
to my every need and whim. I'm submitting my resignation today. Also, I don't get along
with one of my neighbors down the block so I'm putting my house up for sale as soon as
I can get a realtor on the phone. Also, the Dallas Cowboys lost last Sunday so I'll be damned
if I'm going to be a Cowboy fan anymore.....I'm tuning out! Thanks to everyone for helping
me see the light! I feel better already!

I can agree and understand trading in the CowGirls for a better team after that shalacking

[muscle_collector]

Originally Posted by gtohurstjudge

OK, you guys have convinced me that POCI sucks because they don't cowtow
to my every need and whim. I'm submitting my resignation today. Also, I don't get along
with one of my neighbors down the block so I'm putting my house up for sale as soon as
I can get a realtor on the phone. Also, the Dallas Cowboys lost last Sunday so I'll be damned
if I'm going to be a Cowboy fan anymore.....I'm tuning out! Thanks to everyone for helping
me see the light! I feel better already!

Winston, as a lifetime diehard cowboy fan (as much as I have wanted to hate them especially when they fired landry) I have stuck by them and until this year always went to some of their home games. BUT I am so sick of jerry jones and the predictable nature of them. that this year I have found myself yelling at the tv as to what they are going to do to find a way to lose. and sure enough it seems to happen. but I am still trying to stick with them. 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.

[GpFreak]

Originally Posted by Deadhead

For me, this is the problem. Stipulating that there must be politics involved and that there are "people above you in rank". That is not the case. This is not a military organization. We are not going into battle. There may be those who make decisions and take action on behalf of the club, but they are not ABOVE any of the other members. The predisposition to assuming that members will not like what is decided is also unnecessary. If this were the case then there would be no organizations devoid of discontent. While I am fully aware that some people can not be satisfied, I refuse to believe that is a given for the majority.

The fact that the problems have existed for 35 years is what I would like to see addressed.

I see what your problem is, it's that country you live in... the USSA, where is that anyway?

[Deadhead]

Originally Posted by GpFreak

I see what your problem is, it's that country you live in... the USSA, where is that anyway?

United Soviet States of America Sorry if you don't get the irony.

Don Bougher informs me that the deadline for submitting answers to the board questionnaire is 11/15.