GMCMI (International) rallies mapped out

[kab7]

> Going to Karen's defense here a bit, she did not mean to criticize Kim or
> any other GMCMI member or officer. She was just pointing out what is
> obvious to those of us located west of the Continental divide. GMCMI is
> conspicuous by its absence west of the Pecos. By intent or pure
> happenstance does not matter much. It is factual. What has been stated is a
> common problem when planning any convention, motor home included or not.
> Las Vegas has several venues. L.A. County has a couple, but is
> geographically situated on the west coast, too far away for many in the
> east. Same said for Oregon, Washington, and Canada. Venues exist, but the
> complaints are as valid for the eastern gmc'ers as Oklahoma is for the
> western owners. Splitting GMCMI into 2 groups when we are trying to
> increase membership makes little sense either. A thorny problem, FMCA does
> it, but has a much larger membership. If there is an easy answer, it
> escapes me.
> Jim Hupy, President, GMC CASCADERS.
> MEMBER, 49ers, GMCMI, F.M.C.A.

For some reason, Jim's post isn't on the forum, but is on the email list. Not sure what
that's about. But thank you. As I said, this is not a criticism of the people doing the work.

At any rate, I could see GMCMI doing the magazine and being a central source for ALL significant documentation,
but leaving the actual rallies to be run by two or three regional multi-state clubs. Then GMCMI really would be
"International", could focus on promotion, and the rally equipment transportation costs would be minimized.
Just an idea.

As our coaches dwindle and age, I think multi-state rallies will need to be more common.
And in my experience, the more coaches we can get in one place, the more fun it is.

Karen
1975 26'

 

[kab7]

> At any rate, I could see GMCMI doing the magazine and being a central source for ALL significant documentation,
> but leaving the actual rallies to be run by two or three regional multi-state clubs. Then GMCMI really would be
> "International", could focus on promotion, and the rally equipment transportation costs would be minimized.
> Just an idea.

It would also be nice if there was some kind of cross-club agreement. That is, a member of
any of the regional clubs could attend rallies put on by the other regional club(s),
as long as there's space available. Priority could still be given to the local members if necessary,
but there would be no requirement to join 2 or 3 different groups just because you are able to
travel more, or live in a border zone.

just a thought.

Karen
1976 26'

 

[d c *mac* macdonald]

Another point is that you do not HAVE to drive your coach to a far distant rally !

I have attended three rallies, only my first to Shawnee with my GMC MH. It went toes up about 5 miles from home.

I attempted to drive to Dothan, a couple of years later but got only 50 miles before I had to leave it and go back home by a neighbor who came the distance and took us home. We got a night's sleep, then packed up our Ford Flex, drove it some 700-800 miles with one stay in a motel, and then on to Dothan where we stayed at a motel about 2 miles from the rally site.

We went by car again to the Branson rally at the KOA and stayed in one of their Kamping Kabins.

Rob Mueller from Australia flies to the USA to attend a rally, including the one in Oregon last year, rents a car, and stays in a nearby hotel/motel. I know that more than just a few GMCers do the same for far-distant rallies. Cost is frequently far less than driving 1000 or 2000 miles over 4 to 8 days (one way).

The comradery, meals, tech sessions, vendors and more are superbly worth the effort involved to attend !

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ Since 30 November '53 ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ Member GMCMI and Classics ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
______________
|[ ]~~~[][ ][]\
"--OO--[]---O-"

________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of KB
Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2017 18:10
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Fwd: GMCMI (International) rallies mapped out

> Going to Karen's defense here a bit, she did not mean to criticize Kim or
> any other GMCMI member or officer. She was just pointing out what is
> obvious to those of us located west of the Continental divide. GMCMI is
> conspicuous by its absence west of the Pecos. By intent or pure
> happenstance does not matter much. It is factual. What has been stated is a
> common problem when planning any convention, motor home included or not.
> Las Vegas has several venues. L.A. County has a couple, but is
> geographically situated on the west coast, too far away for many in the
> east. Same said for Oregon, Washington, and Canada. Venues exist, but the
> complaints are as valid for the eastern gmc'ers as Oklahoma is for the
> western owners. Splitting GMCMI into 2 groups when we are trying to
> increase membership makes little sense either. A thorny problem, FMCA does
> it, but has a much larger membership. If there is an easy answer, it
> escapes me.
> Jim Hupy, President, GMC CASCADERS.
> MEMBER, 49ers, GMCMI, F.M.C.A.

For some reason, Jim's post isn't on the forum, but is on the email list. Not sure what
that's about. But thank you. As I said, this is not a criticism of the people doing the work.

At any rate, I could see GMCMI doing the magazine and being a central source for ALL significant documentation,
but leaving the actual rallies to be run by two or three regional multi-state clubs. Then GMCMI really would be
"International", could focus on promotion, and the rally equipment transportation costs would be minimized.
Just an idea.

As our coaches dwindle and age, I think multi-state rallies will need to be more common.
And in my experience, the more coaches we can get in one place, the more fun it is.

Karen
1975 26'

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[Ken H.]

Karen,

Unless something's changed, ANY FMCA member is supposed to be able to
attend ANY OTHER FMCA club's events. I know there have been "unofficial"
rules such as "you can attend one rally before joining", but I think the
FMCA rules really override that, if anyone were callous enough to contest
it.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

For my part, I belong to GMCMI, GMCDL, and GMCSS and felt very welcome at
GMCWS Pueblo. I wouldn't hesitate to sign up for any club's event if I
were going to be nearby. We seldom attend GMCSS events, but enjoy staying
in touch with our many friends through their newsletters. For more distant
clubs, clubs, the incentive is not as strong. I do know at least one
couple who belong to almost every club in the country.

Ken H.

> It would also be nice if there was some kind of cross-club agreement.
> That is, a member of
> any of the regional clubs could attend rallies put on by the other
> regional club(s),
> as long as there's space available. Priority could still be given to the
> local members if necessary,
> but there would be no requirement to join 2 or 3 different groups just
> because you are able to
> travel more, or live in a border zone.
>
> just a thought.
>
> Karen
> 1976 26'
>
>

 

[sandra price]

Bob and I "crashed" a Tidewater Crabs rally once and we're warmly welcomed
by all. We attended a Dixielanders rally about a year ago and, again, we
were warmly welcomed. I believe that would be the case with any GMC club.
We would love to attend a Western States, but that has been at the wrong
time and too far away from where ever we were going to be for several
years; however, we have no doubt we would again be warmly welcomed. Just a
wonderful, welcoming group where ever you are.

The GMC and our humanity are the common threads.

When you want to join a group, just communicate with them.

Sandra Price

Karen,

Unless something's changed, ANY FMCA member is supposed to be able to
attend ANY OTHER FMCA club's events. I know there have been "unofficial"
rules such as "you can attend one rally before joining", but I think the
FMCA rules really override that, if anyone were callous enough to contest
it.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

For my part, I belong to GMCMI, GMCDL, and GMCSS and felt very welcome at
GMCWS Pueblo. I wouldn't hesitate to sign up for any club's event if I
were going to be nearby. We seldom attend GMCSS events, but enjoy staying
in touch with our many friends through their newsletters. For more distant
clubs, clubs, the incentive is not as strong. I do know at least one
couple who belong to almost every club in the country.

Ken H.

> It would also be nice if there was some kind of cross-club agreement.
> That is, a member of
> any of the regional clubs could attend rallies put on by the other
> regional club(s),
> as long as there's space available. Priority could still be given to the
> local members if necessary,
> but there would be no requirement to join 2 or 3 different groups just
> because you are able to
> travel more, or live in a border zone.
>
> just a thought.
>
> Karen
> 1976 26'
>
>
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[kab7]

> Another point is that you do not HAVE to drive your coach to a far distant rally !

A lot harder to do if you have pets. Our dog is part of why we have a GMC.

Karen
1987 26'

 

[Matt Colie]

Quote:
> > Going to Karen's defense here a bit, she did not mean to criticize Kim or any other GMCMI member or officer. She was just pointing out what
> > is obvious to those of us located west of the Continental divide. GMCMI is conspicuous by its absence west of the Pecos. By intent or pure
> > happenstance does not matter much. It is factual. What has been stated is a common problem when planning any convention, motor home included or
> > not. Las Vegas has several venues. L.A. County has a couple, but is geographically situated on the west coast, too far away for many in the
> > east. Same said for Oregon, Washington, and Canada. Venues exist, but the complaints are as valid for the eastern gmc'ers as Oklahoma is for the
> > western owners. Splitting GMCMI into 2 groups when we are trying to increase membership makes little sense either. A thorny problem, FMCA does it,
> > but has a much larger membership. If there is an easy answer, it escapes me.
> Jim Hupy, President, GMC CASCADERS.
> MEMBER, 49ers, GMCMI, F.M.C.A.


Karen, Thank you for passing that along.

Jim,

I am glad we have met both when you were in Michigan and at the Western States in Pueblo.

What I am about to say is not intended as derogatory at all, but GMCXX has a very different problem than does FMCA. I know this so well because I
studied a lot while trying to manage GMCES.

What I learned really hit home during the last two GLAMA rallies that I volunteered to work parking.** If you look at the badges at an FMCA rally you
will see lots of newer numbers and a few older numbers and, outside of the bus conversion lot, there will be nothing approaching the age of a new GMC.
While the people maybe newer members, the age is not that far off. But a large portion are Full Timers with new (from our POV) coaches. And when
you realize the population that FMCA can draw on (all of the motorhome owners in the USA and Canada - and they have recently consented to allow
towables) That makes a 1000 coach rally a little less of an accomplishment. The last GLAMA rally was a few less than 500, but two years before that
had filled out the 574 available slips.

This brings in another factor. As many are full time, they have forever to get anywhere. I have even met some of the 2/2/2 people. They drive 200
miles, are in a crampgound by 2pm and stay 2 days. (I learned of this after we had just finished an 1106 day. I took me a long time to figure out
how those people get anywhere.)

There is another thing that I have heard a number of times in the other web RV places that I prowl. Non-members of the chapter are not treated very
well, (as we were not at the first time at Glama) and non-FMCA even less so. This is a big difference. When Western States had their rally in
Pueblo, we took the advantage and got there. It was only 1600 miles and we had the time available. We were not treated as outsiders at all. I did
know a lot of names, but maybe an half dozen faces - total. We have been to a few other rallies by chapters to which we are not members (like my
first time at an Eastern States). It is always a good time.

I will always remember when we arrived at Berrien Springs. It was the last day of the rally, and we had not brought the coach. (Two beer story
there.) Mary had been in e-mail contact with Emery (need I say more). When we arrived, we were treated like long lost friends - By Every Body. This
was 2006, someone asked how long I had owned the coach. I answered about a week. I actually looked at my watch and figured it was about 156 hours.
It was a day that made being a GMC owner even more special.

So, to Karen, Show up at any GMCXX rally you can get to. You don't even have to be an FMCA member until the nest one (their insurance rules). You
will be among friends. In the original Muppet Movie Gonzo sings a song that has a line "There's not a word yet, for old friends that just met." I
have a word. It starts with GMC and I hope I don't ever know the end.

Speaking of this, Billy, in the calendar, there have been two rallies now that we might have made. There was no contact information and the chapter's
website was no help. Not that you don't do enough, but if you could watch for that, it might help. I am trying to convince younger members - most of
whom have jobs and families - to try to come out to meet us.

**About parking at FMCA. I set myself up to park the GMC paddock as part of my responsibility. I'm no fool. I knew that all I would have to do is
say "Use this slip. Your power is there. SeeYa!" and I get credit for parking a coach and get to go back to trying to get some fool to get
something like between the lines....

If you bothered to read all of this, Thank You.

Matt

--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit

 

[Jim Hupy]

We accommodate any guest at our rallies, whether or not they even own a
coach. I invite them to attend as my guest. The same goes for any club
member, east or west, Canada or international. Just a bit of western
hospitality.
We have been guests of the Great Lakers at Potato Creek campground
during our route 66 rolling rally, and stayed at Oak Park, in Chicago, and
Battleground, Missouri as guests of Randy and Margie Van Winkle and the
Flatlanders. Again, an airport overnight stay at Valparaiso with Bob tells
me that it is reciprocal. Never, ever, have we been treated to anything but
wonderful hospitality. Love this community. I almost forgot the limo ride
to Mt. Rushmore and steak dinner thanks to Bob and Pam Shilling. Could name
many other examples.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403

> > Another point is that you do not HAVE to drive your coach to a far
> distant rally !
>
>
> A lot harder to do if you have pets. Our dog is part of why we have a GMC.
>
> Karen
> 1987 26'
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

 

[thomas phipps]

Another possible idea would for club to hold a rally the weekend before an International, along the way. Breaking up the journey. Ok, for me is three
days drive, AZ probably five days. Balance, Dothan was five hours.
Frankly, the Or rallies sound great. I might try to get to one before I age out.
At least gas prices are helping us out. Much more fun at $2, than $4.
Tom, MS II
--
1975 GMC Avion
KA4CSG

 

[Jim Hupy]

Ah, correction. Ken Burton at Valparaiso, not Bob. Sorry Ken.
Jim Hupy

> Another possible idea would for club to hold a rally the weekend before
> an International, along the way. Breaking up the journey. Ok, for me is
> three
> days drive, AZ probably five days. Balance, Dothan was five hours.
> Frankly, the Or rallies sound great. I might try to get to one before I
> age out.
> At least gas prices are helping us out. Much more fun at $2, than $4.
> Tom, MS II
> --
> 1975 GMC Avion
> KA4CSG
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

 

[kab7]

I've updated the map to include GMCMI members per state, plus totals and percentages by region.

By my count, out of every 10 rallies, roughly 3 should be in the west, 4 in the center, and 3 in the east.

Nine percent of GMCMI members are in Canada, so there should in theory be some rallies there too, though I know
having to get equipment across the border could be too difficult to be feasible.

The updated map can be found here:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/international/p62151-gmcmhi-rallynums.html

Karen
1975 26'

 

[Ken H.]

Karen,

Out of curiosity, I duplicated your spreadsheet and extended it to show the
figures after the now-scheduled convention in Tucson. The percentages are
only slightly altered: West 22% vs 21%; Central 46% vs 47%; East 32%
unchanged.

Then to see what it would take to reach your ideal 30%/40%/30%, I started
adding conventions in the West: To reach 28%/43%/29% would require that
the 5 conventions following the the Fall 2018 one would also have to be
held in the West (through Spring 2021). So, I guess it could be said that
the West has been shortchanged over the years.

Bottom line, I don't think there's any possibility of ever "catching up" to
the parity of 3/4/3, so perhaps the objective should be basically what it
has been: We'd LIKE to have more conventions farther West, but...

Even with all this number crunching, an "equitable distribution" really
hasn't been calculated. Seems to me we'd have to plot every GMCMI member's
geographic coordinates, determine the center of those and then figure some
distribution around that central location. I'm not up to it.

I don't know that this adds anything to the discussion, but it did satisfy
my curiosity, and convinced me that the GMCMI management over years of the
club's existence has done an amazingly good job of choosing locations.

Ken H.

> I've updated the map to include GMCMI members per state, plus totals and
> percentages by region.
>
> By my count, out of every 10 rallies, roughly 3 should be in the west, 4
> in the center, and 3 in the east.
>
> Nine percent of GMCMI members are in Canada, so there should in theory be
> some rallies there too, though I know
> having to get equipment across the border could be too difficult to be
> feasible.
>
> The updated map can be found here:
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/international/p62151-gmcmh
> i-rallynums.html
>
>
> Karen
> 1975 26'
>

 

[a.]

> Karen,
> Out of curiosity, I duplicated your spreadsheet and extended it to show the
> figures after the now-scheduled convention in Tucson. The percentages are
> only slightly altered: West 22% vs 21%; Central 46% vs 47%; East 32%
> unchanged.
>
> Then to see what it would take to reach your ideal 30%/40%/30%, I started
> adding conventions in the West: To reach 28%/43%/29% would require that
> the 5 conventions following the the Fall 2018 one would also have to be
> held in the West (through Spring 2021). So, I guess it could be said that
> the West has been shortchanged over the years.
>
> Bottom line, I don't think there's any possibility of ever "catching up" to
> the parity of 3/4/3, so perhaps the objective should be basically what it
> has been: We'd LIKE to have more conventions farther West, but...
>
> Even with all this number crunching, an "equitable distribution" really
> hasn't been calculated. Seems to me we'd have to plot every GMCMI member's
> geographic coordinates, determine the center of those and then figure some
> distribution around that central location. I'm not up to it.
>
> I don't know that this adds anything to the discussion, but it did satisfy
> my curiosity, and convinced me that the GMCMI management over years of the
> club's existence has done an amazingly good job of choosing locations.
>
> Ken H.
When you factor in crossing the rockies, a convention in the west would require 70% of the people (east and central) to climb over them (or drive the
desert southwest, almost as much fun). Then add the sierra nevadas for a California location. Whereas a convention in the center or east only 30% of
the people (west) would have to climb them.

Attendance is the driver, and 70% of the people live east of the rockies, so is there any mystery why the west gets left out?

Scoff if you want, but the mountains are an obstacle (not to mention distance). I wouldn't expect the folks out west to be any more likely to want to
make that drive east (and return) than the folks east and central want to make that drive west(and return). A meeting east of the rockies gets you an
ROI of 70%, west gets you 30%.

I did the math for you.
--
73 23' Sequoia 4 Sale
73 23' CanyonLands Parts Unit 4 Sale
Upper Alabama
"When I grow up I am going to be a curmudgeon."

 

[Carl Stouffer]

I don't think "the Rockies" have anything to do with it. The big rallies are held where the population of GMC owners is the highest, including the
multi club rally at Coos Bay. Simple as that. Those of us who live in the West don't mind climbing mountains. We do it all the time. If we didn't,
our travels would be rather limited. The first GMCMI I was able to go to was in Pueblo, CO (on the east side of the Rockies) and was well attended.
In fact, Western States had a joint rally with GMCMI.

Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, etc, and even Colorado are a long drive from most GMCMI members. That's the bottom
line. It's the same reason my wife and I, as a working couple, have never made it any further east then Shawnee, OK for a rally, or any other reason,
for that matter. Those longer trips will have to wait until we retire.
--
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles,
Solar battery charging

 

[jerry burt]

Those of us on the Left coast are generally used to and not afraid of climbs. Up or down. We are just prepared. I believe there has been some fear
mongering in the East about climbing hills. I don't have a problem climbing the "Range" to go anywhere in the US (or Canada). and I have a stock '73
455 - 307. don't be afraid to drive your coach and learn to climb. You really don't know what you are missing out here.
--
Patti & Jerry Burt
73 Gmc 26' Canyon Lands -
Photos - http://jburt.smugmug.com/GMC-Motorhome
Lots of upgrades but lots to do to make it ours.
Members: FMCA - GMCMI - GMCWS - Pacific Cruisers - 49ers

 

[Ken B]

Here is another factor that you need to consider. When you plan a rally, you need to draw a circle around that site at various distances and guess
how many will make the drive to attend. As an example you will get a certain percentage within a 200 mile radius circle, and then a lesser
percentage at 500 miles. There will be an even lesser percentage at 1000 or 2000 miles. So when you plan a rally the on one of the borders, east,
west, and south, the radius of the circles remain the same, but close 1/2 of area within the circles has no GMC population. This is because a good
portion of the area is in an ocean or in Mexico.

So planning rallies farther away from those USA boundaries and more centrally located makes sense. I personally limit my travel to about 800 to 1000
miles for a rally. I'll go farther if there is some draw in the area to make us want to go there. As an example, quite a few years ago GMCMI and
Western States planned their rallies back to back in Rapid City and Estes Park. The draw there was two rallies back to back on the same trip in an
area that I would like to visit again. Eastern States had one scheduled for the same time in Pennsylvania that was much closer, but the draw for us
was Rapid City and Estes Park scheduled back to back.

One other damper on attendance is holding rallies repeatedly at the same sites. As an example the current one is in Oklahoma at the same site that we
used a few years back. Laurie and I decided today that we will not be attending because of the same site selection (no draw for us) and the distance.
I feel the same about Elkhart this fall but it is so close to us that we will go to it.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana

 

[Jim Hupy]

I am frequently involved in the planning and execution of rallies here on
the west coast. With GMC Western States, they are frequently at least 2
days drive for us in Oregon, the Canadians, and Washington Staters, and
sometimes 3 days one way travel. Always over mountain passes over 5000 feet
elevation. So, when you add to and from and rally days together, it is a
chunk of time that working folks have to plan well in advance for. Our
joint club rallies have had 100 plus coaches in attendance, and quite a few
hotel/motel guests as well. Vendor attendance is frequently an issue, we
never see Frank Jenkins, or Dave Lenzi, or Cinnebar out west, AND WE DO
UNDERSTAND WHY. Same reason I don't travel to Tennessee and points east of
there. But Jim K. always shows up, because it is close for him to do so.
Food service, tech seminars, etc. are the same no matter which coast you
are on. Kim does a big big job. I know, I have been involved in it for
years. Rob Muller and Jim Bounds have no problem hopping on a jet and
flying out, Dick Paterson either. We will always arrange ground transport
for anyone that needs it. Then, there is the old adage, "Well, we have
always done it that way" that I hear from members. At this point, I have
more questions than answers.
Jim Hupy, President, GMC CASCADERS
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403

> Here is another factor that you need to consider. When you plan a rally,
> you need to draw a circle around that site at various distances and guess
> how many will make the drive to attend. As an example you will get a
> certain percentage within a 200 mile radius circle, and then a lesser
> percentage at 500 miles. There will be an even lesser percentage at 1000
> or 2000 miles. So when you plan a rally the on one of the borders, east,
> west, and south, the radius of the circles remain the same, but close 1/2
> of area within the circles has no GMC population. This is because a good
> portion of the area is in an ocean or in Mexico.
>
> So planning rallies farther away from those USA boundaries and more
> centrally located makes sense. I personally limit my travel to about 800
> to 1000
> miles for a rally. I'll go farther if there is some draw in the area to
> make us want to go there. As an example, quite a few years ago GMCMI and
> Western States planned their rallies back to back in Rapid City and Estes
> Park. The draw there was two rallies back to back on the same trip in an
> area that I would like to visit again. Eastern States had one scheduled
> for the same time in Pennsylvania that was much closer, but the draw for us
> was Rapid City and Estes Park scheduled back to back.
>
> One other damper on attendance is holding rallies repeatedly at the same
> sites. As an example the current one is in Oklahoma at the same site that
> we
> used a few years back. Laurie and I decided today that we will not be
> attending because of the same site selection (no draw for us) and the
> distance.
> I feel the same about Elkhart this fall but it is so close to us that we
> will go to it.
> --
> Ken Burton - N9KB
> 76 Palm Beach
> Hebron, Indiana
>
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> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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[d c *mac* macdonald]

Judy and I will miss you and Laurie, but your absence will guarantee that someone other than Laurie will win the Pineblock (?) derby for a change! HAR!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ Since 30 November '53 ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ Member GMCMI and Classics ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
______________
|[ ]~~~[][ ][]\
"--OO--[]---O-"

________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Ken Burton
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2017 00:07
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] GMCMI (International) rallies mapped out

Here is another factor that you need to consider. When you plan a rally, you need to draw a circle around that site at various distances and guess
how many will make the drive to attend. As an example you will get a certain percentage within a 200 mile radius circle, and then a lesser
percentage at 500 miles. There will be an even lesser percentage at 1000 or 2000 miles. So when you plan a rally the on one of the borders, east,
west, and south, the radius of the circles remain the same, but close 1/2 of area within the circles has no GMC population. This is because a good
portion of the area is in an ocean or in Mexico.

So planning rallies farther away from those USA boundaries and more centrally located makes sense. I personally limit my travel to about 800 to 1000
miles for a rally. I'll go farther if there is some draw in the area to make us want to go there. As an example, quite a few years ago GMCMI and
Western States planned their rallies back to back in Rapid City and Estes Park. The draw there was two rallies back to back on the same trip in an
area that I would like to visit again. Eastern States had one scheduled for the same time in Pennsylvania that was much closer, but the draw for us
was Rapid City and Estes Park scheduled back to back.

One other damper on attendance is holding rallies repeatedly at the same sites. As an example the current one is in Oklahoma at the same site that we
used a few years back. Laurie and I decided today that we will not be attending because of the same site selection (no draw for us) and the distance.
I feel the same about Elkhart this fall but it is so close to us that we will go to it.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana

 

[jeremy]

> Vendor attendance is frequently an issue, we
> never see Frank Jenkins, or Dave Lenzi, or Cinnebar out west, AND WE DO
> UNDERSTAND WHY.

To be fair, I'm not sure any of us have seen Cinnabar at a rally in the almost 10 years I've owned my coach.
--
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL

 

[Matt Colie]

What is being discussed here is a lot like what we went through with Eastern States. I ran an survey and the most important thing to come out of it
was the drive time verses rally time issue. For this reason, Mary carefully plotted the locations of all the members (by zipcode) and then we looked
in the middle of that profusion. It still didn't work as well as we hoped. People just do not want to drive two days for a two day rally.

No, I don't have any answers or solutions.

What I was really hoping to do was put a number of the seminar session available on line real time. Then we could have people at home base and some
at mini-telerallies all participating in the discussions and hearing the answers. There are packages to do this, but they were outside my budget
limits. That was years ago and I don't know about now.

We are planning on Shawnee, were there before and we are doing it is four days this time when we did it two the last, but Mary is retired now. You
know, if you don't have to burn vacation time for it, a slower run is the same cost as faster when you don't buy crampgrounds. The fuel cost is the
same (maybe less) and we eat the same on the road as we do at home.

Matt - looking forward to the SEMNO lunch tomorrow

--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit