2021, Continuing thru Covid, remarkably…
Effective ongoing Communication continued to NNJR Membership via enhanced Website fine-tuned by Dyke Hensen, on-line Porscheforus publication by Editor Petra Swift, Monthly Zoom Programs by Chair Shannon Muller with technical support from husband Matt & Video/YouTube extraordinaire Bill Gilbert
DE Chair Thom Calabro delivered a full DE schedule when contrasted to pre-Covid 2019 season resulting in Registrations up 13%, increases of 17% for Students coupled with an astonishing 93% in Instructors, plus 5900 views of NNJR training videos! Popular track adds included Summit Point (last-2008) and Pitt-Race (3-Days-22) which will continue forward in 2022
Rally Meister John Vogt returned Rally Program to a full 5-event season by enlisting a Rally Cadre comprised of specialists schooled in fine-art of rallying, including Peter & Joanne Schneider, Erik & Pat Sjogren and Duncan & Britt Findlay… all in support of keeping NNJR fabled Rally program one of most popular in PCA! Dreyfus 60th Anniversary Rally well celebrated, as was John’s June 27 Cruise Night also back, setting an All-Time-High attendance, along with Nov 7 Off-Road Excursion #8 thru NJ Pinelands, hosted by Peter Schneider!
Concours Chair Kevin Fitzsimmons insured NNJR nationally recognized Concours Program also back to a full complement of competitive events, augmented by his own prepared YouTube & P4US highly descriptive DIY instruction focusing on Concours preparedness; such step-by-step detail unquestionably aiding Kevin’s own 1st Place Preparation Award for 993 entry at French Lick Parade
Not to be outdone by 2020 past-record $24k charity contribution, co-Charity Chairs Hubert & Linda King 2021 effort resulted in PCA unheard-of-astonishing $40k to Cheshire Home, a combination of Gold Ticket sales, donations to Fall-Bed Fund, and registration for May Welcome to Club Concours & Rally. Additionally, NNJR supported local food banks with direct monetary contributions
Not quite the Committee level of DE, AutoX, Concours & Rally, Membership under the direction of Chairs Rudy & Nancy Samsel has really advanced to a plateau not readily recallable at NNJR. Their stewardship, creativity, in-depth analysis, and in-person social interfacing is making a difference by ensuring new members are embraced and find good reason to continue membership!
In six decades we’ve grown to nearly 3,800 total members, all sharing the same passion. Members enjoy participating in a wide variety of events throughout the year. As an NNJR-PCA member you have access to all PCA National and Zone #1 resources and events.
Import our Google Calendar
President’s Letter 2022
/in NNJR BLOG, President's Letter, What's New /by nnjr-pcaNNJR-PCA PRESIDENT’S LETTER, MAY 2022
The only constant is change.
I’ve said it in the past, but has it ever been more true? As your newest president to carry the NNJR torch, I entered 2022 with cautious optimism. We were slowly removing many of the pandemic restrictions that had prevented us from gathering in close proximity for the past two years, and things appeared to be getting back to “normal.” Anyone trying to navigate life in the last two years can remember how difficult it was in the early part of 2020, and I have to thank Janice and the board members who managed the club through it.
As we hurtle towards Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start of summer, I’m hopeful that we can meet in person, bump fists (are we still shaking hands?), and share a beverage while admiring our cars. Now, let’s discuss change.
Just yesterday Porsche debuted the Cayman GT4-E performance. An all-electric racecar. This comes after Porsche’s foray into Formula E, the Taycan, and the announcement of the next gen Boxster being all-electric. Change is good, right? I’ll admit that the Taycan is a pretty amazing car. You also can’t fault the acceleration or the weight distribution of most battery powered vehicles (all the weight down low and in the middle). But do they spark (pun intended) the passion and excitement of a traditional ICE car? That remains to be seen.
Moreover, will racing and track day fans take to them? As a dedicated “DE guy” I’m not sure I’m ready to hear the inevitable; “I would have passed you-but my battery was running low” excuses. Jump packs will have a whole new meaning and folks will talk about the good old days when carburetors iced over and fuel pumps vapor locked. Will extension cords replace red gas containers? Change is constant and it is coming.
I’ll close out this letter with a look forward and back. This year we celebrate NNJR’s 65th anniversary and I’m looking forward to our anniversary party in June. Please join us if you can. It will be a fantastic celebration. I also need to look back and celebrate Dennis Thovson who left us this year after 50+ years of service to the Porsche Club of America. Dennis held every role imaginable including national president, VP, treasurer, parade chair, and the person responsible for starting NNJR’s very successful DE program. As we look forward to our 65th gathering, let’s also look back to thank those that got us here. Without the changes they made, we would not have the club we enjoy today. Thank you.
Richard Barry – NNJR-PCA President
REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE
/in BOG Meeting Minutes, President's Letter, What's New /by nnjr-pcaREPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The Nominating Committee, exercising its duties as representatives of the NNJR membership and pursuant to Article X of the NNJR Bylaws, has nominated the following candidates to serve on the Board of Governors for the calendar year 2022:
PRESIDENT: Richard Barry
VICE PRESIDENT: Lester Cheng
SECRETARY: Cindy Cristello
TREASURER: Kim Aievoli
GOVERNOR: Doug Holcomb
GOVERNOR: Hubert King
GOVERNOR: Rudy Samsel
All of the candidates have stated their willingness to serve in the office for which they have been nominated. Any eligible members, not so nominated, who wish to have their names appear on the ballot for the election at the Annual Meeting (date TBD but normally November) shall submit a written notice and supporting petition, signed by twenty-five Active or Family Active Members, to Thomas Swift, Chair of the Nominating Committee at pastpresident@nnjr-pca.com, no later than September 1, 2021, to allow for publication in the October issue of Porscheforus.
Respectfully submitted,
The Nominating Committee:
Thomas Swift, Chair
Lou Hudyman
Shannon Muller
Anthony Wartel
Alan Zambarano
President’s Letter 2018
/in NNJR BLOG, President's Letter /by nnjr-pcaThe Porsche Club of America is a collection of some 144 regional clubs spread across the US and Canada, with about 80,000 primary members. As such, it is the largest single marque car club in the world. Each of the regional presidents is a part of the PCA Board. PCA has a national staff to assist the regions across the entire variety of activities we engage in, ranging from setting standards for activities like Driver Education to obtaining group insurance policies. The regions are grouped into 14 zones, each with a leader called the Zone Representative, whose job is to assist the regions in securing support from national and to facilitate exchange of information among the regional presidents.
We just held the semi-annual Zone 1 President’s meeting in Albany NY. The timing was not fortuitous, since a Nor’easter hit the day before, rendering travel painful if not dangerous. I travelled up the morning of the meeting, arriving late. Our national president Caren Cooper was supposed to fly in, but her flight was cancelled. Mike Bryan, from Upper Canada Region, is our Zone Rep and very dedicated to helping the regions in any way. The agenda for the meeting covered regional activities as well as best practices that can be applied within the regions. The ability to compare notes with the presidents of nearby regions is really quite helpful.
Zone 1 is the largest PCA region, with some 15,000 primary members. NNJR, with nearly 2300 primary and 1500 affiliate members, is one of the largest regions in the country, although within our region UCR has more members. PCA started in 1955 in what became the Potomac Region. Three new regions were created at the same time in 1957, one of which was NNJR, so we are in a three-way tie for second-oldest region.
I wonder what NNJR will be like 60 years hence?
Tom