What do you think of this?
One or twice a month by default, have a get together at the same "centrally" located spot in Metropolitan Houston.
It can be a restaurant, a park, a parking lot, a crater, doesnt matter.
You just mark 2 Saturdays a month as Joes Crab Shack, or whatever, just as long as its the same place each time and if people want to show they show, and if they dont they wont.
If the weathers bad, who cares? There will be another one every two weeks.
Cant make it? Who cares? Just attend the next one.
Get my drift?
It costs nothing...just mark the freakin calender for every other Saturday at some location and if people show they show and if they dont they dont.
Basically, someplace that no matter who or where you are, if you go there, theres a really good chance others will too.
Pick a WELL KNOWN restuarant thats not managed by ********...you can eat there or not, up to you, but one thing is that there will always be Z owners buying whatever food they sell every other Saturday.
Done....

 

Wow !
You make it sound so simple...gee, I wish I had thought of that !

Make it happen, and I'll show up from time-to-time (maybe).
Are you going to be there at every meeting?
Who's gonna organize this thing? Contact the restaurant, talk to the police when they show up to run you off from the parking lot, or the other hundred things that pop up?

Even when I do post up activities, few, if anybody from here shows up.
I'm open to suggestions....really ! I would like to do something that would attract a BUNCH of Z's.
I've been told that some of my activities are too "adventurous", so I'm trying to think of simpler, cheaper events.
June 11th, we're planning a picnic at the San Jacinto Monument.
Should provide plenty of tire-kickin' with great photo ops ! The price should be right (free); it's a one day event, for however long you want to stay.
I've still got to clear it with the Parks Dept. out there.
I'll post when the details are completed.
zcardave

 

Easier said than done.

 

Z Club used to do alot of stuff...
You dont need anything to just post on the clubs calender the words "get together", set MS Outlook to send the same notice to the same dist list automatically for every other saturday at any park that has a parking lot, BBQ, and grass.
Here I will help you..go to MS Outlook and post the following:

"Z Club bi-monthly get together", Lake Conroe Park, every other Saturday.
Create a distribution list, save it, send...you can set it to send every other week, or do it manually.
There it cost you nothing but 5 mins of typing.
If no ones show...fine, if 100 people show fine...doesnt matter, its the default meeting place.

Now go argue about the location..oh yeah thats right you left it to me.


The point being is that there will always be the same place for Z people to congregate that is free, cheap, and requires no planning or effort than a calender post.
It was my understanding that Z owners alread do this at Kin Chans every Saturday.
If you dont want to exert the effort, give me rights to the clubs calender and I will do it.
Police dont chase you from parks, and if your eating at the restuarant they cant chace you away.
What are they gonna say a bunch of people all driving the same brand car just showed up to eat..arrest them!
If theres a will theres a way, and I sense no will.

maybe its time for re-elections?
So how many other Nissan Dealerships have you called?
Want me to call them? I will!

 

You're volunteering to do all this stuff?.....
You know what I want you to do?
I'd like you to show up at the Z Club of Houston Monthly Meeting tomorrow night.
I'd really like to see if you are as abrasive in person as you come across here on the forum.

Don't question my dedication to the club.
There's nothing I would like more, than to get a whole lot of the new 350Z Owners on board with the club. I guess I'm having a hard time relating to what the "younger" group wants to do. Getting old has it's down side

Any time that you get a group of Z's together, it draws attention. Almost everytime that we get together in a public place, an HPD Cruiser usually comes by. Sometimes they just want to talk, sometimes they just "check us out". Heck...one time a patrolman stopped by because he had a Z !

Looking forward to meeting you tomorrow night.
Let's see what plan(s) we can come up with.
zcardave

 

well i certainly commend you for your enthuZiasm! the biggest thing, i think, is people dont want to travel all the way across Htown for something that isnt a sure bet. I mean, it's one thing to get on a forum and get some interest in a casual meet.....but its another to just let it happen on its own.

sometimes i wont want to drive 45min away just to chill with 1 other Z for 10 min and then split.

 

VinUnleaded: Feel free to organize a meet outside of the Z club and just invite them. I am curious to see the outcome. Talk is cheap!

 

I'm still curious why ZCOH meets are not drawing Z's out. I've talked with Mike about this very issue...I've been organizing events for 300zx's...and we have several 350z's join us to. We've had 3 very successful meets...we're having dinner tonight at Hooters on I-45 at Nasa Rd 1 at 8pm...just an informal gathering...we've become good friends as a result of the meets.

As most of you know, I am hosting what will probably be one of the largest Z meets this year. I have over 40 Z's coming out...yeah I said 40! + we have some members from the local Nissan 240SX Club to join us as well as some BMW's from a Woodlands Club. We will also have about 10 sport bikes....so what does this mean? By myself(and the help of a few of my Z brethren) I've been able to gather over 40 Z's for an event that has people coming from all over Texas to join us...and I've only been doing these meets for 4 months!

What's my secret?

Plain and simple: EXPOSURE! I don't rely on one site...there are several sites devoted to the Nissan Z...and not just the 350Z which said to say appears to be focus of some people. I currently own a 300ZX...and will be buying another 300ZX Twin Turbo in 2 weeks...so you could say I'm a Z nut...since I'm already looking into getting a Z31 and a 280Z later this year. Besides Exposure, make it fun....Hooters is a great-fun location...the name does not imply as much we'd like these days(they could stand some improvement in this area LoL!)...but they have great food...and we've never been asked to leave...and we've talked with them on the phone about our meets...and they've always been receptive.

But why is the beach cruise so popular? Well let's see...there's the beach, there's the chance to meet several other Z members that you talked to everyday on these forums...its kind of cool when your giving a reply on the forum and your fellow Z member happens to call you by first name...it means your connected with your Z community...you actually an enthusiast who enjoys meeting other Z owners...someone who would be crazy enough to drive to Z events on the West Coast/East Coast. And then there is the Bikini Contest...and then there is the simple matter of logistics...you want to have a beach party? Do it on a public beach...Crystal Beach...need a place to cook? Rent a house...yeah its expensive...but after everyone who is staying the night pays me for the stayover...I'll have picked up only 40% of the tab...which is worth to me...since I get to enjoy the house for a week.


Anyway, this is just my $.02 cents from a successful Z Event Coordinator....You want a Z meet....let me know...and I'll get you a Z meet! There....now that's the challenge...come out to our meet on June 18th...and see a Z meet the way its suppossed to be!

Later,

Zizzle

 

Depends on the location...some places in Houston just plainsuck on Saturdays.
Case in point FM1960 = parking lot.
I can't do anything during the week during work, so I am left with Saturday and Sunday.
Dave, not picking on you just pointing out the club seems to need some kind of NOS injection...
Give me access to the club calender, I am an IT guy, Ill post the informal events..in fact read these forums...Houston Z owners are already doing these little get togethers.

 

Vin,
I think this is exactly the point that TruBlu is trying to make...there's room for a lot of informal get togethers. Invite the Z Club People, and I'm sure some of them will turn out. We don't have an exclusive on running events in Houston...if we did I would charge admission (just kidding).
I just don't understand why more people don't show up at our events.
The last couple of days postings have provided me with a lot to think about.
We'll see what happens.

Zizzle,
all I can say is Wow! You are the man.
Just one question though....what would you say the average age of participants will be at your beach party?
You forget that I have to have events that appeal to a very diverse age group.

When I (and the club) was much younger, the Z Club used to do the beach house thing from time-to-time...Lots of beer, lots of babes, lots of fun...but now...

1)I don't want my Z sitting in that salt air, any more than it already does (I live in Galveston County). I'm originally from Galveston, so about the only reason to go back is to get some fresh seafood, and to go catch a few waves from time-to-time.
2)I don't drink beer (or much of anything fun) anymore....doctor's orders.
3)I can't tell you the last time that I slept on the floor in a sleeping bag...it would probably take two of you to help me get off the floor the next morning.
4)a Bikini Contest....I look absolutely horrible in a bikini ! ...oh, you mean not me? I've got a life-sized picture of my Wife approving of my lusting after some nubile-young, scantily-clad babes
5)...and last...what would I do with my 7yr. old Daughter? A good point that Harvester UT brought up. (and NO, I'm not entering her in the bikini contest)

I think this activity is GREAT...I wish I could participate...but it's just not for me.
There's a place for this and all the other activities....and it shouldn't be a competition between us...you're just reaching a sector of Z Owners that I can no longer relate to. Same thing with the meeting at Hooter's...it's a definate draw. Personally, I think the food is pretty lousy (but that's just me). The Babes are a definate bonus...but again, it's not a place I want to take my family...but I think you should continue to meet there. It seems to be pretty popular, and I appreciate your inviting me, for that occassional night I can get out of the house by myself.

Another activity I would like to see come back is the Thurs. Nite Import drag racing in Baytown....did they do away with that?
Racing?...man, that's what I enjoy...and I'm definately NOT talking about street racing...too many liabilities when involving an organization.
That's why we "save it for the track", be it drag racing, autocrossing, or road course !
We should all be working together on activities, not trying to out-do each other.
zcardave

 

Well average age for the meet is going to be about 30 or so.

Yeah, I understand the need to provide a more family-oriented outlet. The only thing that I'm concerned with, and what Mike and I talked about tonight...is the issue of meets per se. Yes, we need family outings, but we also need some 'fun' outings for those that can make it(or get permission lol). The reality is that there are a lot of younger guys out there buying 350's, 300's etc. Hell, I've been itching to buy a 350Z for several months, but having one would not increase my interest in the meets. The reality is that people that buy and drive Z's are enthusiasts(most at least)...and most are young at heart.

So yes...do the family events, but also do some more adventurous events...I've told Mike that I really want to join ZCOH...but I look at the east/west coast clubs...they're just better...great locations/weather obviously...but the one thing they have is actually Z Club sponsored forums on 300zxclub and the other forums...where people can get info and details about meets w/o having to go directly to zcar.org. Tell you what, I'll join this month...and if you want I'll volunteer for helping to organize and coordinate events for family & single/married w/ permission groups!

The sky is the limit when it comes to these meets...every meet we have I'm already thinking 3 months down the road as to what's next. I have no problem attending the monthly meetings...hell, I'm a serious Z fanatic now...I'd need it just to get my 'high'! lol

As for the June event...yeah I can understand your concerns and objections...this is something we've talked about several times...myself, Mike, and several others have met a lot of the Houston guys that are joining us...very mature individuals.

As for the saltwater...well, yeah that's not a good thing...which is why those that are not staying the night will be advised to wash their cars after leaving. Those staying the night will be park by the house off of the beach.


As for sleeping on the floor...we're going to have inflateable beds.

As for children, obviously this is NOT a family affair....which is one reason why it is so popular...this isn't something we're planning to have more then once a year(I do intend to make this a yearly event). But even though we need to plan events for everyone we should off something else for those that do not have the restrictions.

Anyway...I'll send my membership info in this month...and maybe at the next monthly meet we can talk about some more. And once again, I'll volunteer to help with this...I'm on the internet boards a lot...here, 350zmotoring, twinturbo, 300zxclub, houston-imports, etc.

There's no reason why we can't turn this around!

Later

Brent(zizzlemynizzle)

 

Dave, how about getting the membership cards, newsletter, sticker, etc to those members who joined in Feb/March and STILL have not received any acknowledgement to our membership checks...
Maybe thats why no one shows up, they send in thier membership dues and get nothing promised in return.

And yes, now I am picking on teh ZClub officers big time.
If you guys have time to chat on these forums and send emails out, then you have the time to suff envelopes!

 

I would recommend going directly through www.zcar.org at the very least so people visiting this site from the Houston area won't be concerned about joining ZCOH and not getting a "return" of investment quickly. Not saying you don't have a complaint...just that it might be more expedient to direct it through www.zcar.org in order to get results faster.

Anyway,

Hopefully this will not happen to me either...sending the money next week Dave!

Later

Brent

 

Brent,
THIS is exactly what I'm looking for....some help with the "younger" crowd.
I understand that we need to offer events that will draw them in. Not all Z owners are old farts like me

TruBlu was going to help me with this issue, but he got mad because he never got his membeship card or anything for joining....a legitimate concern.
George and I are still buddies though, because he knows that's not my department, and I have no control over this. The problem (I've heard) is we're having issues with the Post Office...and as you know, when dealing with a government agency, don't expect anything too quickly.

Which brings my point to Vin...
I doubt that the officers of the club are cruising the chat sites. I only cruise this one site because I know (and have met) a lot of people on it.
In case you haven't noticed...I'm the ACTIVITIES Director. Which is why I'm concerned with what it's going to take to please EVERYBODY

Which brings us back to Brent...
(this is one vicious circle) I would appreciate and welcome any assistance with making the Z Club and the Houston Z Community, the envy of the Nation
!

...and since you mention the East/West Coast thing...
As I WAS the Assistant Director for the ZCCA (z car club assoc.), I used to attend meetings and functions of clubs across America when I could.
You have to understand that YES...California will ALWAYS have the best events/turnouts/etc...with Nissan in their back yard and car enthusiasts all over the state !
...but the rest of the country, I think you'd be surprised.
They are smaller clubs, with several other clubs within hours of each other.
In Texas EVERYTHING requires an hour+ drive. The other nearest Z Club is Brazos Valley (College Station). We try to have multi-club events with the other Texas Clubs several times a year (our Z Extravaganza is one of them).
Houston is the 4th largest city in America...and we are spread out over a LARGE area, so it's hard to please everybody by not having events in their back yard.
So with some help...we should be able to make this club even bigger and better (and for those of you that "aren't into clubs"...you can come and play too).
zcardave

 

That problem STILL exists (no membership anything)? That person needs to be fired! It doesn't look good on the club as a whole. 6 or so months and still nothing!

 

I AGREE....it's embarrassing !

I'll be bringing this up at the meeting tonight.
Thanks for your support,
zcardave

 

Dave, I hope your not taking my posts as insults...just overly animated posts from an over enthusiastic Z owner, who would REALLY like to meet other Z owners.
If you knew me, you would realize thats just my personality.
I only abuse the ones I like.