Where to from here - after HR4205?

From: Douglas Greville (dgrev@mail.ruralnet.net.au)
Date: Fri Aug 25 2000 - 22:23:14 PDT


To me, the MVPA has very little chance of winning this battle. It is in
the scale of things (USA where most things are BIG) a very small
organisation. In all probability the Barbie Doll Collectors Club
or the Coca-Cola Memorabilia Collectors Club has 10 times the number of
members and 10 times the political voice.
Until the MVPA can align itself with another organisation, one of common
interest BUT one with clout, or have powerful friends in the right
places, it will be treated as a voice in the wilderness. I really don't
think it has the funds to go down the "paid lobbyist" path for very long.

This is a very good opportunity to prove to the disillusioned and/or
former members that it is not "just a Jeep club" and to repair the
damage that has been done. Amongst not only the armour owners (who
remember quite well several emails to this list from an "official"
MVPA source when this Form 6 business first reared its ugly head
saying "we aren't concerned about armor, what worries us is if
they ban the import of Jeeps" (loose quote from memory).
But also amongst the owners of "M" series vehicles whether they be
soft, hard, wheeled or tracked.

I suggest that a good ally would be the EAA.

Why? Ever been to the Oshkosh Air Show? You only need to look at what is
around you to know that the big boys are playing with the big toys.
The EAA air show is to the aviation enthusiast what Beltring is to us.
Lots of people travel from all over the world to attend and it is hugely
successful. A very significant reason for this success is the draw card
of ex-military "heavy metal" aeroplanes. The EAA is well aware of this
fact, although most of their membership is from general aviation, they
know what brings the people there and thus the dollars in.
The difference is that although there is just as big a mix of people in
the membership as what we see in our hobby,
there is also a high representation of those with big dollars and
high connections. Your average man in the street doesn't own
a P-51 Mustang fighter or build and fly his own aeroplane, the richer
end of town does.

In years past there was always a HMV representation at Oshkosh, although
for some reason, for the 2 years I attended, in the 1980's there was none,
although when I asked, the organisers of the air show had been expecting
"the army jeep guys". Surely someone on this list lives in Oshkosh,
Manitowoc or elsewhere nearby and can tell us if there is still HMV
representation at the air show?

When the EAA (especially the number of members it
represents and who they are) starts making noises I would expect those
in power are far more likely to listen, what better if they can also
say "what about these guys that own ex-military vehicles?". I won't be at
all surprised if there is some clause inserted in this new legislation
that allows for ex-mil aeroplanes, but will there be one for vehicles?

As most of us know, any hobby is about networking and unfortunately, I
think the survival of this one depends on networking too, but with
the right people outside of our immediate hobby.

What about the vintage car movement for another?

I am CC'ing this email to the MVPA in the hope that the full board will
read it.

Regards
Doug



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