Combine TheLincolnForum.Net & the LCOC's Continental Corner?

[Stuart M. Cohen]

I've always felt that making TLF.Net a member's only benefit would be a way to increase membership in the national. In the past, I didn't get positive feedback, so I let it drop. If TLF.Net is afraid of loosing posters and visitors to the site if it makes access a member's only benefit, there are ways to address that. So, without much more boring details, I'm for it.

[Barry Wolk]

I think that the Club site should link directly to this one while keeping certain items accessible from the other site.

The new management understands the value of this site and should make it "official". We already have a members only section.

[Dan Szwarc]

I've always felt that making TLF.Net a member's only benefit would be a way to increase membership in the national. In the past, I didn't get positive feedback, so I let it drop. If TLF.Net is afraid of loosing posters and visitors to the site if it makes access a member's only benefit, there are ways to address that. So, without much more boring details, I'm for it.

The problem with giving something away for free (this forum) and then closing it off to members is 95% of people will not join or return.

The problem with making it LCOC members only is only 80% of an even smaller number will visit. The end result is a dead forum.

I think that people are more likely to join the LCOC if they believe that the LCOC is providing a service, such as a forum. The fact that the forum is free to others is not as important as they want to give back to the organization that provides the service. There will always be moochers. They will always be people who offer to contribute (as they have here).

I am on the board of directors of the LCOC. The complaint of this forum being out of the LCOC's control is no longer valid.

[lightning1]

I am not in favor of using the LCOC site. I had been an LCOC member for well over a decade and left the club a few years ago.
I, "simply", became very tired of the clubs politics. I let my membership lapse for a few years and rejoined last year. Nothing had
changed and I doubt I will renew again. I have been reading the posts on the LFN for well over a year now and do enjoy the
postings and thoughtfulness of the members. A very enjoyable Forum on its own! An internet link from the LCOC is welcome.
I usually remain silent in these matters, however, opinion is: " Not Broken - Do Not Fix"! I have only posted one (1) other time and that was well over a year ago. I do watch the Forum on a daily basis. My Lincolns include a 1956 Premiere - 1957 Premiere - 1961 Continental and 1979 MK 5 (This one sold and so sorry I did). Regards to all.

[gkramer47]

lightning1,

I'm curious as to what you found not to have changed when you rejoined the LCOC last year. In the past three years, Dan, myself and many others have worked to make the club more welcoming and useful to the "average" member. Can you tell me just what you have seen, specifically that makes you not want to re-join? We'd appreciate it.

Glenn Kramer

[1973 Mark IV Fanatic]

I find myself drawn to TheLincolnForum for some reason, which is interesting to me because when I first became aware of these forums, I thought I would use the Continental Corner more often than not. I, for one, would be all for combining the two forums, if for no other reason than to simplify things. It seems to me that the two forums serve the same purpose, anyway. I get a sense of a more "casual" atmosphere here on TheLincolnForum as compared to LCOC's Continental Corner. If the two forums can be merged in such a way that combines all of the best qualities from both, then why not?

[linc64]

I was also hoping for a combining of the two forums, but apparently the subject wasn't discussed at the recent board meeting.

[Dan Szwarc]

The LCOC Continental Corner is dead. The forum got hacked.

No one as using it anyway, so it's no big loss.

[JimA]

I'm pleased that thelincolnforum.net will not be the official web site for LCOC. I joined LCOC for one year but didn't renew because their interest is almost exclusively about originality. I like performance improvements, some customizing, AND original Lincolns and enjoy seeing some of that diversity here. (Not withstanding Dan's signature. )

[JonW]

Since JimA restarted his thread, I'd like to address his concern and reason for not renewing, even if it is off-topic. I think the issue is important.
As the owner of a modified Lincoln, I can tell you that the LCOC has made huge strides in just the last few years in welcoming ALL Lincolns. My '62 is highly modified, yet very well done. It's first showing was at the Mid-America Meet in Dayton last year. I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive based on past experiences, but it was very well received and I had lots of compliments. In fact, I'm so impressed with the current administration that I volunteered to run for Director of the Midwest Region and by extension able to attend the national board meeting. The LCOC is definitely headed in a new, and much better, direction. I hope that those who have let their membership lapse will give the club another chance.

[Dan Szwarc]

I'm pleased that thelincolnforum.net will not be the official web site for LCOC. I joined LCOC for one year but didn't renew because their interest is almost exclusively about originality. I like performance improvements, some customizing, AND original Lincolns and enjoy seeing some of that diversity here. (Not withstanding Dan's signature. )

We could agree to disagree, if you like.

I welcome all to this forum. If I didn't want anyone to customize their cars, I'd be preaching against it and admonishing those who do. However, I understand that for any vehicle to survive it must find the owner that places value in it. It preserves the car in a manner of speaking. Otherwise, those cars will end up as junk heaps.

I like to help people. If I didn't offer advice, they would go else where for it. Might as well try to give them the right advice.

[Stuart M. Cohen]

One of my favorite expressions:

"Cars are like spouses, you married 'em, you gotta like 'em."

[papawayne]

Can't agree more, Stu...clubs are clubs and they need all of the participation that they can get...I'm also a member of the Zephyr club, (LZOC), and membership is declining rapidly. While Id rather see a V12 meticulously restored, and I cringe at a hot-rodded Zephyr, those cars have got to be welcome at our gatherings. Same for the LCOC...while I believe our cars should be restored and not modified, if a modified car pleases the owner, so be it. A happy wife, is a happy life....too often my wife calls my 63 the "mistress". My cousin's wife divorced him over a car...said he was paying more attention to it than her. And she was right. He spent more time caressing it by far. Wayne

[John Mc]

I'm pleased that thelincolnforum.net will not be the official web site for LCOC. I joined LCOC for one year but didn't renew because their interest is almost exclusively about originality. I like performance improvements, some customizing, AND original Lincolns and enjoy seeing some of that diversity here. (Not withstanding Dan's signature. )

Jim, sorry but you are dead wrong on this one. For the last 4 years or so we have all been screaming at the top of our lungs that we accept ALL - YES ALL LINCOLNS.
Articles have been written in Comments about custom Lincolns, just ask Jon Wessel. We have expanded the judging sheets to include custom cars and give awards to custom Lincolns.

In the old days, did we exclude customs?? Yes, but that's old news now. If your car has a Lincoln star, or a knight's head on the hood, we want it, and you.

[CaptainDave]

I agree we should be a "big tent" (and by "we" I mean TLF and LCOC). But head on over to "Suicide Slabs" on FaceBook and you'll see how the resto-mod people feel about how they think we restoration guys and LCOC/TLF members feel about them. It ain't pretty. They're turned off, and turned off big.