Meeting Tips

Brainstorm with your Members

Looking for new meeting topics? Open up the discussion to members of your club. Not everyone has the same interests, so it’s worth a brainstorming session or two to see what your members want to talk about, learn about and take part in. If you’re still stuck, we’re here to help.

The energy and enthusiasm of car club members is obvious, and their passion for the collector car hobby is indeed palpable.

They love sharing the history of their particular cars, the events they have participated in, the tours they’ve travelled, the restorations they have completed. And it’s not a solitary hobby. It’s a group effort and a family affair.

That’s why many car clubs are focusing on promoting their hobby to the next generation. They want to encourage youth to learn more about collector cars, to foster a desire in them to someday own their own collector car and carry on this important hobby.

There are many ways this mission can be accomplished. Your club may want to develop its own youth program like the NCCC has done (as spotlighted in this issue). Or you can simply introduce children to the hobby by offering kid-friendly activities at your meetings and events.

Here are some ways to include youth in your car club:

• Many schools today require their students to earn credits by volunteering in their community. Your club can partner with a local church or agency that has a need, and recruit students from the schools to work on the project with you. What a great way to have an impact on your community, the school and today’s youth.
• Team up with another club that has a youth program and contribute time and/or money.
• Have your club make a donation to a collector car youth program, such as the Collector's Foundation.
• Invite the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts to one of your meetings. Assist them in earning a merit badge.
• Invite students from high school auto body shop classes to your meeting. Let them inspect your cars, sit in on the meeting and ask questions. Better yet, bring your meeting – and cars – to the school.

The possibilities are endless. The first step is to make sure the members of your car club understand the importance of this effort. Once you have their seal of approval, they’ll drive the movement and take it to the next level.

For more meeting ideas or to obtain pamphlets on topics ranging from Restoration to Towing and Trailering, visit Car Club Central at www.hagerty.com/carclubcentral.