FUN RALLY RAFFLE ISSUE

Thank you Larry for the kind words and never ending support. I do what I do & did what I did because of friends & brothers just like you.

As you know, you are not alone in the outrage that so, so many others have expressed because of the actions of this new Director, (as he calls himself) Dave Rudderow.

But hey, if he's in charge and that's the way he wants it, so be it. It's really not a problem for me to take my toys and efforts elsewhere for the betterment of the Pantera community. There are other events that will welcome my efforts, support and what I can bring to the table.

I first viewed this an insult and a slap in the face considering what I've brought to the POCA table for the last 2 years. It was pretty upsetting considering I got this e-mail from Dave the day after returning from the event. It was like he couldn’t get home fast enough to send it. It just shows what an asshole he is.

Now, I'm OK with it and just have to consider the source. Small people need big titles so they can feel important. Such actions only serve to remind me that with some, that no matter what or how much you do, it's never enough.

However, ALL of us have to remember one thing. POCA is not made up by one person. It belongs to all of us as members. We are POCA. We can't let the stupid actions of a few people destroy the friendships we have with the others that don't feel the same way. That wouldn’t be right brother. And there is a lot of wonderfull people that make up POCA.

I've heard from Bob Reid, Judy DeRyke, POCA VP & Judy McCarthy, Membership Director for POCA several times and I continue to stay in touch with them over this situation. I like these people very much and consider them very dear friends. They are very much as insulted as I was to have received this. Maybe even more since they know me, have worked with me, know how hard I worked at this and the end results I achieved. I don't believe that it's over yet. But either way, I will honor their decisions and walk away if need be with the knowledge that I did the best I could do and know that I made a difference whether some appreciate it or not. Those that are really important to us know what I've done and sincerely appreciate those efforts. The rest can go F themselves.

As you heard me say at the raffle, Owning a Pantera is not all about the car, but the people we are fortunate to build life long relationships with. Many of which like you & I have become close and very dear friends. I wouldn't change that for anything and no matter what guys like Dave do, he can never change that either.

Dave Adler, George Pence & I have our own event coming up later this year on Sept. 30th & Oct. 1st that I am putting together for PI. This will be our first one. If it’s supported, there will be a second one the following year that will be bigger and grow into many other facets of activities that will bring more awareness, knowledge, togetherness and entertainment than can be imagined. Having several years experience at producing/promoting major entertainment events, I have only just begun with this one coming up.

It would have been nice to bring POCA and PI together in our efforts, God knows I've tired, but it appears this will just never be possible with guys like Dave Rudderow in charge of anything. Who knows, maybe one day, I’m not giving up hope……..

You did an incredible job putting the track event together this year Larry. It was a great time and very well run. Bill Santos would have been very proud of you. If POCA decides they don’t need my help with the Rally next year, I will still be at the track event. It will also be my honor to help you with your event if you want my help.

Thanks brother, you are a very valued and dear friend. Your support means a lot to me.
Coz

Larry and Coz,

Could you please keep us POCA members informed on this situation? When voting time comes around, I want to make sure I check the right box!

Ron

EEk's

Well said Larry! Those of us that know how hard Coz worked before, during and after the rally were extremely pissed off at Rudderow's actions. I viewed that action as not a slap in Jim's face but a full closed fisted punch. I would like to thank Jim, you and all the others that volunteered their valuable time to the event. Apparently Rudderow made the decision on his own without POCA's consent. Still, POCA needs to realize that their representatives actions reflect on the organization whether or not the action was sanctioned. As in any organization, people put in representative positions must be screened to make sure that egos will not complicate matters. Sometimes monday morning apologies will never completely heal hurt feelings done by unthinking people.

Once again, thank you all for your time in making the Vegas Rally happen!

My hat is off to both Larry, Coz, and all the volunteers for their participation in making this years fun rally another great event. Many individuals made outstanding efforts to put on a good show. The only reward for their hard work is seeing others have fun.

Thanks Dennis.
And thanks to both you and Bobbi for stepping up and standing beside me every step of the way through the rally by helping me at the raffle table and on stage during the raffle itself.

Both you and Bobbi's help was greatly welcomed & appreciated.

Your friendship is and will always be important to me & my family.

As you have said before, we're family now, you and I..... I couldn't agree more.
Aloha & Mahalo brother.

PS: Please thank our brother Scott for me for his support through this.

Thanks Mark, very much appreciated.

Jim is a dear friend, so I can't speak unbiased on this issue, however I shall speak, because I was there.

Jim works very hard behind the scenes gathering the raffles prizes. While everyone else is having fun at the rally, Jim is working. Jim was awake in our hotel room into the early hours of the morning organizing the raffle. Jim was able to get a wheel manufacturer (Kodiak) to donate a set of wheels worth several thousand dollars. The wheel raffle drew the largest number of raffle ticket sales by a very wide margin, judging from the size of the pile of raffle tickets, I would say 1/3 the income from the raffle came from that set of wheels. Are the Rally organizers reading this? ONE THIRD of your operating budget that is derived from the raffle came from those wheels!

I was on stage with Jim during the raffle drawing. Jim was handing half the prizes to me and half to Dennis, all I had to do was write down names and give the prize to the winner, yet I could barely keep up with my half, the prizes were being rewarded so fast! The raffle could not have gone any quicker.

I want to personally thank all of the POCA members who have written to show their support to Jim. Jim recieves little to none in the way of official thanks from POCA for his efforts, yet he does it because he loves the Pantera hobby and Pantera owners.

Jim is the advertising director for PI magazine & the event organizer for the PI car club. I for one think he is an invaluable asset to PI.

I love you brother.

Diddo my friend & brother.
You know I'll always stand faithfully beside you every step of the way with your undertakings, and in life.

[QUOTE] I love you brother.

I don't often post here but feel the need to add my comments on this subject.
I've been around this outfit for many years and the sniveling about the raffle length has existed ever since I can remember. It is either too long, or prizes not up to someones expectations.
The job of organizing, collecting and the endless follow up of these "DONATED" raffle items is a never ending endeavor requiring a monumental amount of time ,patience and diplomacy. Lets not forget that your normal life as you know it ceases to exist for the last two or three weeks before the big event! Your wife and kids will hardly recognize you as you've been either on the phone , computer or meeting with vendors personally to be sure all is in place.
Last year when the POCA raffle suddenly lost it's chairman, someone unflinchingly stepped up and VOLUNTEERED to get it all done pretty late in the game. That someone is Mr. Jim Cozzolino. Guess what? He got it done in grand style and proved to be an excellent Raffle M.C. !!!
For the 2006 POCA Raffle Jim Cozzolino stayed on to run this very,very fiscally important segment of the Vegas Rally for the POCA membership once again. I was in attendance at the raffle and was quite amazed at the fluid and rapid pace Jim set for the dispersion of the raffle items. It was like watching a crowd at Grand Central Station as they moved through the revolving doors !! Pure ballet at it's best.
Now the never ending gripe of the raffle being too long is wearing a little thin. If you think that perhaps the "BIG" items should go up first and all of the smaller items go last so you can get on with your oh so valuable time, then speak up and say it in a constructive positive fashion "IN PERSON" and face to face directly to the person who VOLUNTEERED to step into this crucible so that we could all have as much fun as we will allow ourselves to have.
Now Jim needs to grow a little thicker skin for dealimg with this bunch and not take the nagging ,sniveling comments as a personal attack. Geez...when I was POCA president I woud have resigned the second day in office after some of the grousing I encountered upon taking the helm of POCA. "Jim, take my advice and just keep on doing what you do so well and the rest will fall into place or simply roll of and be left in the wake of your passage. The Pantera community desperately needs people such as yourself who give their all and ask for nothing in return." I am sure that Jim would agree that at the end of the day, when you are physically and emotionally drained and think there is nothing left in your soul, the simple "Hey. . . .great job!Look forward to seeing you next year" lifts you and envigorates you beyond any "high" conceivable and you immediately start looking for ways to make it better for the next time!!

................HEY JIM. . . . . GREAT JOB!!LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT YEAR ! ! ! !

............but it appears that next year may not happen for Jim Cozollino as raffle master as many have read here in other posts. What these clubs , its members and officers need to desperately realize is that people like Jim Cozzolino and other VOLUNTEERS are just like a natural resource which we can not squander or casually toss aside. Like many endangered species ....what will we do when thay are all gone. We can ill afford to loose anyone with enthusiasim like Jim's and I do hope he stays with us, the DeTomaso community either through POCA , Pantera International or both.
I think this was handled very poorly , shame on the careless fashion of Jim's "dismisall" and shame on us all for letting things to come to this frustrating and wastefull end.

Best regards,
Leslie A. Gray
874 A THPNMR 02823

POCA V.P 1988
POCA Pres. 1989,1990,1993,1994
Past Prez 1991,1992,1995

As a first time attendee I have to say that for me the Vegas event was 'all that and more than I expected'.

In reflection;

I got to drive my P car on it's first real outing after many late nights of slog (right up to Wednesday night) to get it ready. The drive was made more heartfelt and meaningful by the company of my 12 yr old son as we headed down from Reno with local P car owners Neil and Carol Detorri, who are old hands at that drive.

I felt the event had a good mix of track (spectator only this year), cruises and a good balance between informality and formality. The opportunity to mingle, chat and BS with other Pantera owners face to face was great. I put faces to many of the names from this board and met 'old friends' for the very first time.

I hadn't considered the raffle as anything other than excellently handled and MC'd by Coz, and his Cozettes (AKA George, Dennis & Bobbi). The work Coz had done behind the scenes all year should have been apparent to all in the number and quality of the prizes on offer. A couple of which came home with us, I'm glad to say

The quality and mix of the prizes (i.e. catering for the women too!) is what attracts ticket sales, which = funds for POCA. And the quality was beyond compare, if one added up the $$ amount that Coz managed to pull together he should get a bucket load of 'thanks' and an honarary lifetime membership to POCA.

At the end of the raffle Matt Lipski of San Diego Panteras came up to my son Nathan and handed him a Hot Wheels Pantera he had won in the raffle. That single gesture sent home the message about the camaraderie of P car owners and made an unforgettable event for my son. Thanks Matt, the Pantera has pride of place on my son’s shelf (the model that is...although I think he's now got his eye on the one in garage too!)

Alas, the event closed and we headed home, but that in itself brought home to me the true character of P car owners, when I blew a front tire outside Tonopah. The guys in our convoy all pitched in and we ran the wheel into town and got fixed up with a used tire. Quite a stroke of luck in itself to find a tire shop open and get given a used 245/45-17 in a desert town on a Sunday!

It is a shame that all that could be marred by some unthoughtful and negative comments that were totally uncalled for and unfitting for open forum discussion. The tone of the note from PREZ, Dave Rudderow to Coz was totally inept. It smacks of insecurity and self protectionism by....dare I say it the 'us and them' (PI & POCA) factions. For me there is enough room for everyone and each brings their own particular brand to the table and forums.

Putting all that aside I can honestly say that you are all a great bunch of guys and gals (THE GREATEST) and I'm proud to be associated with you. Thanks to you all for making mine and my Son's highlight of the year, here's looking to many more years of Pantera Drivin' to come.

Julian

quote:

Originally posted by Guitar Man:
... I do hope he stays with us, the DeTomaso community either through POCA , Pantera International or both. ...Leslie A. Gray...

Well said Les. Let me assure you and everyone, Jim's place with PI is secure.

Wow! I got a title . . ."Cozette"! Can I be the coordinator, NO the DIRECTOR of the Cozettes?

Wow Les.

That is absolutely the most heart felt thing I've ever heard you say, and I can say we've know each other going on a long time. Years as a matter of fact.

And to post it here.

YOU ARE an incredable man Les. I don't know what else to say to you other than I am VERY, VERY proud to be able to call you my friend & my brother.

Wow, that is so incredable coming from you. Thank you Les, with all my heart, thank you.
Coz

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Guitar Man:

Julian,
I realized from a previous post that you were there. I really wish we had the chance to meet in person.
I really would have liked the chance to shake your hand and talk with you.
I hope in the next meeting, wherever that might be, we'll be able to do just that.
We are all just as proud to be associated with you as well.
Thank you brother for your support !
Coz

Coz,

Obviously I don't make a lasting impression
We did meet, although I admit you were at the raffle stall looking a bit pre-occupied trying to juggle all those prizes.

I actually think I was the first guy to buy some raffle tickets from you on Thursday evening!!

There'll be other opportunities to spend some quality time together. Hey, you coming up for the Reno-Tahoe fun Rally June 7-11? The guys have put together what looks like it will be a great schedule of events.

Julian

Julian,
Actually, I do remember you now. This getting old is a real bitch. The POCA rally was a world wind tour for me, it went by so fast. I got up Saturday morning thinking it was Friday. Went out to the parking garage, pulled my alternator off the car because it stopped charging. Took it down to an Autozone and had it tested and it tested fine. Later found a wire had broken off. Fix the problem and put everything back together and then took my car up to the top floor for the car show. While walking atround, I heard someone mention the banquet tonight. I asked someone “what’s today” and was told Saturday. Needless to say, I said Oh Sh*t and took my car back downstairs and went back to work.

I’ll be looking forward to that quality time with you soon I hope. Maybe you can make it out for the event I’m putting together Sept. 30/ Oct 1 here in AZ.

I won’t be able to make the Reno-Tahoe rally this year. I have a PBA regional tournament that weekend in Flagstaff, AZ that I will be bowling in.

I’m sure we’ll get together soon brother and I will enjoy that quality time with you.

Julian, you do make a lasting impression, it was great meeting you!