This, Too, Shall Pass

There is a new Pic of the Week, ready to view.

Larry Shanks' funeral was held yesterday. We will all miss Larry - he contributed much to those who knew him.

And there has been another passing recently, though it is certainly not on the same level as losing a friend. It has come to our attention that the Two Trails Cruisers Car Club has filed its dissolution papers with the state of Maine - the club has closed its doors.

While it is not within the perview of this blog to get into the scope of the reasons a club dies, for there can be many, it seems appropriate to mention that in many cases, a club dies because some members use it as a forum for their own power plays, or to air grievances. A sort of politics, and personal agendas.

I do not belong to a club for several reasons. First and foremost, as the guy who maintains HotKarz.com, it would not be appropriate for me to have any bias in favor or in opposition to any clubs or other organizations. I feel I should avoid any conflict of interest. But even beyond that, I have seen too many friends become non-friends because they choose to use the club to push their own agendas and rivalries. And that is sad.

If I were to ever join a club, I would like to think I would go to great lengths to choose one where all the members have but one goal where the club is concerned - to share, and to have a good time.

But all too often that is not what happens. I have seen clubs that, at cruise-ins, they form their own little clique-ish circles. In some cases, they do not even acknowledge the presence of others. In yet other instances, I have seen club members who abuse their "strength in numbers" to put in "the fix", so to speak, at car shows. When 30 people all agree to vote for one another's vehicles, it is impossible to have a fair show where the best vehicles win.

I understand that Frank Barron, a wise (but nutty) fellow has formed a "non-club" club called the Road Scholars. I also understand that it is the goal of the Road Scholars to simply enjoy their rides and each others company. Sounds pretty good to me. Anyone looking for a club to belong to may want to contact Frank - but be forewarned: petty rivalries, jealousies and politics are NOT allowed. For more info, visit their site at http://www.roadscholars.webs.com/

It is said that all things shall pass, eventually. Whoever said that probably has never been constipated.

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