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Lebanon National ‘25

72r607

13278
I’m pulling for you (Harry in the previous Post Topic)
Makes my Post seem Petty.
But this was my experience and opinion.

_____________________________

The ‘25 MOA National

I attended the MOA Gathering in Lebanon. Last one for me, since I’ve Timed Out, and especially after this experience I decided to throw some parts and accessories on the back of the truck to sell for FUN. Only two big ticket items over $150. All well worn and lots of things $10 to $15. Many things FREE. Things like a dented gas tank for $15 (for a spare while yours is being repaired). A $15 beaded seat and a $15 Harro Tank Bag, a full sheepskin, etc., and FREE STUFF.

Just after I finished unloading, I looked up when I heard a loud demanding voice, (like you would use when your dog soiled your new carpet) saying “YOU CAN’T DO THAT ! PACK IT UP !” Repeated twice.

You have to have a vendors permit or some sort of nonsense. Not verified but I heard the Vendor fee was $600 !

I looked up to see a poor resemblance of General Patton being driven around in a jeep. Well, make that a golf cart. I’m thinking this rude person has not the decency to get out of that cart and speak to another member, like a real man. I guess this is the sort of person who likes for everyone to hear him. No, he didn’t have time to tell me in person, but wanted to be the “King” or was not smart enough to use any manners. Well, General Patton, I am not in your Army !

He did NOT recognize that most of my stuff was well past used. Too far gone for most people in this Club to even look at or try, just to see if they wanted to buy new.

Plenty of stuff for sale everywhere else. Bikes, apparel, parts etc. As it should be. It’s a MOTORCYCLE RALLY. Nobody was harming anyone. We were all MEMBERS.

Did I miss the rules at Registration ? Or was this rude bully making up rules as he went along. Were there any Rally Rules concerning selling “used goods” at all? It’s also a MEMBER EVENT. DON’T act like it’s a private money making enterprise.

I got his name. Turns out this dude was maybe the “Grand Poo Pah”, (the Rally chair), and he wanted everyone near to know who he was.

His name was Vance Harrelson.

In my opinion, this man is a menace to OUR club, if not dangerous. And a threat to motorcycling in general. DON’T EVER give him any authority for anything. He can’t do it & can’t handle it. One must be careful of some volunteers for they are not in it for the right reasons.

He should have been more concerned with the lack of things like toilet paper shortage in the camping areas, etc.

Don’t you think that for a $129 Rally Fee you could have been greeted by an ice cold .25¢ bottle of water. That’s just what you do when you Host people in your home or paying MEMBERS at a Rally especially when it is 90°- 95° and hotter on the road. Maybe the Vendors were more important than the MEMBERS.

My wife and I personally gave away (Free) over 100 bottles of cold/iced water.

One of the answers to MEMBERS selling used stuff is to do nothing and leave them alone. Don’t get your underwear all bunched up over nothing.in years past I have bought stuff from a now well known vendor/dealer. He opened his car trunk and stood on a milk crate. No Gestapo.

The Agricultual Center would not let allow a small 4 head mister near the front door or anywhere due to water use. Are you kidding me? Even after offering $10 a day for water useage. This decision came from an air conditioned office. The RallyChair should have thought of a mister. And a lot more stuff.

I also made the sign on the easel at the the back door to the vendor area about “What Bike Did You First Ride On ?” & “What Was the First Bike You ever Bought “. Just for fun. Lots of participation. Very interesting and FUN. MAYBE the monthly magazine will print the members responses.

I encourage those that want to, to speak their mind on their opinions on the ’25 National. GOOD and BAD. Encouraged by the Editorial Section. If you don’t speak up, then the Good things will not remain and the Bad things will continue to get worse.

I just couldn’t hold it in. I did write this after a cool down period, and it is considerably less harsh than the original draft made on the day after the Rally.

Charlie Robinson,
Member # 13,278 (47 year Member)
 
Charlie -

Sorry that something harshed your mellow at the rally. I wasn't there, but could be that lines were crossed in explaining things. I haven't been to many rallies lately but I never remember there being a "swap meet" at them. Maybe discretely, but I can see that someone might not hit the vendor booth for a new item when they could be something used from you. So I'd defer to the management on that aspect.

I would prefer that you take up your personal discussions with Vance offline, if that's something you want to do. The forum is not the place to get into a back-n-forth on that.

If there are other plusses and minuses people want to share, fine. But let's keep the personal attacks off the forum. Thanks a lot!
 
I think you've mischaracterized Vance. He's always been a great host and stand up guy. Sounds like you had your feelings hurt because he wouldn't let you compete with the used parts vendor who paid to be there.
In any event, thanks for the signs you did at the entrance. Had a great time reading them!
 
Believe me when I say, my feelings were not hurt. Maybe the MOA does not need to charge vendors and only screen them. And if the Club can’t break even w/o charging a nominal fee then maybe they are doing it wrong.

I only characterize someone by the way they treat me. And why couldn’t Vance ‘Stand Up’ and speak to me rather than bark at someone 25’ away.

Charlie
 
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Vance Harrelson is a long-time friend, stand up guy, an MOA Ambassador and a BMW Friend of the Marque.

Being a Rally Chair having to manage hundreds of volunteers is hugely stressful, so give him a break please. Yes, he should have walked over and spoken with you.

That said, this was my last rally, too because this whole show has become far too commercial. It's Money Over All these days, I sure do miss the time when we had a swap meet as part of the rally, as well as not getting hit up for money every time you turn around.
 
I'd like to see a swap meet in addition to the other events. Can't say I'd have anything to contribute or would find anything to purchase, my oldest bike is a 2011, but I like the feel of it, like community. I remember rallies of old, not MOA rallies, but local clubs or other marqueses.
 
I'd like to see a swap meet in addition to the other events. Can't say I'd have anything to contribute or would find anything to purchase, my oldest bike is a 2011, but I like the feel of it, like community. I remember rallies of old, not MOA rallies, but local clubs or other marqueses.


I said this on facebook as well. A swap meet would be great, and if you buy something you can't ride home with, the UPS station is there.
 
[“this was my last rally, too because this whole show has become far too commercial. It's Money Over All these days, I sure do miss the time when we had a swap meet as part of the rally, as well as not getting hit up for money every time you turn around”.] Visian

Well put Visian. 👍👍👍
 
I always enjoy the nationals I can get to. Didn't see any mention of swap meet activity on the roll up to the rally so was not expecting it. Would not be something I am looking for at this rally. Those wanting a swap meet environment should look to AMA vintage days and Barber in the fall. Plenty of swap meet opportunities for shoppers and suppliers. I think Barber has over 500 vendors. Lots of FREE opportunity to move BMW parts on our Marketplace. Sorry someone was offended. Could be the organizer was having other issues to deal with. I look forward to the next rally I don't have a scheduling conflict with. The rally remains my best stop to see products, people and seminars central to my riding interest. My only suggestion is that we look for locations plagued by cold weather and a lack of rainfall because I think our rally could change that for them.


Wayne Koppa
Grayling, MI
#71,449
 
Don’t think labels. Swap meet, vendor etc. Think Free Economy, not control at a members event. Is it ok to sell a bike, helmet, seat cushion, cup holder, set of lights individually by an individual (club member). Is there a limit. 1 item, 2 items 5 things.

So far nobody has answered the question, “What are the Club Rules” and “What were the Rally Rules ? That will settle a lot of issues. Or is it up to just up to one person. ?

Awaiting an Official response.

Charlie
 
Is it ok to sell a bike, helmet, seat cushion, cup holder, set of lights individually by an individual (club member)
It's common to see bikes with for sale signs on them. In the campground and RV section you'll see used jackets and helmets next to tents or RVs with for sale signs.
Unofficial response :)
 
Is it ok to sell a bike, helmet, seat cushion, cup holder, set of lights individually by an individual (club member)
“It's common to see bikes with for sale signs on them. In the campground and RV section you'll see used jackets and helmets next to tents or RVs with for sale signs.
Unofficial response :)
Lee


A lot more mature and insightful than:
“Sounds like you had your feelings hurt”
Really is that what this person derived from this Post ?

Charlie
 
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Interesting thread for sure and since I don’t camp I guess I missed all the fun. I don’t really have a horse in thus race but I guess there’s a difference between selling a jacket or helmet vs setting up a swap meet style table. I can see the vendor perspective as they pay money to sell their goods. As for the rally chair getting his shorts in a wad I’d cut him some slack as bring rally chair is no easy job and he may just been having a bad day.

Me…. I truly enjoy the National and love the quality vendors we attract.
 
Went to the RA National in Athens,OH and the volunteer organizers did a great job. They took care of the important things and didn’t appear to try to control everything.

Much smaller crowd though. Attendance was unofficially 750.
Good diversity in Bikes too.
Suffice to say, I had a great time.

As a member, to contribute, I gave away FREE 220 bottles of cold/iced water, free parts and accessories.
(and sold some parts).

The Pesky Gestapo didn’t come visit.
 
Went to the RA National in Athens,OH and the volunteer organizers did a great job. They took care of the important things and didn’t appear to try to control everything.

Much smaller crowd though. Attendance was unofficially 750.
Good diversity in Bikes too.
Suffice to say, I had a great time.

As a member, to contribute, I gave away FREE 220 bottles of cold/iced water, free parts and accessories.
(and sold some parts).

The Pesky Gestapo didn’t come visit.
I have chaired both an RA National Rally (Boise, Idaho, 2007) and an MOA National Rally (Salt Lake, 2017) and co-chaired the MOA Rally in Springfield, MO in 2022, and there is just no comparison between the two events on an operational level. A rally of less than 1,000 people is really on par with a very large local club rally (or as they were at one time a few years back) and requires far less management than an even for 5,000 or more. Problems rise to the square of the number of people you have.

I've known Vance Harrelson for many years, working with him as a fellow member of the Board of Directors, and in his capacity as the Co-Chair (with his wife) of two other MOA Rallies. He's a very nice guy and although I don't know the specific circumstances of your interaction, I will take all bets that Vance did not intend to offend you or come across as you have interpreted.

For the record, ALL vendors - commercial or individual - indoor or outdoor - have been required to pay a vendor fee for at leaset 15 years or more. This became necessary because people were abusing the "flea market" concept. Individuals with a garage full of old parts on a tarp or table were not the problem, but others were bringing large, well-stocked vans and claiming to be "just individuals" when they were clearly commercial in all but name. Naturally the vendors playing by the rules and paying their fees felt that was unfair - and it was - so the abusers spoiled a good thing for everyone else as happens all too often. It's unfortunate that you had to find out about this change in the way you did, but at the end of the day the blame belongs with some other attendees who took it too far.
 
Went to the RA National in Athens,OH and the volunteer organizers did a great job. They took care of the important things and didn’t appear to try to control everything.

Much smaller crowd though. Attendance was unofficially 750.
Good diversity in Bikes too.
Suffice to say, I had a great time.

As a member, to contribute, I gave away FREE 220 bottles of cold/iced water, free parts and accessories.
(and sold some parts).

The Pesky Gestapo didn’t come visit.
Thanks for the water, it was much appreciated, I did as instructed after you refused my donation, I purchased the 50/50 tickets with it.
 
Don’t think labels. Swap meet, vendor etc. Think Free Economy, not control at a members event. Is it ok to sell a bike, helmet, seat cushion, cup holder, set of lights individually by an individual (club member). Is there a limit. 1 item, 2 items 5 things.

So far nobody has answered the question, “What are the Club Rules” and “What were the Rally Rules ? That will settle a lot of issues. Or is it up to just up to one person. ?

Awaiting an Official response.

Charlie
So you've been a member for 47 years, and didn't think about contacting the rally organizers about any rules clarification before hauling your ..."well past used. Too far gone for most people in this Club.." to the rally?

You obviously know how to work a computer and probably a phone. And then proceeding to trash the rally organizer with the "Gestapo" moniker sounds both childish and entitled. We all like swap meets, but this Bravo Sierra is all on you.

Do you need a hug?
 
FWIW, on the "flea market" deal, a fair amount of merchandise that there is a hope to sell. If it doesn't sell, this now unwanted "stuff" is left in place and the event organizers have to pick it up and dispose of it.
This ends up being labor intensive, expensive and unfair to the event organizers.
Sorta like the piles of crap you see outside a charitable donation box.......AKA- Charitable Dumping. :nono
OM
 
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