As
a new Board member last year I eased into my position gradually: to get
the hang of the politics involved, the intra-relationships, and learn from
the longer-term board members. Being a "take the bull by the horns" kind
of guy (which comes from having been self-employed for 25 years - or is
it the other way around?), it wasn't long before I brought up the concept
of a "member directory". Make it easy for members to locate one another,
find out which neighbors are fellow Porschephiles, need an email address
- look it up, what model year is that 944 of Tony's, etc?
After lots of discussion
over several months the Board agreed to proceed. To deal with concerns
about members' privacy, inclusion in the directory would be optional. Further,
to insure that no one was inadvertently included who didn't want to be,
a positive response would be necessary. To be in the directory one had
to return a form with the information to be published: if you don't respond,
you're not in the directory. Finally, we stipulated that a 50% response
would be necessary to justify the labor and costs involved in producing
and mailing the directory.
The explanation of the directory
and a response form was mailed to all 1500 + members in November, '00 with
the annual ballot and "Nor'easter" renewal form. To date I've received
half the required response; in other words only 25% of our members want
to be in the directory. To all of you who took the time to complete the
response form, thank you. Unfortunately there will not be a member directory.
Member Profile of the
Month
I'm continually amazed at
the clarity with which people remember their first exposure to
or involvement with Porsche.
John Lannon, another of our Mentors, is no different. His memory of the
event is "like it was yesterday". During the mid -'60s he was lounging
on the lawn of his high school (Needham) with Corvette oriented friends
and a new girl friend when a Silver 911 went passed. He fixated on the
car, following it as long as possible and said to everyone present, "I'm
getting one". As fate would have it, the elderly (as John said, elderly
to a high school kid was probably 50) woman owner began fueling up at the
Esso station where he worked after school. Chatting her up only served
to reinforce his future commitment to "getting one".
Vietnam interrupted Boston
University and the rest of his life. At the urging of his uncle, an Army
Colonel, John joined the Navy and served on the carriers USS Enterprise
in the China Sea and then on the commissioning crew of the USS John F.
Kennedy. They say timing is everything and John didn't have the luxury
of being able to wait for acceptance to OCS so entered as an NCO, quickly
becoming a leader on the flight deck.
Back from the war, he finished
his undergraduate degree at U Mass - Amherst followed by graduate work
in geology at Columbia. While at U Mass, he was able to enjoy the Berkshire
roads in a '70 911 E borrowed when possible from a doctor cousin, living
in Western MA and also back from the war and the Navy. Is anything more
necessary to solidify one's being hooked on the Porsche marque? That 911
soon became John's but not for long as it quickly and seriously rusted
out.
A college friend, Rich Ceppos
(later to become an editor at "Car and Driver"), had a 2002 TII, state
of the art for the times, that temporarily moved John away from Porsche.
Upon graduation, parents and the bank helped him get his own 2002 that
lasted for 19 years.
In 1989 John bought the '86
911 that is still in his garage today from a Newburyport MD (with 15K miles
that has grown now to 104K miles) whose son had no interest in it. It had
been bought for European delivery and at the last minute the doctor was
unable to go. He prevailed upon his brother, living in Paris, to go to
Germany and sign the necessary papers for shipment to the US. John still
has the letter from the Porsche rep in Germany to the doctor, lamenting
the complete lack of interest and appreciation for the car by the brother.
There's no accounting for taste!
John has great memories of
his Driver Ed experiences and longingly looks forward to the time when
business and personal pressures will allow him to get back to the track.
He met Evelyn while attending a seminar at Stanford and thus began a not
too unusual bi-coastal relationship.
She eventually moved east
and they married in '87.
John is Associate Director
of the Boston Athenaeum and since '99 has been the Athenaeum's liaison
during their major renovations. Working with the architects and contractors
has been a whole new experience with associated new challenges. Evelyn,
educated and trained as an art historian, is a librarian in the Fine Arts
department of the Boston Public Library.
John enjoys squash, tennis,
running and bicycling. In what spare time may be left, they enjoy movies,
travel and architecture - particularly the Arts & Crafts Period - together.
An English Bulldog, Black Lab, and cat help fill up the house and make
their presence known. Thank you John for your Mentor work.
A Cat's Diary Update
Day 699 - I am convinced
the other captives are flunkies and may be snitches. The dog is routinely
released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit.
The Bird on the other hand has got to be an informant. He has mastered
their frightful tongue (something akin to Milo speak) and speaks with them
regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement
in the metal room, his safety is assured. But I can wait, it's only a matter
of time.
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