[hworth18]

This was posted by the Forum Admin on the Corgi USA Website today.. Apparently, Allyssa is no longer with Corgi USA..

It was sad to hear Allysa is now gone. She didn't even call or write an e-mail to let me know. I haven't had contact with Corgi officially in many months.

It sounds like it is time to come clean about how I fit into the scheme of things. Most of you know that I am Bill Manzke, author of "The Unauthorized Encyclopedia of Corgi Toys" (1997 Schiffer Publishing) and "Corgi Juniors and Husky Models" (2004, Schiffer Publishing), as well as being the moderator of the Corgi discussions at the Matchbox Collectors Community Hall website. You might say I know a little about the history of Corgi.

For many years, I was a contributor of articles to the Corgi Collector Club (UK) magazine. Susan Pownall at the club there does a fabulous job, and is a fabulous person to work with, even though we have never met face-to-face. A few years ago, I was approached by Richard Walker of the then new Corgi USA office. We discussed getting a collector club goig here in the USA. The web site was set up for the club, and I was made Director of the US Corgi Collector Club. It was a volunteer position. I was never a direct employee of the company. Things got off to a good start.

Sadly, about a year into things there came a management turn-over at Corgi USA. The new management team did not see the need for the club, and how it promoted the product line among collectors. This team was more interested in the "toy" end of things and spent little or no time with the club.

This was about the same time that a number of major life events in my home life severly curtailed my ability to focus on the club. Richard Walker and his successor Amanda were soon gone. From my remote location in Ohio, and from the total lack of communication from Corgi USA in Chicago, I was cut out of the loop about what was "going on" in the company. I still kept my administrative privaleges on this site, but otherwise was cut-off from Corgi USA.

Over time I attempted to make helpful suggestions to the company. By day, I am a Machine Design Engineer with experience in molding, casting, product design and automated assembly. When Richard and Amanda were still there, we would brainstorm over things to enhance the product line. I conducted research for many products, contributed product line ideas, and suggested a number of promotional programs that were conducted. The club '57 Chevy during the 50th anniversary year can be traced directly to my efforts, including the prototypical paint color and trim.

All of that came to a halt with the management change-over. After Amanda left the company, the website floundered. Even a number of articles that I contributed for the planned monthly update of the website during the 50th Anniversary year never were posted. The sad fact is I was never fully given the keys, nor the instructions on how to update nor maintain the website outside of the Forums area. There was no effort made to do so in Chicago either, due to the loss of expertice with the personnel change-over there. That is why we still have content on the club pages that is over a year old. The 2005 Chevy still appears at the top of the club page, and the 2007 (originally 2006) plated P-51 Mustang club model doesn't even appear.

All this leads me to a sad conclusion. I don't think this club will be here much longer. Since the merger, I have not had any contact with anyone outside of Allysa at Corgi USA. No attempt has been made whatsoever. It seems Allysa's last effort before leaving was to ship-out the Club P-51 models to the members. I would be happy to help the new management get things going again if they so chose. However, I can't run the club form Ohio. The website doesn't belong to me, it belongs to Corgi USA. Unless the new crew gets something going very soon, what remains of the US Corgi Collector Club will soon dissappear. Unless I hear otherwise, I fear this is Farewell.

Written with sadness 5/19/07

Bill Manzke
Former US Corgi Collector Club Director
bmanzke@columbus.rr.com

USCCC Members are welcomed to e-mail me.

[STARMAN 352ND]

Well that is sad that this is happening to Corgi USA.....
Seems the New team is really looking for places to cut...
Corgi USA will be missed .
JP

[LzyBns]

That is very disturbing news, the fact that I never recieved my club model, I did get the catalog and letter saying I would be mailed soon. I even did what you suggested on there forum hworth18, I even called twice recieved an answering machine and never got a call back.........there goes $25.00 down the drain.........

[hworth18]

Originally Posted by LzyBns

That is very disturbing news, the fact that I never recieved my club model, I did get the catalog and letter saying I would be mailed soon. I even did what you suggested on there forum hworth18, I even called twice recieved an answering machine and never got a call back.........there goes $25.00 down the drain.........

Sorry to hear you haven't gotten an answer back, and I do hope the Club gets back on its feet with the new management..

[LzyBns]

I just sent a letter off to Nona hopefully she can give me some insite. And I'm about to send off my 6 tokens, I hope someone will be in the office............I hope it does too. You would think if your going to make big changes, like Darren has said across the pond that you would at least keep the people who keep you in business some what informed. Oh Well, there's plenty of other manufactures..

[Av8tor]

The latest Corgi UK Aviation Archive newsletter actually promotes the USA Club and encourages UK Club members
to sign up and get the gold plated Mustang. Apparently we should contact Alyssa!

[LzyBns]

Maybe things are looking up. First things first...NONA IS NUMBER ONE AT CORGI U.K.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.I sent an e-mail to Nona at Corgi UK last night telling her about not getting any response from Corgi USA on the Collectors Club P-51 and not recieving one and asked if anyone was still in the office. By the time I got up this morning she had e-mailed me back with a response she would send and enquiry to her contact in Chicago asking for and address of the person to whom she should send such complaints. That was sent at 12:08 am U.K. time. At 11:40am pst I recieved another e-mail from Nona stating " I have heard back from Angela in our Chicago office telling me that she will deal with enquiries such as yours, until someone is appointed to take charge of the Club. She will be in touch with you". So it sounds like there going to keep the Corgi Collectors Forum open. Before Nona could send the second e-mail Angela had already responded asking for my address and will take care of it. ANGELA IS NUMBER ONE AT CORGI U.S.A. There is someone in Chicago that cares about the collectors......... I also mentioned to Angela to drop by here to give us some positive input about Corgi U.S.A.

[STARMAN 352ND]

Well lets hope for better days from Corgi USA...
Thanks for your update.
JP

[hworth18]

This has been posted at the clubsite today..
Corgi now has a new Coordinator and they are getting the club back on track!!! Woohoo!!!

Hello Corgi Club members,

I hope you all had a nice Memorial Day weekend!

I just wanted to come on here and introduce myself. I'm Melissa, and I will be your new Club Coordinator. I'm new to the Corgi company, but having spent a few of my formative years in the UK, am no stranger to Corgi toys. I'm working on familiarizing myself with the product line, figuring out what needs to be addressed and how, and what I can do to make the Corgi Club a positive experience for all concerned.

I'm totally psyched to be working here, I love the product, and can't wait to really dig in and get down to business, but as mentioned in Traci's post introducing me, I'm still training, I don't yet have my own email...so just bear with me.

Also, I've been reading over the forums and there's been a lot of negativity bandied about. I'm not saying it's completely unwarranted, I understand where some of the frustration stems from, and I plan to do all I can to get this back on track - Once I know how.

In the meantime, why don't we get back to why we're all here, and talk about Corgi toys - Why do you collect them? What sets them apart from other lines available out there? Tell me why you’re here!

Warmest Regards,

Melissa

[Captain Eddie]

Originally Posted by hworth18

This has been posted at the clubsite today..
Corgi now has a new Coordinator and they are getting the club back on track!!! Woohoo!!!

That's all fine and dandy, but what's this talk from Melissa regarding Corgi's TOYS!!????!!???