jarracuda":nx9yswqf said:
I'm ocassionally reading posts from the site admin and the moderators asking other readers info about new Parkers and I'm really surprised that a representative from Parker is not occasionally around to respond.
I can assure you that Parker Marine monitors this site frequently!
However, with that said ... the decision
to remain as two separate and distinct entities are the wishes of:
* Me (as the founder & webmaster of CP)
* My Moderator Team
* and Parker Marine
I believe this aproach behooves all of us.
Firstly from the
ClassicParker community perspective, I wish that we remain entirely independent and 'arms length' from the Management perspective of Parker Marine. I wish them the right to make decision as it affects their family business ... and I wish that for the CP Moderator and MGt Team - to function as best we can - in our mission. Remember, we LOVE their product sooooooooo much that many of us dedicate bandwidth, time, and money to keep this website self-sufficient, moderated, and running ... and all for free too!
While we love their product and support, we are not above questioning a factory decision here or there, of which there are very few legitimate ones IMHO (when you look at the whole picture of them being in business first and foremost to sell a product).
Secondly, I wish to remain at arms lengths with Parker dealers. We have had a few GREAT area Parker dealers support the efforts of the CP Community, (see the 2006 Annapolis, MD Parker rendezvous posts) but not all dealers share in this vision. In my own neck of the woods, I cannot get my local dealer to acknowledge the existence of nor practicality of this CP website. I am to tell them how to conduct their business? I think not ... and I too would expect the equal respect.
FWIW many here began calling ourselves the
"On-line Parker Marine Boat Owner's Manual" due to the high quality of our content and contributions that many here have made. It is my intention to keep the morale, spirit, and postings here honest and positive ... and as you have seen, while seldom, I will edit out any conflict and/or disparaging discourse that has caused many other websites to fail or become 'flamefests'.
I fully intend for the CP 'Signal to Noise' ratio be the HIGHEST of boat owner site on the web.
Lastly, our resident Moderator CBIGMA does communicate is a somewhat 'official' fashion with Robin from Parker Marine, but in a way so as to ensure them that our intentions are to further support the satisfied ownership of those who own and enjoy Parker boats. John occasionally checks in with Parker to check the pulse of their interest in our little CP community here. Who knows? Perhaps in the future Parker may consider us as an ideal resource to them in the launch or piloting of new concepts or ideas.
It is my intention that owner's USE the Parker dealership and factory for questions and/or concerns specific to their hull. That is the relationship that Parker established and I fully intend to respect that desire.
Thank you Jarracuda for your input into this topic and I do hope that you understand my position ... as this is 'Parker website #3 or #4' (depending on whether you count the former Pilot House site) ... and I intend for it to be the BEST and LAST effort for
ClassicParker owners from now and forever!
