I had the distinct pleasure of speaking with one of our members the other day on the phone who called me about coating a set of vintage valve covers for him. During the course of the conversation, he confessed he was sixteen years old, lived in an area with "nothing but mud boggers," and seemed a bit overwhelmed with the Duster project he was working on. I told him I'd do my best to take care of him and his powder coating dreams on an affordable basis and hung up the phone.
And then the wheels started turning.
You all know how I feel about our Young Guns being the future of our hobby, and may remember that 26 fellow FABO members jumped on board with me and donated something to my Young Guns -- Sign In and Win Contest last year. Free parts are all fine and good ........... unless the kid doesn't know what to do with them or how to put them on his or her car.
Over 50 Young Guns entered my contest so I know they're here whether they're active members, occasional viewers or outright lurkers. What I have in mind is to find out who the Young Guns are who could really use some help / teaching and match them up with another more experienced FABO member in their area who could act in a Big Brother / Big Sister capacity and help them along with their car on a regular basis ... just be someone the kid can call upon as needed for advice, build ideas, physical help installing that 8 3/4, etc.
The "FABO Mentor Program" could be a really great thing for everybody.
There could be a separate thread for the Young Guns to post in (kind of like an application) and those members in their area who might be inclined to be a FABO Big Brother/Big Sister can contact them via PM to get acquainted and find out if the match is meant to be. It would be a great boon for membership, and the networking possibilities are endless.
What do you think???
And then the wheels started turning.
You all know how I feel about our Young Guns being the future of our hobby, and may remember that 26 fellow FABO members jumped on board with me and donated something to my Young Guns -- Sign In and Win Contest last year. Free parts are all fine and good ........... unless the kid doesn't know what to do with them or how to put them on his or her car.
Over 50 Young Guns entered my contest so I know they're here whether they're active members, occasional viewers or outright lurkers. What I have in mind is to find out who the Young Guns are who could really use some help / teaching and match them up with another more experienced FABO member in their area who could act in a Big Brother / Big Sister capacity and help them along with their car on a regular basis ... just be someone the kid can call upon as needed for advice, build ideas, physical help installing that 8 3/4, etc.
The "FABO Mentor Program" could be a really great thing for everybody.
There could be a separate thread for the Young Guns to post in (kind of like an application) and those members in their area who might be inclined to be a FABO Big Brother/Big Sister can contact them via PM to get acquainted and find out if the match is meant to be. It would be a great boon for membership, and the networking possibilities are endless.
What do you think???