To all Thingers,
As the tracker of TDTA registration, I have a few thoughts to share and hope everyone will bear with me, and pause a moment to consider them.
No one is forcing anyone to do anything about TDTA. Everyone clearly has the freedom of choice to participate or not participate in this odyssey.
Just as you can choose your favorite brew, deodorant, whether to pay your taxes, or to go for a walk in the rain, the decision about involving yourself in TDTA is an individual driver's choice.
I have the feeling many of the readers of this forum don't read or aren't even aware of the other Thing related forums and web sites. As I've said before, I'm tracking five of these sites every day to make sure I get everyone who says they want to transport The Door on the Excel list.
No one has to sign up...I'm merely appealing to people
whose names have appeared on lists at any of the sites to give us their personal info. I will say there has been very good progress with that this week. The best week so far. Blanks are filling in. But I wish more would jump on board. Imagine if every state had at least five or six drivers, how easy it would make it on everyone. Individual drivers might have to drive an average of 60 to 100 miles one way. Piece of cake.
I think I can safely say the response to registration is significantly less that what I would have anticipated. I'm sure others would agree.
I know the base of Thing owners is much broader than it would appear to be from reviewing the TDTA Excel registration list.
As an example, K-mann's Thing Door Throughout America (TDTA) post at Samba has 415 reads as of this morning...and 16 total responses.
K-mann's Thing Doors Throughout America (TDTA) post at STF has 206 reads as of this morning...and 10 total responses.
Most of these responses don't necessarily include a commitment to drive The Door; they are just replies to the thread post.
It's no one's fault, but it's so odd to me this project has turned into a
ONE FORUM event, when there are literally hundreds of Things and owners out there that could participate.
Something is definitely askew here, in my humble opinion.
The list directory page for the Topica Things Owners Digest states there are
846 subscribers. I don't think we can assume all subscribers own Things, but let's be real conservative and say 500 do own VW Things. Of that number, let's say 350 are running and street legal. If we had a 50% participation rate, we're talking about 175 Things and drivers which could possibly be added to the list. Then, if more interest could be stirred at samba and STF, we might be able to add another 75 or 100 vehicles to the count. Between all the forums and driver/readers, I would speculate there is a pool of 500-700 Things which could proudly carry The Door across the States.
It's obvious to me most don't think about this in the way I do. But with a minimal list of say, 250 drivers to transport the door, the project would be much easier on everyone who volunteers.
While I can't speak for the other workers and organizers of this event, I think the complexity of being presented with a pool of drivers and vehicles of this size would be a wonderful problem of logistics to deal with.
Please think about what I have said and if you haven't registered for TDTA, or if you have questions and concerns about doing so, please contact the appropriate individuals. I'm certain they will be more than happy to have a dialogue with you concerning TDTA.
Please review the Excel registration list at:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Thi ... DTA/files/
If I have inadvertently missed you, omitted anyone's name, or made an error with your contact information in the Excel document I edit and repost nearly daily, please let me know, and I'll make the necessary edits. Simply email me directly:
sbk@indy.rr.com
Regards,
ztnoo
