>What is the status of putting the Membership Directory online?
=====
Hi, Jerry;
Thanks for inquiring about an "online" version of the MVPA Membership
Directory. It will probably be a couple of years before the Directory
goes online -- if it ever does.
Here are some of the considerations:
1 - Data in the current Directory is about seven years old now. While we
could do a new "dump" of the current membership information, much of the
vehicle information would have to be obtained from the members and
reentered, edited, and corrected. That is about a two-year job and we
don't have an editor: Lloyd White, editor of the last Directory, resigned
the position and wants to concentrate on the RECONN G 503 feature in ARMY
MOTORS and other projects.
2 - Having an online Directory could lead to member privacy concerns and
possible intrusions from both government agencies and businesses: We have
seen in the past that government agents carrying MVPA publications have
visited members to examine vehicles that have appeared in advertising in
the magazines. Businesses could capture the membership list, filter and
sort it a number of ways, and use it for commercial gain.
3 - Only about one out of five members purchased our last Directory:
While everyone agrees it is a good thing, few members actually support it
through purchase, even at a deeply discounted price.
The MVPA Board of Directors has had two proposals from outside "hard
copy" membership directory production companies that provide directories
for other antique car clubs, alumni associations, etc. We discussed the
proposals at the Annual Board Meeting near Tobyhanna Army Depot last
weekend and will revisit the subject during the next Meeting in August
1998.
One alternative to a complete formal Directory would be an online
Directory that would be completely voluntary. Registration would be by an
online form rather than using the MVPA's full membership list. This gets
into an area in which I -- and our ISP -- have little experience. If you
have any thoughts about this, or experience with another online
directory, we would like to hear about it.
Thanks for your interest and --
"Keep 'em Rolling!"
==========
Jerry Cleveland
MVPA SUPPLY LINE Editor
www.mvpa.org
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