[DML] The DOA and DML (long)

[James Espey <james@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Paul,

Note that the opinions expressed here are mine alone, and may not
reflect the views of my employer, DeLorean Motor Company (Texas).

-----------

This is a long story, and old history. The cast of characters have
changed over the last 8 years or so, and certainly roles they all play
(mine included) have changed. For a trip down memory lane, however,
start with the link Mike Babb provided:

http://www.dmcnews.com/backissues/aug97files/dml269.html

and work your way forward.

As a bit of background that may or may not be there (I don't recall what
I wrote at the time), from summer 95 through sometime in 96 or so, I was
a Board member of the DOA, traveling from AZ to CA for the monthly board
meetings at my own expense. I was the only non-Southern California board
member, and youngest by a good 15-20 years (I was 28-29 yrs old then).

Because at the time I had what the DOA wanted (internet experience), I
found myself a part of the "in" clique among the board members. One of
the ways the DOA stayed in power so long was by controlling information
- service, technical, even member rosters - and I was for disseminating
information to all interested owners and enthusiasts. I bumped heads
with the then president (and DeLorean One owner) Ed Bernstein
increasingly until finally I became fed up and resigned when at a board
members "planning weekend" he insulted and berated a former DOA regional 
club coordinator and personal friend of mine. In hindsight, I should
have stayed on the board and tried to change things from the inside.
I've since come to realize that my resignation was probably what Ed
wanted all along, and he hit all the right "buttons" to get me to resign.

After my resignation, I continued to moderate the DML, which I started
about the same time I joined the DOA board in Aug 1995. I allowed
postings which aired the DOA's "dirty laundry" (which I knew to be true
from my experience as a board member). This led to the letter referenced
in the link above. I also poked and prodded via the DML and other means
to try to get changes to the DOA as a regular member, which I'm sure
contributed to some degree to the lawyer letter I received.

The DOA did many things other than this to alienate members, and like 
Marty, I suspect the reason they are offering the 3 year/back issue deal 
now is because they are out of or nearly out of funds, but as they've 
failed for whatever reason to publish a treasurer's report for years 
(which used to be required in the by-laws, though they may have changed 
that to suit them, too), that's just speculation. They got in this 
position by having failed to change with the times to present an 
appealing package to members and their inability to put together a 
well-attended national event. The format change of "DeLorean World" to 
"dw" was also not well-received by members, though in all truthfulness, 
in the last 10 years or so before that change, the content quality of 
"DeLorean World" had declined as well by most people's accounts.

The DOA may have had 7,000 cumulative members over the years, but I
doubt they EVER had more than 2000 at any given time. While I was on the
board, memberships were hovering at about 1500. You used to be able to
tell how many members (more or less) they had because a certain
percentage were required to be nominated for the board, and that
percentage, reported as a numerical figure (ie 50 members), could be
used to extrapolate how many members were on board at that time. I think
that requirement has been scrapped, as well. My guess is that the DOA
now has about 500 active members, possibly less (not counting whoever
they may have signed up as a result of this recent postcard mailing).
When I was on the board we used to figure about about 10% of the active
members would attend an expo, and in Nashville 1996, than was about
150-175, IIRC. Using that same model, the last expo in Long Beach I
heard drew about 40-50 people (board not included).

Is there still a need for an organization like the DOA? Now that we have
several robust local owner groups around the world, the DCS and DMC
(Texas) shows, three good magazines to choose from, the DeLorean Owners
Directory (another idea of mine that the DOA refused to implement, so I
created one through the DML) and the mailing list and new DMCHelp.com
forums, no, I don't think a need for the DOA exists any longer. What
will they offer that is markedly different or better than any of those
things just mentioned? And at a price that is competitive or better than
what is already available?

I appreciate their newfound interest in appealing to prospective
members, no doubt brought on by the changes in the board, and perhaps
the realization that the ship was sinking. I wish Tony, Sascha and the
others the best of luck, and hope that their offerings to the DeLorean
community in the future are intended to bring everyone together than to
keep everyone in the dark as in the past.

James Espey

Again, note that the opinions expressed here are mine alone, and may not
reflect the views of my employer, DeLorean Motor Company (Texas).







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