Pro's and Con's of 2024 Redmond Rally

[kbasa]

Well, the unfortunate reality is the forum is underutilized. While the 2025 Rally thread is a great member participation thread, it’s utilized roughly 10% of those that attended the 2024 Rally.
Discussions about better or different are fine but the suggestions need to roll up to the Rally leaders.
I believe that the Rally leaders are doing good and all that they can. I also believe that in a situation that the MOA has, will need help with a lot more volunteers.
I don’t think I have ever been to an event or trade show where everything was perfect……but I did know the promoters were trying.
More members to the forum would hopefully foster more volunteers at these events that so desperately need/rely on them.
OM

I guess I don't understand why we shouldn't discuss it just because of "underutilization". Every one of those experiences that get shared are valuable.

Maybe the rally leaders should get their act together and be proactive about what their customers want. That's what effective businesses do - they actively seek out signal from their potential market and buyers.

Even if they're not reading it right now, it's nice to know that these comments and thoughts the membership is sharing are archived in this forum for future use.

Which says to me that the officers and board members, and key staff, and rally chairs ought to pay attention to the Forum. I know that some do. I suspect that others don't. They need the member input whether they choose to participate or not.

Two past presidents are saying the same thing in this thread.

Let the people talk, please. The folks at the top need to pay attention to their customers in as many ways as possible. In the meanwhile, this thread is giving us the kind of input my NYSE listed employer would kill for.

If this club isn't growing, it's in the process of dying, in my humble opinion. If we don't listen to what people want, we will surely discourage folks from attending through inaction and inattention.

And, lurking board members, it'd be fine if y'all chipped in. Same for the rally chairs. It's your responsibility to read this stuff.

 

[gsinnc]

OK ... so to the original subject of this thread .... Pros and Cons....

First I want to say I had a blast !! I thought the venue was awesome. Lots of shady parking and even some covered. Great indoor vendor building and vendors ware excellent both the indoor vendors and outdoor ones. The food trucks were good and was able to get coffee and cold drinks and snacks. The registration / sign-in was simple and easy. We stayed in Prineville and it was a great location with good lodging options and food and any supplies you needed within walking. Loved having Revzilla there and the reps from Alpinestars and Revit!

Con ... hmmm ... let me see .... maybe a bit better mapping info and scheduled info. I do miss the printed book but understand the cost may be prohibitive. Mugs? Yeah ... don't really need another mug. But the Rally shirts were very nice although they ran small and had to exchange mine for a larger size.

All in all I would rate this rally a 9 out of 10 or maybe even 9.5

 

[BBrowning]

Hmmm,
I used the app but maybe not good enough.. I missed some seminars cause I didn't know they were on.. my bad.. Maybe because I was busy volunteering and just visiting others. Had fun with that. I got a paper version but too late to do any good. Again busy visiting and such.
Made good use of the vendors, but had to watch my Canadian dollars as they don't stretch as far as US ones.. 8.00 bucks for a beer is really 11.00 bucks to me. not much Org's can do about that but the cost of things is something to think about. Used my new Hippo hands on the way home. Very happy until I got the Visa Bill LOL
Found the secret showers so we were good there. Used the trailer early on and it was fine but heard complaints later in the game. Didn't matter as we had the secret ones.
Club Camping seemed crowded where as the rest of the site was wide open with some spots almost empty. Maybe more space for the clubs could be thought about. People seem to want to know they have a spot when they show up and camp with their buddies.. Plus maybe a better way of getting numbers that are coming to the Club spots.. Some seemed over subscribed where others had people that didn't show up or just went else where on the site.. Not really an issue but seemed a bit Harem Scarem went we were working the club camping table.
In past rallies I have attended there was a big closing ceremony. I sort of miss that. We stuck it out until the band quit playing but damn near froze our butts off. I bet the band was frozen too. Some sort of indoor venue might have been better attended and the expensive beer sales might have been better too. Something to think about if the rally comes back to Oregon in June.
All in all it went by way too fast.
till next time.

 

[rangerreece]

Thanks Bernie for following through on my request to lodge a complaint about it being too cold. This is karma the forum gets for complaining to the board that it’s too hot for my seven years on the serving . I put in a request with the big guy to have a cool rally and He followed through in spades.

Kidding aside, I don’t think cheap beer is coming back soon, but unlike other venues, I don’t think we have any restrictions about making beer runs and filling up your side cases with the beer of choice from Walmart. Even my non-alcoholic beer was pricey, but I only had a few.

Regarding the app… yep, I had a really good suggestion (or I thought it was) from a Colorado member whom we gave a ride in the golf cart. He suggested we mirror all the app information on the rally website in the weeks prior and make it pdf printable. Members could print out what the wanted, customize it and keep the app for all the announcements and changes. I thought it would make a good back stop for app glitches and suggested it (along with a lot of other suggestions) to next year’s rally chairs.

Thanks to all the volunteers that worked so hard to make the rally the success that it was.

V/R
Reece

 

[IronBa]

Having spent too long in the IT sector I can say that any sort of training or assistance will go a long way in making applications more useful. The "here, figure it out" approach is too often the after thought solution. I appreciated the app was available well before the rally started (hiccups and all) but I wonder if it was widely known. I loved the add button on the seminars and calendar entries that listed them in the "My Agenda" section.

I'm not sure if it would be worth an ON article a month prior to the rally but is there any way to advertise the application better so members can get to know the app before having to use it?

 

[rangerreece]

Having spent too long in the IT sector I can say that any sort of training or assistance will go a long way in making applications more useful. The "here, figure it out" approach is too often the after thought solution. I appreciated the app was available well before the rally started (hiccups and all) but I wonder if it was widely known. I loved the add button on the seminars and calendar entries that listed them in the "My Agenda" section.

I'm not sure if it would be worth an ON article a month prior to the rally but is there any way to advertise the application better so members can get to know the app before having to use it?

Ironically, I mentioned on SM and in my two ON columns, months prior that the app was available, and I suggested that members download it and start familiarizing themselves with the features and content. To a man and woman, those that I met at the rally that did, didn’t have any problems (it’s intuitive in nature once you’re in it).

I have given a lot of impromptu instruction on the app this year, and last year; usually, regardless of the member instructed, once I show them a few features they’re off to the races.

An early Seminar maybe starting Wednesday on App use might be worthwhile, but honestly I think few people would attend, most people want simple solutions that don’t require a lot of time and effort.

Those members that embrace the changes have relatively few problems and generally a good rally experience; just my observations.

My personal biggest issue with the app this year, the vendor map was so busy that you needed to blow it up on your phone to read it, but when you did the resolution was lost and no vendors could be read. We compensated with that by having a large laminated vendor map at the entrance to the vendor building which was very helpful.

 

[PGlaves]

I have been to all but two rallies since 1984. I have camped at all but three of the rallies I have attended. But at 79, and daily using oxygen therapy, my sleeping in a tent in the mud days are over. So my biggest gripe is the cost of motel/hotel rooms during the rally at Redmond. That is why for only the third time in 39 rallies I stayed home.

This is only indirectly the fault of the BMW MOA since we don't have much control over the tourist areas which know exactly when and how to jack room prices for events. Today I can get a room in Redmond for about half what I could have done for the rally, even when I tried to reserve more than 11 months in advance. $8 beers I can handle. $200 or $300 a night motel rooms not so much.

We do have a room reserved for 2 adults, no pets, in Lebanon for 3 nights (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) for $251.17 all-in for next year. I hope to see you there.

 

[rangerreece]

Paul: good point. Hotel price gouging is not pleasant in any flavor, our current hyper inflation economy has made it difficult for all of us not enjoying major income. I really wish there was something more we could do to get those prices more reasonable.

 

[gsinnc]

Paul: good point. Hotel price gouging is not pleasant in any flavor, our current hyper inflation economy has made it difficult for all of us not enjoying major income. I really wish there was something more we could do to get those prices more reasonable.

Yeah …. I was on the road for 32 days during my trip to Redmond and lodging prices are certainly on the raise. Our average was probably about $160 a night. Our lodging at the rally was $145 before taxes. Yes it was a 20 minute ride each day but that was no big deal. For me it was worth the savings and in a nice quiet town.

 

[lee]

When I first (and last) ordered on Tuesday afternoon arrival they had just finished setting up in the beer garden.
Cans all lined up for selection ease, no prices posted. Asked for two Coors.
Sixteen Dollars she stated.

Debbie and I were at the Goodguys car show today at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. This was the site of the 2018 National.
I didn't have a beer
On a comparison of day passes we each paid $28 to get in for the day.

 

[lee]

We do have a room reserved for 2 adults, no pets, in Lebanon for 3 nights (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) for $251.17 all-in for next year. I hope to see you there.

We made reservations this morning for 4 nights. $85 plus $19 tax a night. 24 hour cancellation.
We might change that to three nights but figured I better make it 4 for now.

 

[gsinnc]

We made reservations this morning for 4 nights. $85 plus $19 tax a night. 24 hour cancellation.
We might change that to three nights but figured I better make it for now.

Can you folks share the hotels you have booked?

 

[lee]

Can you folks share the hotels you have booked?

Quality Inn Lebanon. We had a discount that was $10 less than the Senior rate. I did not check with the MOA discount code.
Ramada is $97 plus tax
Days Inn is $80 plus tax
Econo Lodge is $127 plus tax. We stayed there last time. The rate before the rally is $30 or $40 cheaper.
Holiday Inn Express is $148 plus tax (I just checked with the MOA code and the rate is the same)

 

[PGlaves]

Can you folks share the hotels you have booked?

Travel Inn. Located in the Southwest quadrant of US 231 @ I-40. We stayed there last time in Lebanon. Not deluxe but OK.

 

[rangerreece]

It’s good to see the forum sharing hotel information. If we can’t control hotel pricing, we can sure counter that with sharing information here.

 

[rangerreece]

Note: Redmond is supposed to be 101*F today. Looking like June was the sweet spot on the calendar.

 

[ramble]

Paul,
Is Travel Inn outside entrances?

 

[PGlaves]

Paul,
Is Travel Inn outside entrances?

Yes. Two stories though. So park by your door or down from it.

 

[lee]

Paul,
Is Travel Inn outside entrances?

Here's the website https://www.hotelsone.com/lebanon-h...839;dstt:8;dsts:Travel+Inn;cur:USD;rad:0;sf:1

Sometimes if there's a comment section when reserving online I ask for ground floor. You can also request that if calling the motel.
Sometimes we like the top floor so we don't have to listen to someone above us with heavy feet.

 

[ramble]

OK Those weren't feet..... we were doing handstands to celebrate another great rally! Thanks for the link.