National Rally V

[Jerry Winchester]

Now we're talking. I think letting some time build between the two spring rallys and a big blingfest is worth considering.

Now that doesn't mean I won't find some time to attend Loc's Fat Beagle Dog Throwdown and Prevost Gathering, but I think we need to consider our sponsors / technicians in this endeavor.

[Jim Skiff]

Mike & Jerry,

I think that is what will work best. It will be a rough fall but with small rallies in between I think we can manage.

So 09 at Elkhorn or Breckinridge? Summer where families can attend?

I'm listening here.

[jonnie]

Truk,

I have a been afflictted with a terminal case of MPD for many years. Unfortunately, I am also dealing with a case of champagne taste on a beer pocketbook- very hard to balance these two. I will keep hanging around with you guys, if you will let me, and try to live vicariously thru you exploits and purchases' until I am cured or take the plunge.

John

[phorner]

Mike, you make a very good point. You can only expect the sponsors to do so much and back-to-back events is asking a lot.

We probably stand to gain more by having a single "major" rally each year which will hopefully allow the sponsors and technicians to afford us the most attention that they can give.

Balanced with a number of smaller rally's, perhaps a little more socially oriented than technically oriented, might be the best compromise and allow us to get the most bang from the sponsors' buck.

Count me in for April in any event....

[rbeecher]

Mike & Jerry,

I think that is what will work best. It will be a rough fall but with small rallies in between I think we can manage.

So 09 at Elkhorn or Breckinridge? Summer where families can attend?

I'm listening here.

Hi Skiffer,

You have our vote for the 09 gathering at either location.

We are also looking forward to TN because it's close and because Jon and Fast Roger live there so it must be a great state to visit.

Richard Beecher

[garyde]

As previously said, Too much of a good thing can limit the attendance, so we'll have to fight off the Fall 'urge to merge' and plan for the spring. My vote is for Colorado as it is closer for we west coasters. I am also in favor of a wagon master as Ray has said, maybe two.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Just courious about some things.

Is it not the number of coaches in attendance that will determine if it is feasible for a vendor to come to a rally?

When did we "need" to have vendors come to our rallies. SF had only one that I can remember, and he did not make a huge attempt to "sell".

I think guys like Nick and Rick and Doug and Bill who were at Branson are an asset. I would like to hear from them on this topic.

The idea that was floated by someone to have a selling rally I think is a fantastic idea. Rather than arbitrarily limit rallies, what if a "national" rally is held every year, including 2008 and we flip the focus from one year to the next, with one year dedicated to selling coaches and having seminars that relate to ownership such as insurance, storage of coaches, maintenance costs, how to buy a coach, how to inspect a coach, etc., and the next year the rally is heavy in mechanical how to do.

This group is in a state of transition. There are a bunch of people that haven't even spoken on this issue and we do not yet know if membership has peaked or is still climbing. We don't yet know what is the best rally size, we don't know if we should set firm dates for rallies, and we don't know what the vendors yet think.

One of the most important group of people (to me anyway) that has been absent is the service techs for converters. Rick and Nick and Doug have been a huge benefit in this respect, but I still feel a large rally with converter specific groups and seminars would be a tremendous opportunity for owners to get a better and deeper understanding of their coaches and their systems.

[Loc]

I am working on plans for the Fat Beagle / Unruly Kids Throwdown and Prevost Gathering. It will be the second Fat Beagle micro-rally. FB1 was in Asheville and had a total of two buses. However there were some day pass attendees and an interloper from Virginia. FB2 is likely to only be attended by me and maybe JDUB. Bob and Debi, I will book a place that holds at least three campers and hope that you will come and bring all the dogs. I was thinking about Fast Roger's parking lot in Bristol?

I like the idea of a summer rally and think either location would be great. Breckenridge is cool in the summer and has great Jeep trails nearby. Spearfish is usually cool with the exception of this summer and has all of the Black Hills attractions.

[bill&jody]

we might be in sturgis again for bike week which is a few weeks earlier than the sept dates being discussed. it would be just as easy for us to swing over to breckenridge after sturgis. we have friends who summer at tiger run every year and LOVE it. either and both seem to work for us at this time.
jody

[JIM KELLER]

I agree with Jon. Without Rick, Nick, Doug and Jon's seminar we would have been without exposure to technical information. All of us owners need to better understand our coaches. All of the people I talked to were extremely appreciative of the knowledge they gained at our lasy Rally.

How do we attract the Service Techs from various Converters ? Is POG big enough to send them invitational requests ? Should members be doing this to help generate momentum ?