Nebraska Chapter Accomplishments

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In this photo you see NCRS Nebraska members from Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa & Wisconsin.  This comes as a shock to some people, but members will drive long distances when quality tech or judging schools are presented for great learning opportunities.  Our Nebraska Chapter Team has created an environment where people from other chapters drive hundreds of miles to attend a Nebraska chapter school to increase their knowledge about Corvettes.

I was the first judging chairman in the Midwest to see the opportunity to use the 2 day, 5 point chapter meet as a way to increase attendance and participation.  A two day meet is a way to not only judge more cars at one event and to give people more opportunities to judge, but to promote learning using multiple judging schools at one event.  Doing a two day chapter judging meet allows for a more relaxed judging atmosphere, allows experienced judges to work with newer/Observer Judges, and gives owners a more thorough judging of their car. 

Using Saturday morning chapter judging schools is a great way to help people get involved and interested in learning how to be a NCRS Judge.  We can't just expect people to show up and know how to judge.  Honestly, its very intimidating and most people have no interest in judging when they first join.  Chapter judging schools can help people overcome their fears and we can create a desire in new members to want to learn the process.  

The best way to reach potential new NCRS members is right in the middle of a regular Corvette show.  The Nebraska Chapter has set up at shows with our NCRS Judging manuals, judging sheets, NCRS registration forms and of course free cold water & mints.  The goal is to share the NCRS brand and concept to Corvette owners that may be looking for the next level of Corvette judging.  We have been successful recruiting new NCRS members doing these in person displays and I want to help other Region VI chapters learn how to grow membership using the same method.

Ok, you signed up to come to a two day NCRS Judging meet, but what are we going to do??  Well, in Nebraska we have schools, schools & more schools.  Now, there isn't any homework, but the subjects are usually fascinating and you wont want to skip class!  At our LAST BLAST judging meets, we have three judging schools, and maybe even throw in a tech school all with the idea of giving people more Corvette knowledge.  

I am fortunate to be friends with 400+ level master judges from around the country, and with a little arm twisting we have been fortunate to have school presenters from Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska providing incredible schools.  

Using technical schools as "hands on" teaching & learning is the best way for people to learn how a Corvette should function.  These Tech schools are also a great opportunity to incorporate judging information as how parts should be installed and finished.  People learn at all different levels, and are interested in different aspects of Corvette ownership.  With the advent of modern Corvettes, I think many chapters forget that newer members have never changed points or greased a wheel bearing.  Tech sessions are a great way to get our newer members to learn how a Corvette should be repaired and this can create a desire for them to want to learn more.

"We come for the Corvettes and stay for the People".  The Nebraska Chapter has promoted this motto by having two day judging meets where we have plenty of time for judging cars, AND have time to relax and socialize with each other.  We have found that people come to a 2 day judging meet not just to judge Corvettes, but to socialize and have fun with other NCRS friends from around the Midwest.  Many people have come up with the term "Mini Regional" for the Nebraska LAST BLAST judging meets, and it truly has the feel of a much larger event.  We have great food, tours of local car museums, and more time to relax and have fun.  

Isn't that what it should be all about?

Covid19 was a major setback to NCRS chapters worldwide.  Many chapters went into total shutdown.  The Nebraska Chapter team felt that we needed to push on and keep moving forward to give people something to focus on and a reason to stay active.  We put together a Covid safety plan, implemented it with all members, and we had successful judging meets, schools and tech sessions thru 2020 & 2021.  During this time our Nebraska membership increased and people appreciated the chapter staying active.

One of the ways we can give back as a chapter is to support charities that do good for the community.  Our chapter has chosen to work with a local non profit "Josh the Otter Foundation".  JTO promotes infant and youth water safety through swim classes and life jacket giveaways at local lakes.  Using Josh the Baby Otter as the basis for a childrens book, infants and young children are taught how to turn over on their back if they are in the water so that they can float safely until an adult can get them out of the water to safety.  It has been an honor for the NCRS Nebraska chapter to support JTO with an annual contribution to their life saving cause.

The Nebraska Chapter has gone on the road to hold Judging & Tech School right in garages of chapter NCRS members.  This photo was taken at a members garage 90 miles west of Lincoln, out in the cornfields of Nebraska.  Ten Nebraska officers & members made the road trip to look at a non running 1967, examine the Corvettes "bones" and helped give the new owner some direction and advice on how to proceed with his restoration project.  Not only did we do this in his garage, but we used technology to cast this event live over Zoom to other NCRS members and 1967 Master Judges to view and comment during the session.  

 The pandemic of COVID19 was a major setback to NCRS chapters worldwide.  Many chapters went into total shutdown.  The Nebraska Chapter team felt that we needed to push on and keep moving forward to give people something to focus on and a reason to stay active.  One of the ways we were able to interact safely with other NCRS Members was the use of online meetings.  This allowed us to stay in touch with each other during the darkest times of the pandemic.  Even thru Covid19, our Nebraska membership increased and people appreciated the chapter staying active. 

Having great food at a chapter meet is one of the things that has helped Nebraska Last Blast be successful.  When we put on a two day meet, we have a Friday Lunch, a Friday night social hour / banquet, and Saturday following judging we have a world famous Valentino's Pizza lunch.  Now I know people come for the Corvettes, but having great meals and time to relax and socialize with friends from all around the Midwest is one more reason people will travel hundreds of miles for a Nebraska Last Blast chapter judging meet.