Middle East Chapter?

**Viper Red** · 06-06-2014

Would be nice to have a section for the Middle East owners.

**plumcrazy** · 06-06-2014

ill let the powers that be know.

**LATAMUD** · 06-07-2014

I hung out with a Viper owner in Dubai last year. And there was an owner in Qatar I was trying to make it out to meet. The Infamous Project is out of Dubai as well, he has an SRT-10 truck.

**Viper Girl** · 06-07-2014

Sounds like a great time to start a Middle East Chapter of the VOA!

If anyone is interested in starting a new chapter, give any moderator a shout, we'll be happy to help. Or contact Dayton Prowler he is the head of membership.

**Viper Red** · 06-30-2014

Two moderators here have obliged. Do I still need to contact Dayton Prowler?

**plumcrazy** · 06-30-2014

the catch is you would need to be a VOA member first....

**Viper Girl** · 06-30-2014

Contacting Dayton Prowler is likely the next step. He is the one that would need to set up a VOA region for the Middle East.

**City** · 06-30-2014

Thanks for the interest VR! Ultimately, this is a board question rather than a moderator question. We've got no problem adding a region to the forum, but the creation of a new region is a "headquarters" issue. Dayton Prowler will be able to move this along.

**Viper Red** · 07-03-2014

Yes I think that's correct. Adding a section on the forum for ME owners is a good start. Then we can move on to establishing a membership for them later on. I have no problem taking responsibility for that. It would be an honor.

**daytonprowler** · 07-03-2014

Originally Posted by Viper Red

Yes I think that's correct. Adding a section on the forum for ME owners is a good start. Then we can move on to establishing a membership for them later on. I have no problem taking responsibility for that. It would be an honor.

PM sent

**G37Sam** · 05-26-2015

Now how did I miss this thread! Where do I sign?

**Viper Red** · 07-11-2015

Hi Sam

Not enough viper owners. How many can you get together from UAE?
I managed only 3 from Bahrain.

**G37Sam** · 07-12-2015

I only exchanged messages with a few through this board and know of two otherwise. A lot of them have accounts here but don't post much.

**GTSilver** · 07-16-2015

If this is still going i'm from Kuwait and would like a ME chapter.

Thanks
Yousif

**Viper Red** · 12-13-2016

I think, and that's my personal opinion, that the VOA Forums need to start a new Section here for the ME guys. get them to interact and share details rather than ask them to pay up and pretty much get nothing in return except for a magazine.

Once we get enough interest and interaction among Viper owners online, we can then introduce the membership packages tailor made for them.

Other than that.. I see no incentive whatsoever for anyone to commit financially.

**LATAMUD** · 12-13-2016

The regional section is for setting up meets schedule car cruises. Otherwise you all are welcome to just be enrhusiasts and be comment and post questions or what not. Most of the communication on this forum happens in the generation specific sections not limited to location. Post up your car, provide useful information. What are ME Viper owners doing that we aren't? What ECM are you all using for your forced induction builds?

**Fatboy 18** · 12-13-2016

Originally Posted by Viper Red

I think, and that's my personal opinion, that the VOA Forums need to start a new Section here for the ME guys. get them to interact and share details rather than ask them to pay up and pretty much get nothing in return except for a magazine.

Once we get enough interest and interaction among Viper owners online, we can then introduce the membership packages tailor made for them.

Other than that.. I see no incentive whatsoever for anyone to commit financially.

We have this problem in the UK, some people just see the membership being a magazine and paying out $115 + for 4 issues. As with any club, it's all about what you put into it

I think of it along those great lines JFK said , "Ask not what your Club can do for you, but what you can do for your Club".

We try and get discounts with Insurance companies, share mechanical information. Share specialist Viper pacific workshop tools on a deposit and loan basis. Try and encourage new membership.
A club is not for everyone and we have had many internal heated arguments on whether non members should be invited to attend Club events. Due to the low numbers of Vipers we have just had our Club christmas meal, but we opened it up to non members in the hope that they may wish to join in the future. We have also Teamed up with the Swiss, German and French clubs some VOA, some VCA, and the French club "Viper Passion".
The French club is holding there 10 year club anniversary this year and we plan to join them with the other clubs bring it up to 45 Vipers attending so far!

I do know what you mean about incentives at local level. We need to build in things that will make non members want to get involved even in the UK Club.
Best of luck moving forward.

I would love to read stories on how you guys roll out there. How you get the cars over and what is involved making the car street legal for your countries, Do you get help with Warrantee cover? What are your car and Coffee meets like? Service info for Desert Hot conditions. Do you guys run any extra cooling products?
I often see Supercars in London with Arab plates, if any of you come over It would be cool to meet up for coffee or mabie join us in one of our meets?

**SmoknTires** · 12-13-2016

This is a good discussion, didn't initially see this discussion in the past.

I completely agree with people who are focused on value, if you're looking for what the club will for $115 and it doesn't seem worth it - then it's not. That's a reality with everything. The club is a voluntary thing, the members make it what it is - so luckily all aren't simply looking at it as a "what will the club give me" otherwise this would just be a vicious circle of nothingness if no one steps up to do the work and then no one supports those who do it. So I always hold those active people in high regard.

To aid in some explanation as well:

The costs for the club aren't arbitrary, they are delineated to cover all the costs that national and the regions have. The region generally gets 50% and national gets 50% of member dues (international regions get a little less due to extra shipping costs). Regional dues are to be used for regional expenses (website, events, etc...). Likewise national has a lot of expenses (often underestimated) that unless you run the club you may not know (magazines, call center, website/forums/admin, conf lines, supplies, free bees, mailers, VOA headquarters/call center, insurance, legal costs, etc... etc..). This is all recurring cost. Our budget is also always set to zero out - no profit. The national entity is simply there to help organize the regions and also provide the values that it provides to members directly. In the end, even this forum wouldn't exist without members who pay dues to fund it. I just want to respect that, as often people are focused on what they should get, and not as much how it's provided. If this is the corvette club, it's a BIG difference in dynamics and logistics. But we're the Viper club, an exclusive group and hence by it's own nature an exclusive club. Joining the club isn't a right, it's a privilege - and certainly comes with it's challenges and imperfections with how benefits may apply (if you live in Alaska... probably not going to get as much out of it as a guy within an area of high Viper concentration). With that said, the reality is that half of the benefit comes from the local region and half from national. Both parties do their part to provide as much benefit as they can - however those who join a club must do their part too - as I mentioned, a club isn't one way. Members help by funding and participating (and running) the club.

I think Fatboy has a good approach, but I'd caution just making it a frequent thing to allow non-members to visit events... as then why joint he club at all, and what about those who paid their way into having that benefit. But the occasional event does help to foster good relationships and get to new members. And certainly doing a joint event also helps - as people get exposed to others.

And national can help as well, if we really feel there is a contingent there, we can start a forum for the ME group and this way there is a meeting place. But you'll find good clubs don't just happen, they come with elbow grease, sometimes from a few crazy people. Each region has them! So for those interested in a ME group - help us to begin reaching out to those you see! We'll provide a tool to help them congregate. I'm also interested to see how they're living. Let's see how this goes.

So we'll get a region setup soon (and we can move this thread in there). Take care guys!

**SmoknTires** · 12-13-2016

And it's done. : )

**Viper Red** · 12-14-2016

Good move and thank you so much for the attention.

I'm in the process of getting a few members of regional viper owner groups to meet up and discuss how we can establish VOA regionally, what our mission would be and hopefully.. get a board elected to run it.

Our aim is not just to share information, but enhance the VOA awareness regionally.. and hopefully get the sponsors interested in the region. Exposure is everything, all we really need are dedicated owners who are willing to put in some effort and time in laying the proper foundations.

**Fatboy 18** · 12-14-2016

Best of luck

**City** · 12-14-2016

Originally Posted by SmoknTires

This is a good discussion, didn't initially see this discussion in the past.

I completely agree with people who are focused on value, if you're looking for what the club will for $115 and it doesn't seem worth it - then it's not. That's a reality with everything. The club is a voluntary thing, the members make it what it is - so luckily all aren't simply looking at it as a "what will the club give me" otherwise this would just be a vicious circle of nothingness if no one steps up to do the work and then no one supports those who do it. So I always hold those active people in high regard.

To aid in some explanation as well:

The costs for the club aren't arbitrary, they are delineated to cover all the costs that national and the regions have. The region generally gets 50% and national gets 50% of member dues (international regions get a little less due to extra shipping costs). Regional dues are to be used for regional expenses (website, events, etc...). Likewise national has a lot of expenses (often underestimated) that unless you run the club you may not know (magazines, call center, website/forums/admin, conf lines, supplies, free bees, mailers, VOA headquarters/call center, insurance, legal costs, moderator salaries/bonus and pension funding, etc... etc..). This is all recurring cost. Our budget is also always set to zero out - no profit. The national entity is simply there to help organize the regions and also provide the values that it provides to members directly. In the end, even this forum wouldn't exist without members who pay dues to fund it. I just want to respect that, as often people are focused on what they should get, and not as much how it's provided. If this is the corvette club, it's a BIG difference in dynamics and logistics. But we're the Viper club, an exclusive group and hence by it's own nature an exclusive club. Joining the club isn't a right, it's a privilege - and certainly comes with it's challenges and imperfections with how benefits may apply (if you live in Alaska... probably not going to get as much out of it as a guy within an area of high Viper concentration). With that said, the reality is that half of the benefit comes from the local region and half from national. Both parties do their part to provide as much benefit as they can - however those who join a club must do their part too - as I mentioned, a club isn't one way. Members help by funding and participating (and running) the club.

I think Fatboy has a good approach, but I'd caution just making it a frequent thing to allow non-members to visit events... as then why joint he club at all, and what about those who paid their way into having that benefit. But the occasional event does help to foster good relationships and get to new members. And certainly doing a joint event also helps - as people get exposed to others.

And national can help as well, if we really feel there is a contingent there, we can start a forum for the ME group and this way there is a meeting place. But you'll find good clubs don't just happen, they come with elbow grease, sometimes from a few crazy people. Each region has them! So for those interested in a ME group - help us to begin reaching out to those you see! We'll provide a tool to help them congregate. I'm also interested to see how they're living. Let's see how this goes.

So we'll get a region setup soon (and we can move this thread in there). Take care guys!

I just couldn't help myself. But seriously, we would look forward to a new ME forum area!