mschuyler

I looked and couldn't see any better place to put this, but the topic is Corvette clubs, more especially "local" ones. In looking around it seems to me they range from the very strict to the impromptu. I have one near me which requires you to attend regular meetings at least four times before you are "accepted" as a member, but only of you pay the dues. You are then expected to participate in whatever activities they come up with, many of which have nothing to do with corvettes (Road pickup and a monthly charity drive, for example.) They are a non-profit and registered with the Secretary of State and pretty formal in everything they do. I talked to a guy in California who is president of his club. There are no dues and meetings happen when someone thinks about it and calls the others up to show up at a local coffee shop. What is your opinion of clubs? Do you think they are worthwhile or a nuisance? Just curious.

Steve_R

I like informal get togethers. I have no use for a strict club where you have to be "accepted" and are required to attend events. BTDT and won't do it again.

TNSQUIRE

Our club requires you to attend two events and be sponsored by a member to become a member. You then pay dues but can come to as many or as few events as you want. We have a monthly meeting, fun runs, beach parties, we sponsor an annual car show and all money raised goes to a local non profit.

Patman

We have a group of guys up here in Toronto that are basically just all members of the Canadian Events section on here! We'll post on there when we're going to have a get together and if you wanna show up you do, and if you don't, no big deal. No fees required, no sitting in a meeting room talking boring stuff, just Corvette guys getting together for a cruise or a dinner or car show. We sort of dubbed ourselves the "unclub"

Steve Garrett

I'm the President of the Corvette Club of Kansas City. It's fun to hang with people who have a similar interest.

JoesC5

The club I belong to has a set of officers and has a monthly dinner meeting, then we get together for other club activities once or twice a month. You are a member as long as you pay your dues each year. No one is required to do anything other than pay their dues.

We have a great bunch of members and since we have a large population of retirees in the Branson Area, everyone has little different perspective, which makes it interesting.

For example, last Thursday we went to a baseball game and drove 18 Corvettes around the field, enjoyed $1 Brats and got a free Springfield Cardinals ball cap, and all for just a $15 ticket each for a night's entertainment.

In August we did a 275 mile cruise over to Pittsburg, KS for a chicken dinner and a shorter cruise for some Mexican food down in Arkansas.

In early November we will have 15 Corvettes for a four day cruise to Queen Wilhelmina State Park in Arkansas to see the fall colors in the mountains. Beautiful lodge and a relaxing two night stay. Gorgeous Ozark scenery to travel through on the way down there and return by another route. Corvette roads for sure.

In July, a group went to Glacier National Park, then down to Yellowstone and Jackson Hole.

We try and have a long distance trip once a year. Might be 5 cars or 15 cars on those trips. Vermont, California, Natchez, MS, Mackinac Island and Key West, and everywhere in between. We have hit every state in the lower 48 on our trips(not at the same time, LOL).

Some just show up for the monthly meetings and some don't show at all.

Several years ago, after the terrible tornado that almost wiped Joplin off the map, we raided our treasury and took a huge grille/trailer and several tents/tables/chairs and plenty of ice cold drinks plus extra ice for the volunteer's coolers and went to Joplin to feed, for free to them, the wonderful volunteers that came from all over the US to help with the cleanup.

A club is what the members want it to be. It can be a great club like ours or it can be a snotty group that no one wants to belong to, or a bunch of lazy people that wants everyone else to do the planning/work to make the club interesting.

koranke

My impression is that most Corvette clubs seem to be more about looking at cars and socializing. Both great things, but I'm more interested in driving great cars on great roads. Car clubs that are not specific to one model seem to have more driving activities, though the ultimate is just to hook up with some friends and do your own trip.

fyreline

Our local Corvette Club is a great source of fellowship and camaraderie. Our meetings are pretty informal, our activities are social and civic-minded, and we have a lot of fun. I highly recommend you find a club that suits you, and by all means participate.

Normally I take the Groucho Marx view of clubs - I wouldn't want to belong to any group that would have me as a member - but I made an exception in this case, and I'm glad I did.

Frosty

What is typical for dues?

The local Corvette club around where I live is $50 per year. I used to belong to PCA Potomac region and you got a monthly magazine that was quite nice called Porsche Panorama.

Gearhead Jim

Within a hour's drive of us there are at least four different Corvette clubs.

One is primarily social.
One is oriented toward autocrossers and trackrats.
One is big on restorations and car shows.
One does all of those things at different times throughout the season.

We enjoy our club and the people in it tremendously. Do some checking, pick the one that's best for you, and go enjoy the car.

There's an old saying:
"You join for the car but you stay for the people."

Acenines3

I belong to two corvette clubs.
1) Corvette Club of America- This club is the oldest corvette club in America. They are based out of Maryland and I live in NJ and have been to two of there events.
2) Woodbridge Corvette Club- This is my local club. I have been to a few events with them and we are getting ready for our show in October. All is welcome.

walker3

I belong to two - $50 a year each, both meet monthly I attend when I can - eat, listen what is going on, who is going where, etc.
I don't like car shows - too hot to sit in a parking lot all day - do support the two clubs I belong to.

I like the trips - retiring next year so hope to take a lot of trips

Kraz8s

I collect the local Vette Club's cards they leave on my car. I honestly stay away from them. I'm a car guy that happens to own a Vette. They are Vette people that only want to talk about Vettes. A bit snobby at times. Could also be the 20 year or so ago gape between me and most of their members. Or the fact that I've been chastised by a few of them for daily driving mine...who knows. I'll stick with my friends that own Vettes and the random Vette owners around town that I've befriended over the years.

kenw

I have been a club member for 17 years and president for the last 9 years of a Corvette club in central Va. Ours is a pretty informal club, $30.00 per year per couple or single which is pro-rated depending on when you join in a given year. There is no requirement for the amount of meeting you attend but we do encourage participation. We have monthly meetings normally on Saturday normally at a restaurant. Average attendance is 40 to 50 people. We usually have an overnight trip in the spring and fall and a longer trip in between. We encourage members to plan events. We keep everyone informed through emails, facebook and our website of local car shows and other events we think members may enjoy. There are a few people who do HPDE's but I am the only one who may be called a trackrat. Most of our membership probably would be termed "show and shine". As Gearhead Jim posted "you join for the car, you stay for the people" which is very true. I have always stressed to our members "the club will be only as good for you as you want it to be. I would suggest if you live in an area that has several try them all and see if any fits.

chronage

Nay for me personally. Almost everyone is twice my age. I like Cars 'n Coffee.

2016_Z06

Agreed on the Cars n Coffee!

It's also nice to see other cars and introduce people to the corvette as well.

One guy thought it was a Ferrari and couldn't believe the USA made cars like this anymore!

roadbike56

I'm a member of Corvettes International, one of the two Corvette clubs in the Raleigh area. They don't have many requirements however, you must pay your dues and we are encouraged to help at the annual car show where all the proceeds are donated to charity. Otherwise they have a number of social events and a track day. They discuss at least one technical topic at each meeting. Great group, many different year Vettes and the members span a large age differential.

JK 23112

The Corvette Club of Richmond is outstanding! I just joined recently - and all you have to do (outside of actually owning a Corvette) is to show up for THREE activities or events of your choice -- plus ONE regular membership meeting. The dues are just $25.00 per year and you can participate as little or as much as you want once you are a member.

It's great for camaraderie, learning about Corvettes and taking great "road trips" as a group. The last activity we did even had a police escort. Not too shabby!

http://www.corvetteclubofrichmond.com

sunsalem

Sounds similar to my local club...and why I don't belong to it.




The internet has kinda made traditional clubs like this obsolete.

Letzgofly

I would run from any club which has so many rules. A club is supposed to be fun .