Rallies: what days of the week are best for people with J.O.B.s?

It just occurred to me that some of you might not be aware of and one thing that has not been mentioned here is that when GMCMI uses a convention site we tie it up for a lot more than the 6 days of our convention.
For example the Tuscon convention will be held from Friday Apr. 6 to Thursday April 12. However members always want to come in early so we allow them to come in on Thursday April 5 even though we might still be setting up things..
In addition we have to unpack our crates and do a lot of work to get things ready for our arriving GMCers. So a crew of about 8 members come in on the Sun or Mon before to set things up. That ties the buildings up for an extra 3 or 4 days.
We also have to pack everything up after the convention so that takes another day. So we are using the main building from say Monday to the second Friday for a total of 12 days.
Now, how much harder does that make it to find campgrounds willing to tie up their facilities for that long? That also makes it even harder to start a rally on a Monday as some would like as we would be using the prior weekend to set up which would mean the campground would loose two weekends of their season for our 6 day convention.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick

>
> Good points Karen. If I remember correctly, GMCMI conventions are normally seven day events and used to run from Saturday to the following Friday. I
> have been to two of them (Pueblo at almost 800 miles from home, and Shawnee, almost 1000 miles). Each required me to take an extra day or two off. I
> usually don't have a problem with this as I am self employed, but it takes a little extra planning for my wife.
>
> I believe the reason for the schedule shift was to accommodate working people who want to attend the weekend portion of the event. I don't know how
> successful that effort was, but maybe it could be revisited if necessary. We have let our Western States membership lapse for the very reason you
> have cited. We just haven't been able to attend their rallies at their scheduled locations and times.
>
> The alternative, of course, is to attend as much as the rally as your work schedule allows. Not the ideal solution, but better than missing the whole
> thing. I think there are ways to do that without having to pay the entire rally fee.
> --
> 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. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Thanks for the insights, Emery. The smaller groups I know of haul very little to no equipment and don't require anywhere near that much setup so
could, in theory, be more flexible on dates.

thanks,
Karen
 
If you took offense, that was not my intension.

GMCMI needs about 125 coaches signed to just break even (I've been told). I don't
know the figures on the past "summer rally" in Branson (We couldn't attend).

No rallies in your area? Have you recommended a site near you for a rally
to any club? With most clubs (from my experiences) have about 5-10% of members
that serve as officers, board members and rally hosts and get burned out servicing
and scheduling. All members need to get involved. .....and I hope, as you say,
that you do.

WE all need to pull together and work towards making these clubs succeed. There is
a lot of things going on behind the curtain that most members don't see. Kim and
the Board of GMCMI have a difficult job, but a job well done. We have been lucky to
have the likes of Kim and Emery and many others in the club's past and present.

jim Galbavy
'73 x-CL ANNIE
Lake Mary, Fl
 
Karen,
When you get to the International Convention, you will be amazed as to what
all they come equipped with and ALL the great Volentiers that are there
week ahead to set it up.
All this was origionally set up by Ralph Luby the origional founder of
International.
Back then ALL the Board members and spouse were required to be there one
week ahead and stay one week after.
They made some concession as I was a Major Vendor.
Karen, when you arrive there I will arrange to have one of the volentiers
take you around and show you what all they haul to the convenion in the
boxes.

> Thanks for the insights, Emery. The smaller groups I know of haul very
> little to no equipment and don't require anywhere near that much setup so
> could, in theory, be more flexible on dates.
>
> thanks,
> Karen
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
 
Karen, your sigfile doesn't tell me where you are. Where are you located?

Sandra Price

> > Instead of expecting someone else to do it, why not volunteer and go on
> the Board
> > and YOU try to make a difference?
>
>
> No need to be offensive.
>
> My purpose here is to find out *why* it's being done (thanks Emery), and
> *if* it's an issue for others (it is).
> This discussion also helps raise the idea to the GMCMI board members who
> read the forum (several do), but GMCMI very rarely holds a rally even
> remotely close to our area.
>
> This is also an issue for local groups, which are much smaller and usually
> more flexible.
> Now that I know it's not just us, I can approach the clubs of which I'm a
> member, and on whose boards I'm much more likely to serve.
>
> Our discussion here may also alert folks on the forum who are in other
> groups that they might want to consider a change.
> It's up to them to decide, but hopefully they will at least think twice
> about "We've always done it that way."
>
> Karen
> 1975 26'
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
> If you took offense, that was not my intension.
>
> No rallies in your area? Have you recommended a site near you for a rally to any club?

I already raised this topic at some length in the past with respect to GMCMI:
http://gmc.mybirdfeeder.net/GMCforum/index.php?t=msg&goto=313223&rid=1742

I would be thrilled if GMCMI would just come back to any of the sites they went to over 10 years ago. (And I *am* thrilled they'll be in Tuscon).
Sites are not the issue. Distance is a biggie. And although I can't find the specific posts at the moment, it was mentioned that the huge amount of
"stuff" GMCMI has to ship is a contributing factor to the lack of western rallies. (Begs the question whether it's all really necessary, but I defer
to those in charge.)

You seem to be bent on attacking my service to this community with no knowledge of what I have contributed, or suggesting that I'm criticizing Kim
Weeks or others (I'm categorically NOT).

My point here was a survey of what the "ideal" days for a rally would be for working people since I was recently in on a future rally planning
discussion.
At that meeting, there seemed to be no understanding of *why* we would start on a Thursday or Friday, and no consideration given to any alternatives.

Karen
1975 26'
 
> Karen, your sigfile doesn't tell me where you are. Where are you located?

Hi Sandra, we're in San Jose, CA.

Karen
1975 26'
San Jose, CA
 
Karen, we know how much you contribute. Thanks from me. Please understand
that engaging in a war of words with unarmed persons is a unwinnable deal.
Please tread softly. No one else has your skill set when it comes to
arranging technical data in written form. I would hate to see you become
discouraged to the point of not contributing to the mechanical side of the
GMC Community.
Jim Hupy

> > Karen, your sigfile doesn't tell me where you are. Where are you
> located?
>
>
> Hi Sandra, we're in San Jose, CA.
>
> Karen
> 1975 26'
> San Jose, CA
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
> Here's the scoop on rally dates. There are many places to see the GMCMH Community Calendar:
>
> GMCMI maintains a google calendar on the website at http://www.gmcmi.com/gmc-calendar/, pins the current month on each of the face book pages
> (https://www.facebook.com/groups/vintagegmcmotorhomes/ and https://www.facebook.com/GMCMI/) with a link to the website calendar, a list of the two
> upcoming months are in the monthly "GMCMI eNews" with the calendar website link, PLUS a calendar listings on the inside back page of the "GMC
> Vintage RVing" magazine.These calendars are maintained by reviewing each GMCMH chapter website quarterly, along with emails received from the
> individual chapters.
> Sent from my iPhone

Jeanette,

It seems that many of those that read here are still on limited bandwidth service (as I am when we are traveling). Facebook is a bandwidth hog and
can also be described as a used installed virus. It gets into and demands service far above what can be justified for a social network. I would not
have any presence there but I discovered that there were a number of unconnected younger owners in the area and so started trying to get them
connected. We have been only partly successful. I am not at all sure that it was worth putting up with FB to do that. Bandwidth is the cheapest it
has ever been, but it is still not free.

Bdub's Google Calendar is somewhat better, but it still needs to be fed the information. That is where the problem is. There are many chapter events
that do not even make it there. But, it is all a wash as I have discovered owners that were not even aware that the community exists. I don't know
how to fix that without knocking on doors wherever you see a coach.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
This discussion reminds me of the story about the ham: A lady always cut off the ends of the Christmas ham before roasting. Her daughter asked why,
and she said "Well, my mother always did it that way". So they asked her mother why, and she said "Your grandma always did it that way". Finally,
they asked Grandma who said "I only had a small pan and it wouldn't fit"!


--
Karen
1975 26'
San Jose, CA
 
ABSOLUTELY PRICELESS~!~!

D C "Mac" Macdonald
Amateur Radio K2GKK
Since 30 November '53
USAF and FAA, Retired
Member GMCMI & Classics
Oklahoma City, OK
"The Money Pit"
TZE166V101966
'76 ex-Palm Beach
k2gkk + hotmail dot com

________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of KB
Sent: Friday, January 5, 2018 12:03
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Rallies: what days of the week are best for people with J.O.B.s?

This discussion reminds me of the story about the ham: A lady always cut off the ends of the Christmas ham before roasting. Her daughter asked why,
and she said "Well, my mother always did it that way". So they asked her mother why, and she said "Your grandma always did it that way". Finally,
they asked Grandma who said "I only had a small pan and it wouldn't fit"!

--
Karen
1975 26'
San Jose, CA
 
Hi Karen

The crates that we ship with our equipment has never been a factor in selecting a site. By having our own equipment we have found that we can keep the cost of a convention down considerably — much more than the cost of storage and shipping of our equipment.
The main reason that we haven’t had many California rallies is because of the inability to find campgrounds that had facilities that would fit out needs and at a reasonable cost Many campgrounds want $50-60 per night and that is too high, We don’t want to price our convention at $600 or so for the week as that would probably prevent a lot of people from attending.

Our last convention in California was in Spring 2008 at Santa Clara. I was managing the conventions at that time and I had taken a trip to California the previous year in an effort to find a suitable site. I spent 6 days driving from San Diego to Eureka visiting potential sites and negotiating with campground owners.

Santa Rosa was a fairground that had never had a rally held there before. I worked with them to convenience them to let us use their site and to get a price we could afford. We signed up and then the year after our rally they liked the income source but they doubled the price which put it out of our range.
A big problem is finding a site that can accommodate perhaps 200 motor homes and which has suitable buildings, electricity, water, sewage and showers.

Over the years we have asked people from California (I lived in the San Francisco area for over ten years) to scope out and recommend sites. We have never gotten information on sites that were workable. That is one of the reasons that we put information about site selection on the GMCMI website. I am sure that Kim would welcome input on sites in your area that might work for us. The club would like to have conventions on the west coast as much as you would like them there.

You mention that “distance is a biggie”. Bear in mind that that works both ways. The distance from where I live in the Denver area to San Francisco is about 1300 miles. Many members of our club live in the Midwest. The distance from Cleveland to San Francisco is 2560 miles. So when we have held a rally on the west coast we have had a very diminished attendance from people east of the rockies.

The last convention held in Tuscon in 2003 only had 111 motorhomes and the club lost about $8000. We hope we get more participation from west coast members so that the April one is a success.

I think that it is good that you raise these questions as it will make club members more aware of why the club does things and what some of the difficulties are in site selection.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick, CO

>

>> If you took offense, that was not my intension.
>>
>> No rallies in your area? Have you recommended a site near you for a rally to any club?
>
>
> I already raised this topic at some length in the past with respect to GMCMI:
> http://gmc.mybirdfeeder.net/GMCforum/index.php?t=msg&goto=313223&rid=1742
>
> I would be thrilled if GMCMI would just come back to any of the sites they went to over 10 years ago. (And I *am* thrilled they'll be in Tuscon).
> Sites are not the issue. Distance is a biggie. And although I can't find the specific posts at the moment, it was mentioned that the huge amount of
> "stuff" GMCMI has to ship is a contributing factor to the lack of western rallies. (Begs the question whether it's all really necessary, but I defer
> to those in charge.)
>
> You seem to be bent on attacking my service to this community with no knowledge of what I have contributed, or suggesting that I'm criticizing Kim
> Weeks or others (I'm categorically NOT).
>
> My point here was a survey of what the "ideal" days for a rally would be for working people since I was recently in on a future rally planning
> discussion.
> At that meeting, there seemed to be no understanding of *why* we would start on a Thursday or Friday, and no consideration given to any alternatives.
>
> Karen
> 1975 26'
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Emery, please keep in mind that the distance to Shawnee or Branson is a
long way for the West Coast clubs.
Just like Santa Clara or Portland, Oregon is for the Eastern Clubs. No
"perfectly centric" locations exist that works for everyone.
So, Regional rallies start to make some sense here. What if GMCMI had
a spring/summer rally, and assisted GMCES as well as GMCWS with fall
rallies in their respective territories, with vendor assistance, travel
vouchers for technical presenters, etc. Just an idea to kick around. Think
"Dave L", "Ken B" Jim B., as a drawing card for a regional west coast
rally, Or their western counterparts at an Eastern regional rally. Could
this work?
Jim Hupy

> Hi Karen
>
> The crates that we ship with our equipment has never been a factor in
> selecting a site. By having our own equipment we have found that we can
> keep the cost of a convention down considerably — much more than the cost
> of storage and shipping of our equipment.
> The main reason that we haven’t had many California rallies is because of
> the inability to find campgrounds that had facilities that would fit out
> needs and at a reasonable cost Many campgrounds want $50-60 per night and
> that is too high, We don’t want to price our convention at $600 or so for
> the week as that would probably prevent a lot of people from attending.
>
> Our last convention in California was in Spring 2008 at Santa Clara. I
> was managing the conventions at that time and I had taken a trip to
> California the previous year in an effort to find a suitable site. I spent
> 6 days driving from San Diego to Eureka visiting potential sites and
> negotiating with campground owners.
>
> Santa Rosa was a fairground that had never had a rally held there before.
> I worked with them to convenience them to let us use their site and to get
> a price we could afford. We signed up and then the year after our rally
> they liked the income source but they doubled the price which put it out of
> our range.
> A big problem is finding a site that can accommodate perhaps 200 motor
> homes and which has suitable buildings, electricity, water, sewage and
> showers.
>
> Over the years we have asked people from California (I lived in the San
> Francisco area for over ten years) to scope out and recommend sites. We
> have never gotten information on sites that were workable. That is one of
> the reasons that we put information about site selection on the GMCMI
> website. I am sure that Kim would welcome input on sites in your area that
> might work for us. The club would like to have conventions on the west
> coast as much as you would like them there.
>
> You mention that “distance is a biggie”. Bear in mind that that works
> both ways. The distance from where I live in the Denver area to San
> Francisco is about 1300 miles. Many members of our club live in the
> Midwest. The distance from Cleveland to San Francisco is 2560 miles. So
> when we have held a rally on the west coast we have had a very diminished
> attendance from people east of the rockies.
>
> The last convention held in Tuscon in 2003 only had 111 motorhomes and the
> club lost about $8000. We hope we get more participation from west coast
> members so that the April one is a success.
>
> I think that it is good that you raise these questions as it will make
> club members more aware of why the club does things and what some of the
> difficulties are in site selection.
>
> Emery Stora
> 77 Kingsley
> Frederick, CO
>

> >

> >> If you took offense, that was not my intension.
> >>
> >> No rallies in your area? Have you recommended a site near you for a
> rally to any club?
> >
> >
> > I already raised this topic at some length in the past with respect to
> GMCMI:
> > http://gmc.mybirdfeeder.net/GMCforum/index.php?t=msg&goto=
> 313223&rid=1742
> >
> > I would be thrilled if GMCMI would just come back to any of the sites
> they went to over 10 years ago. (And I *am* thrilled they'll be in Tuscon).
> > Sites are not the issue. Distance is a biggie. And although I can't
> find the specific posts at the moment, it was mentioned that the huge
> amount of
> > "stuff" GMCMI has to ship is a contributing factor to the lack of
> western rallies. (Begs the question whether it's all really necessary,
> but I defer
> > to those in charge.)
> >
> > You seem to be bent on attacking my service to this community with no
> knowledge of what I have contributed, or suggesting that I'm criticizing Kim
> > Weeks or others (I'm categorically NOT).
> >
> > My point here was a survey of what the "ideal" days for a rally would be
> for working people since I was recently in on a future rally planning
> > discussion.
> > At that meeting, there seemed to be no understanding of *why* we would
> start on a Thursday or Friday, and no consideration given to any
> alternatives.
> >
> > Karen
> > 1975 26'
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
California is a very expensive place, and given the tight housing supply, more and more folks are moving into RV parks which squeezes site selection
even more.
But, there are 10 other states and 2 provinces in the contiguous Western region to choose from. The equipment issue is a problem for Canada rallies
(see http://gmc.mybirdfeeder.net/GMCforum/index.php?t=msg&th=18959&goto=143688&rid=1742), but WS has managed at least two 100+ coach
rallies with no equipment whatsoever, so it is possible.

I suspect there may also be a "chicken and egg" problem at work. Since GMCMI is out here so seldom, there may be a lot fewer Western region members
than there could otherwise be.

But really, we've discussed this at length before, so no need to rehash it here. I'm sure Kim Weeks and the whole GMCMI board has to deal with a lot
of logistical nightmares to pull it off, and I'm glad that they do. In any endeavor, there is room for improvement and it's helpful to really
re-examine your practices and assumptions once in a while.
Hopefully some of the groups may be able to at least consider making their longer rallies more friendly to working folks.

Karen

--
Karen
1975 26'
San Jose, CA
 
Well, what of us who when we work work weekends? :):)

Less facetious, and for members of the GMCMI Board, have we considered what might be involved in ginning up our own meeting space? I've looked at
several venues - often state parks - which would be excellent venues except for meeting space. They tend to have pavilions and shelters but little or
no enclosed space. Perhaps we might look into a large tent or two. This is the solution the dog show Superintendents fall back on when a show is
located at an out door venue. I've no idea what the economics might be.

--johnny
--
76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased
 
Johnny,
Seems to me from what I've come across on state parks is that most are lacking on septic hookups. But to be fare, the state parks I've searched have
been near lakes, oceans, rivers, etc... so the water locations might have a pollution/sanitary factor to deal with. But have always been priced
affordability.

Karen,
I really like the idea of a Monday to Friday rally. Mostly because everything is open durning the week for fun and adventure, and less semi's on the
road on the weekends for travel.

But I'm just a small fish in a very big bowl......
--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi.
Houston, Texas
 
Scott - I've never stayed in a State park which didn't have a dump station. Even Harrison Bay (Tennessee) which also had sewer hookups.

--johnny
--
76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased
 
> I really like the idea of a Monday to Friday rally. Mostly because everything is open during the week for fun and adventure, and less semi's on
> the road on the weekends for travel.

Great points, I hadn't even thought of that.

thanks,
Karen
 
> Karen,
> I really like the idea of a Monday to Friday rally. Mostly because everything is open during the week for fun and adventure, and less semi's on
> the road on the weekends for travel.
>
> But I'm just a small fish in a very big bowl......

Scott,

While I completely understand what you are saying.

The trucks part was only true until recently, there were more trucks on the every day last year than we could remember of late.

If I am at one of Kim's Internation Conventions, I would have to take time out of something I possibly should not miss if I wanted to do things in the
local area. I liken it to when I worked at a summer camp and the administrator explained to us that his plan was to keep kids out of trouble by
keeping them busy at all but planned break times.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit