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moving the rally to the spring or fall
- Thread starter nytrashman
- Start date
- Status
Hey Trashman
I agree with almost everything that you said here.... except that i don't think that a rally in Oct is the way to go. Too many families, and young people's lives are tied to the school calendar. I believe that a rally that is held in a different season would end up with mostly attendees who are retires or who live very close to the rally site.
sdc
I agree with almost everything that you said here.... except that i don't think that a rally in Oct is the way to go. Too many families, and young people's lives are tied to the school calendar. I believe that a rally that is held in a different season would end up with mostly attendees who are retires or who live very close to the rally site.
sdc
So how many youths attended camp gears this year? When I have seen pictures of the group in the past there were very few. If you had hundreds maybe it would be an issue, if it is as few as I think it is not a reason to hold the ralley during the summer.
nytrashman
New member
you could very well be right about that, but i would still like to see the MOA at least explore the idea of changing when the rally is held. if there is a real, logical reason why the rally dates can't be changed then i will accept that, but if the reason is "this is when we always have our rally" i'm afraid that doesn't cut it. it is apparent that many members would like to MOA to rethink the month the rally is held, but so far all quiet on the western front, or in this case the MOA board.
Were back to square 1 tying the rally to kids and school. This is as bad as a helmet discussion.
Sue
Friend of the Marque
Really? REALLY?
I might be the first board member who is back home, following the rally, so I'll jump into this:
1) Please do not denigrate the board members for not responding to your thread as quickly as you would like. Most of us were working our A!$3$! off in that heat, and have not had time to read the forum yet.
2) The last unbiased survey we conducted in 2009 of the membership indicated that overall, most members still prefer the rally in July, and on a weekend.
3) The board recently decided that rally sites would be considered "earlier in the summer" if the dates were the only variable stopping us from considering a site.
AND ... here are two important additions to this discussion...
Whew. And yes, I *AM* tired and cranky. 760 mile ride home, after a week of sleeping in a hot tent every night will do that. Tonight: a cool beverage and then to sleep in my own air-conditioned bedroom. It's good to be home.
I might be the first board member who is back home, following the rally, so I'll jump into this:
1) Please do not denigrate the board members for not responding to your thread as quickly as you would like. Most of us were working our A!$3$! off in that heat, and have not had time to read the forum yet.
2) The last unbiased survey we conducted in 2009 of the membership indicated that overall, most members still prefer the rally in July, and on a weekend.
3) The board recently decided that rally sites would be considered "earlier in the summer" if the dates were the only variable stopping us from considering a site.
AND ... here are two important additions to this discussion...
-->Do you have a gripe? Then send it directly to us at our email address: board@bmwmoa.org
-->This year we had five board positions, and only 4 candidates. Do you want to implement change? Then RUN FOR THE BOARD next time.
-->This year we had five board positions, and only 4 candidates. Do you want to implement change? Then RUN FOR THE BOARD next time.
Whew. And yes, I *AM* tired and cranky. 760 mile ride home, after a week of sleeping in a hot tent every night will do that. Tonight: a cool beverage and then to sleep in my own air-conditioned bedroom. It's good to be home.
nplenzick
New member
So whats to discuss? They get about 1100 attendees and it's considered a success? Many who attend the RA are dual members, so where were all of the MOA members at? Heck, you don't have to be a member of anything so where was everyone? The vendors that I talked too are no longer willing to travel a great distance to support the RA and I include myself with that.
nplenzick
New member
Memberships are declining in every club I know not just the MOA.
nplenzick
New member
There is a partial answer right there. Pay as you go. Forget early registration.
This topic was pretty much covered last year.
I had suggested the dates could be within June/August and then shop by venue not date.
I would think w/ an open date many more venues would open up for us.
Maybe a more positive way to show the MOA is to support your local spring or fall regional rally with so many attendees that the MOA will see this as a viable business alternative instead of watching the Weather Channel and waiting for perfect temperatures and clear blue skys.
We did discuss this last year in length about holding the set date. So let me remind you and others what I said. Every single promoter and I do mean every single promoter that I have ever talked to will agree that moving the date of a successful event is a recipe for disaster. It doesn't mean if were talking about Sturgus, Daytona Bike week, Americade, or the Indy 500. Move the date once and you'll be hurt for a few years, keep moving the date like the RA does is a recipe for failure.
nplenzick
New member
I might be the first board member who is back home, following the rally, so I'll jump into this:
1) Please do not denigrate the board members for not responding to your thread as quickly as you would like. Most of us were working our A!$3$! off in that heat, and have not had time to read the forum yet.
2) The last unbiased survey we conducted in 2009 of the membership indicated that overall, most members still prefer the rally in July, and on a weekend.
3) The board recently decided that rally sites would be considered "earlier in the summer" if the dates were the only variable stopping us from considering a site.
AND ... here are two important additions to this discussion...
-->Do you have a gripe? Then send it directly to us at our email address: board@bmwmoa.org
-->This year we had five board positions, and only 4 candidates. Do you want to implement change? Then RUN FOR THE BOARD next time.
Whew. And yes, I *AM* tired and cranky. 760 mile ride home, after a week of sleeping in a hot tent every night will do that. Tonight: a cool beverage and then to sleep in my own air-conditioned bedroom. It's good to be home.
They way you guys run a rally puts many of the so called professionals to shame. I'll include Americade and Daytona on the list too. The MOA does the job as well as Barber Motorsports and I consider that the highest complement that I can give any organization. Job well done!
This is as a member, not a Mod response FWIW...
We did not go this year as it conflicted with family coming from CA. Family trumps a rally anytime in my world. It didn't in the past, but I am older and wiser these days.
Have only been to three Nationals since joining the MOA. Wisconsin, Gillette, and Johnson City. All had issues of Summer coming or going from Texas. Some were hotter than our July average, some were close.
Having lived and worked outdoors in the Power Delivery trade in Houston & Austin most of my pre-retirement years, one does acclimate to the heat/humidity if one is exposed to it enough. For those who do not get out in it as much as others , it does take a quick toll. Lot's of factors to those who can stand it vs. those who cannot. That's a science report for someone else to do.
That said, I have read,listened, and commented on the why's and why not's of moving the dates the years I have been a member. In the big picture both sides have valid points.
I think the school kid issue for one is misunderstood...it doesn't mean the kids will be there, it means they are something a lot of folks have to schedule around...my parents did it by sending us to Boy Scout Camp! My mom was a teacher most of her life...High School to college. She got a vacation away from ALL kids for two weeks every summer when we were younger.
And a rally as large as this takes many volunteers, a lot who are on vacation this time of year. The RA depends on the local clubs to do the footwork/volunteer/operating at each location...they do not travel like the MOA from the few of those I have also attended. Cannot compare the two at all.
Who can predict weather events years in advance? I have been snowed on one year and then cooked another time in August before in Colorado during one of their big events...happens. Have seen Spring tornadoes rip apart beautiful spots in several states, glad I was not at a rally that time of year either. And remember the Moto Guzzi Rally that was wiped out from a flash flood a few years back?...pretty scarey & humbling event.
Each of the recent BOD's have had this issue on the table...nothing new to the organization. As someone once told me, run for an office if you want to be part of the solution. These folks are riders first as the rest of us...nothing special other than the ability/desire to serve and try to make smart decisions for the majority of the members. They all do not live in Ballwin,MO.
And the locations...no one is ever happy totally on that ..East Coast/West Coast /North/Midwest/South. Someone is going to be unhappy...go or don't go depending on what works for you...works for me.
Hope is all opinions will be heard and responded to in the future. Not an easy answer if you revisit history below.
more from the past discussions, I typed in Move Rally Dates under Search:
2005:
http://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthread.php?t=7029:&highlight=change+rally+dates
2007:
http://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthread.php?t=21490&highlight=MOA+rally+date+change
2010:
http://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthread.php?t=47410&highlight=change+rally+dates
We did not go this year as it conflicted with family coming from CA. Family trumps a rally anytime in my world. It didn't in the past, but I am older and wiser these days.
Have only been to three Nationals since joining the MOA. Wisconsin, Gillette, and Johnson City. All had issues of Summer coming or going from Texas. Some were hotter than our July average, some were close.
Having lived and worked outdoors in the Power Delivery trade in Houston & Austin most of my pre-retirement years, one does acclimate to the heat/humidity if one is exposed to it enough. For those who do not get out in it as much as others , it does take a quick toll. Lot's of factors to those who can stand it vs. those who cannot. That's a science report for someone else to do.
That said, I have read,listened, and commented on the why's and why not's of moving the dates the years I have been a member. In the big picture both sides have valid points.
I think the school kid issue for one is misunderstood...it doesn't mean the kids will be there, it means they are something a lot of folks have to schedule around...my parents did it by sending us to Boy Scout Camp! My mom was a teacher most of her life...High School to college. She got a vacation away from ALL kids for two weeks every summer when we were younger.
And a rally as large as this takes many volunteers, a lot who are on vacation this time of year. The RA depends on the local clubs to do the footwork/volunteer/operating at each location...they do not travel like the MOA from the few of those I have also attended. Cannot compare the two at all.
Who can predict weather events years in advance? I have been snowed on one year and then cooked another time in August before in Colorado during one of their big events...happens. Have seen Spring tornadoes rip apart beautiful spots in several states, glad I was not at a rally that time of year either. And remember the Moto Guzzi Rally that was wiped out from a flash flood a few years back?...pretty scarey & humbling event.
Each of the recent BOD's have had this issue on the table...nothing new to the organization. As someone once told me, run for an office if you want to be part of the solution. These folks are riders first as the rest of us...nothing special other than the ability/desire to serve and try to make smart decisions for the majority of the members. They all do not live in Ballwin,MO.
And the locations...no one is ever happy totally on that ..East Coast/West Coast /North/Midwest/South. Someone is going to be unhappy...go or don't go depending on what works for you...works for me.
Hope is all opinions will be heard and responded to in the future. Not an easy answer if you revisit history below.
more from the past discussions, I typed in Move Rally Dates under Search:
2005:
http://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthread.php?t=7029:&highlight=change+rally+dates
2007:
http://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthread.php?t=21490&highlight=MOA+rally+date+change
2010:
http://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthread.php?t=47410&highlight=change+rally+dates
Last edited:
rob nye
Ritalin Poster Boy
Because they're so small it's easy to move the rally around and change up dates.
Not so when you're planning on 8 to 10k.
rbertalotto
New member
This was the first time I was a committee chair at an MOA rally. I got to see and witness the inner workings of one of these rallys.
All I can say is "AMAZING"..........the amount of work and dedication that these volunteers endure is simply fantastic. I don't care what happens, no one can complain. These folks did a great job dealing with thousands of issues, 24 hours a day for over a week. And they ALL did it for us. So we could have a good and safe time..........Nuff said!
If the rally was held anytime other than summer, I predict a 50% reduction in attendance. Dealing with kids in school, lack of volunteers, much busier work schedules most other t9imes of the year would all have an effect.
One small comment...........No matter what, seminars need to be in air conditioned buildings..........
All I can say is "AMAZING"..........the amount of work and dedication that these volunteers endure is simply fantastic. I don't care what happens, no one can complain. These folks did a great job dealing with thousands of issues, 24 hours a day for over a week. And they ALL did it for us. So we could have a good and safe time..........Nuff said!
If the rally was held anytime other than summer, I predict a 50% reduction in attendance. Dealing with kids in school, lack of volunteers, much busier work schedules most other t9imes of the year would all have an effect.
One small comment...........No matter what, seminars need to be in air conditioned buildings..........
tmoyer
Intermediate Adventurer
Complaining comes easier than compliments.
So i will break from the trend.
You guys did a great job!
I agree! Having first hand experience at planning a large event, I know what goes in to it. Awsome job by all who volunteered and given a large chunk of their life to making this rally a success!
tommcgee
Unfunded content provider
Complaining comes easier than compliments.
So i will break from the trend.
You guys did a great job!
The complaints have nothing at all to do with the people who present the rally or how great a job they do. They should be commended.
This thread is about the when.
xp8103
New member
These were, almost verbatim, the last words I spoke to my 12 year old before we headed out on Wednesday afternoon for the rally. I knew it was gonna be hot. I knew he was gonna be on the back of the 1100 for 10+ hours over the next couple days and that the forecast was for MOTS while we were there. And when he started to talk about the heat, I just reminded him that while it's hot, he's not being shot at. He found ways to remain cool (THANK YOU MOA!!) and apparently discovered that he's now an Airhead!
YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB!! The people who complain about the heat I feel would not show up if it was 70 degrees and you were giving away free tickets..The people who were there had a great time..As for the ones who set at home and complained about the heat, You missed a good time..Deal with it...
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