Re: Latest Issue of Packards International Magazine

Posted by BH On 2009/7/22 10:05:06

It seems to me that clubs who complain the most about "the graying of the hobby" are the ones who are least willing to try and understand what's really behind that trend.

If the problem was merely getting younger people interested in old cars, the most effective approach would be to get the cars out in the public eye more often and let curiosity take over. Beyond that, fostering involvement is one thing, but don't forget the old adage that "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink".

When it comes to declining club membership, methinks the clubs need to look inward. Also, some people are not only un-interested in social organizations, but turned off by pecking orders and rules of engagement. That's only the tip of the iceberg.

Point is: if people can't get what they're looking for from the club, it should come as little surprise, then, that they look elsewhere. The Internet simply opened up a whole new world of potential in that regard.

Yet, while a lot of Packard-related sites have come and gone, PackardInfo thrives. IMHO, this is due, in part, to this site being open to all regardless of what club you belong to or none at all (like me), yet not controlled by any club. When it comes to format, the site is easy to register, sign-in and navigate, and the forums are not overly moderated. Perhaps most important of all is the amount of information that has been archived - thanks to many generous members and the care and handling of the webmaster.

Alas, while the Internet has become more widely accepted in the past decade or so, there are still many who have neither had time for nor wanted anything to do with it.

That said, I'm glad to see PackardInfo getting more recognition and acceptance.