What's going on with MIFC?

[mikek18]

wmfc for the win

[93formulalt1]

wmfc for the win

Gonna have to agree with you there. . .

So, who's judging Superfest this year?

[FireBirdGirl02]

I am not going to pile on the Ben ban wagon because Ben and Jen are both nice people and I know Ben had a big hart and loved to see the club be huge, But he kind of pissed me off because the very first time the Firebird Club judged Camaro Super fest the judges were suppose to get paid for there time judging but Ben took the money and put it into the Firebird Club and I saw nothing for my time. Dont get me wrong I did enjoy my time judging and getting to see the cars and there owners.

[phoenix_rising]

Well folks maybe I can inform you on the situation at hand.

1. The Michigan Firebird club been represented at Camaro Superfest for 3 years now. I gave Barry my word that I would not release any information regarding the CSF show until he is ready. Which he should be sending out event flyers in the next few weeks with all relevant details.

I am not going to turn my back on my committments nor break my word to Barry, but I assure you that last I spoke with Barry this Camaro Super Fest will be a show to remember and seeing that it is the 20th Anniversary of CSF it will serve to honor all the work that Doug, Barry, and all the other folks of the EMCC and WMCC put in to make it a success.

2. It was agreed upon the first year that the proceeds from the show be used to get the club up and running. This was not my decision but was unanimous and for anyone who felt that something else happened please let me know and I will address your concern ASAP. Why do you think the WMCC chose the Firebird club in the first place??? Because they wanted to help us get started and the proceeds from the show were intended for that purpose. This was my understanding and if there was anything else I was meant to understand please enlighten me.

"Thanks for the responses, guys. I would like to coordinate this through Ben, since he's the President of the Firebird Club. I know how hard it is when you are just starting out building a new Club. Putting some cash in the Club treasury is hard at first and this is a way for us to help support the Firebird Club." -WMCC Doug (March 20th, 2007 02:35 AM)

(RIP Doug I wish you were still here for me to listen to your wisdom)

http://www.mifbody.com/vbulletin/sho...hlight=Judging

3. Dave Chmleon never submitted a completed web site to me. He sent me some ideas and some rough drafts but never a final product due to his work schedule. Also we had never spoken about payment for his effort on the site design or newsletter. Dave is a wonderful and giving man, his contributions to my understanding were voluntary.

He parked his Firebird and had focused on his job and his family. I cannot blame him for having to back away from the project. As far as being paid for work completed, it was never completed so why would there be payment unfinished work. Check the thread, where does it show signs of a 100% complete web site or payment agreed upon.

Last I spoke with Dave he told me how bad he felt about not being able to finish the project and that he had not even driven his car all that summer because he had more pressing matters to attend to. However he and I were and still are friends. Feel free to email him should you doubt any of this.

"Hi Ben,

I have been doing fairly well. I have just been super busy. If I am
not working at my job I am either helping my father remodel our new
house. I haven't had any time to work on my Firebird this year. I
don't know if I will even be pulling her our of storage this year.

That is the reason I have not been on MIFbody. It just depressed me to
be on there knowing that I don't have the time to work on the Firebird.

Here is my contact info if you need to get a hold of me." 05/21/09

4. I tried to involve as many people as possible on the decision making process as well as trying to get assistance in running the club. I went through the trouble of appointing club officers and yet still I received very little cooperation. I even tried in person at multiple shows and gatherings to reach out to people.

http://www.mifbody.com/vbulletin/sho...itions-2-15-08

5. I tried to arrange something between the WMFC and the MIFC but it never panned out. Scott can attest to the times I reached out to him for guidance and ideas. I wanted to make something work but it was indeed too difficult across such a distance. I also tried to do an Eastern Club / Western Club Division but no on one the East side really focused on this idea.

I even invited Scott to recruit CSF 2010 judges from the WMFC!!! But they were all too busy on 4th of July Weekend.

6. I tried my best to get the ball rolling. Forgive me if I did not succeed to your expectations. I never wanted to be president. I held open elections and everyone agreed that it was my baby so I should be in charge, or was it no one wanted to put in the effort?

• I had t-shirts made at Bear Paw Screenprinting in Plymouth MI for the cost of $240.

• A banner made at Officemax for $110.

• I had Decals and Signs made by Sign Language in Adrian for $150

• I paid $144 for a year of web hosting on Google for the only web site the club has ever had.

I was working last week on having other promotional materials including more tshirts in bigger sizes and colors as well as water bottles made for this season and as a thank you to the hardworking folks like Angie, Dave, both Mikes, Jeff and his Friend, Nick, Vinnie, Woody, Robert and everyone else who put in time making the CSF show the success that it was.

Considering the payment for the CSF show was $1000 and I have spent $700 so far on the club so far I would say that I definitely made the effort to make the club work with what I was given.

I still have the remaining funds should anyone feel that I cheated them in any way I will make right by you. However I would have appreciated if someone said something sooner rather than this. I have never scorned anyone for their concerns or ideas nor will I start now.

You have known me for YEARS! I have considered many of you my friends and have done nothing but try to give you what you wanted! I have spent many good times with you on Woodward and never once did you say anything. Even those of you who are the closest to me I thought I knew most you as well but I guess my faith was missplaced.

As far as the MIFC.. I don't think it ever existed more than some internet hopes and dreams, even the berger show meetup was more of an effort by a few of us firebird drivers on mifbody than anything else. Same with camaro superfest.. Ben made plenty of promises that there would be club tshirts, decals, events, blah blah, hate to say it, but from the outside looking in, it looks like when he saw he wasn't going to be able to make profit/success off the club he pushed it aside..

Derek I am astonished. It must be so easy to judge when you yourself volunteered to help and what did you do that helped the club??? I brought the t-shirts and decals to the Berger show for 2 years!!! and I informed anyone that wanted one to come find me.

Club Photographer (Western Chapter) - RedFbirdV6 - Derek - Allendale, MI

BTW where is this profit you speak of? When did anyone tell me that is a great way to make money? You have no right to judge me and you should have said something to me should you have felt this way. Kind of a low blow considering you have not once lifted a finger to help the club nor make the trip out to judge CSF. If you really feel this way I AM SORRY! But I deserve better especially from one of my own staff members.

I am sorry the club never bloomed like it should. Even WMCC Doug understood first hand how difficult and impossible it is to run and organization like this without help. I am sorry if you feel like I should have done something different. For that I accept my inequities. And Angie I am sorry you feel I somehow cheated you. Please forward me an valid Paypal address so I may get you what you are owed. That goes for anyone else as well.

I put my heart out for this club. I put more time and effort and care into it than anyone else and this is my reward. I tried to walk away from this club once and not one person was willing to take a walk in my shoes. NOT ONE PERSON...

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO TRY TO DO BETTER PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I WOULD GLADLY STEP DOWN WHEN THIS IS THE THANK YOU I RECIEVE! COME GET THIS STUFF OUT OF MY HOUSE. I ASKED FOR HELP BEFORE AND NO ONE STEPPED FORWARD. MAYBE NOW THAT THE BASHING IS IN FULL EFFECT SOMEONE WILL DECIDE TO STEP UP TO THE CHALLENGE. MAYBE THE FIREBIRD CLUB REALLY ID DEAD BUT IT IS NOT BY MY CHOICE.

[Akodo]

Now see, this is exactly the kind of behavior that begins to eat away at the heart of groups or clubs like this. All of these issues should have been handled directly by the people involved, rather than letting them fester and give rise to suppositions and rumors. Sounds like alot of second hand accusations and theories flying around here.
Yes, I'm friends with Ben, which probably makes me a little biased. But this kind of thing should never be aired in public, in my opinion. Now we have hurt feelings and egoes on several fronts. Bravo.

[Fbomb]

I still wear the T-shirt. Too busy with school to really do anything now, and this summer will be filled with work (hopefully) and I'll take a break for Camaro Superfest. Got a lot on my plate right now basically, also part of a failing car club at my school I'm trying to get back together but about to give up on.

[FireBirdGirl02]

Ben dont worry about I dont want to see ya upset it was the past and let the by gones be by gones. I am not worried about the money. Just all let go of all the crap and lets move on.

[meissen]

I've got no qualms, Ben cleared up a lot of the rumors.

[92conv]

Shutting it down.......I think people have said enough, and Ben's had a chance to share his side of it.......From here on out take to PM's.

Although Ben, publicly I'll make the statement that I couldn't ask for a better "founding member" than what I have in Derek. He's a great asset to WMFC!!!

Sometimes it's about motivating people not delegating down to people, makes all the difference in the world.