BCA National Meet - 2013

[BCAOffice]

The BCA Board of Directors recently approved formation of a new National Meet Committee to begin handling all aspects of site selection and running of all future BCA National Meets. After interviewing three city CVBs, the committee, with approval from the Board of Directors, selected South Bend, Indiana, as the site for 2013. The dates will be July 17 - 20, 2013. We are currently soliciting bids from the Convention and Vistors Bureau in a couple of cities on the West coast for the 2014 National Meet, and then we plan to select a site in either the North Central or South Central portion of the country for 2015. We are planning a big celebration for 2016 ( the BCA's 50th Anniversary ) and are considering several potential locations to host that momentous occassion.

Just a little information to let you all know what is coming up for the future.

Mike Book, BCA # 9202
National Meet Committee Chairman
BCA National Office Administrator

[Thriller]

Cool. Thanks for posting Mike. About a thousand miles, so practically in my back yard....

[First Born]

South Bend should be Great!

Ben

[50jetback]

Might even front up to that one myself!!

[bhclark]

South Bend sounds great for me! Just right (or rather left) next door!
I likely won't be driving anywhere west of the Rockies, so will look forward to 2015 after that!
This sounds like a great way around the issues of getting "bids" from chapters, as that seemed to be way to difficult. Let the CVB pony up the cash, we'll drive the Buicks!

[First Born]

Stuart, will be looking forward to that!!

Ben

[Glassesguy]

South Bend looks good!

[Dandy Dave]

I always wanted to see where my Southbend Lathes were made. Dandy Dave!

[JohnD1956]

Just a little information to let you all know what is coming up for the future.

Mike Book, BCA # 9202
National Meet Committee Chairman
BCA National Office Administrator

Thanks for the information on where we are headed Mike. Even though pretty far out in the future, it helps to have this type of information for planning purposes. I suppose this will all be in a Bugle somewhere/ sometime, but if not, can it be disseminated via Chapter Newsletters?

[BCAOffice]

All this info will appear in a future Bugle. We might wait until we make a decision on 2014 and then do the article. In the meantime, please feel free to pass along the info via Chapter newsletters.
Thanks!

Mike Book, BCA # 9202

[NCReatta]

We should go check out some Studebaker stuff!!

[BCAOffice]

One of our tours will be to the Studebaker Museum. We'll also have a bus tour over to Auburn to see the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum, as well as a couple other museums near the ACD. There is also a Hudson Museum on the way to the ACD Museum. We'll have a tour to Mishawaka for the shopping venue, as well as tours to the various mansions in downtown South Bend. We'll have something planned at Notre Dame College as well. We will keep you occupied if all the Buicks we get registered are not enough to hold your attention!

Mike & Nancy Book, BCA # 9202

[BigDogDaddy]

I know the logistics would be extremely difficult, but it would be awesome to hold the club's 50th Anniversay at several locations simultaneously across the country. Or have a rolling celebration, where it could start out on the West Coast were the club originated, and then the following week have it in another part of the country conituing East until it reaches the East Coast. Plan it to have several days in between to allow for travel time for those brave and dedicated people who want to hit each event. What a wild celebraion that would be !

[bhclark]

I know the logistics would be extremely difficult, but it would be awesome to hold the club's 50th Anniversay at several locations simultaneously across the country. Or have a rolling celebration, where it could start out on the West Coast were the club originated, and then the following week have it in another part of the country conituing East until it reaches the East Coast. Plan it to have several days in between to allow for travel time for those brave and dedicated people who want to hit each event. What a wild celebraion that would be !

Indeed!
And give lots more folks a chance to join in.

I'm sure Roy is needing a stiff drink just thinking about it!

Let's see, LA, follow Route 66 to Chicago with a possible stop in Sante Fe, Tulsa, then down 65 to Nashville, Mobile, then finish off in Orlando?

Why don't you get right on organizing that BigDogDaddy! I'm right behind you (In spirit anyway!)

No need for an after tour for that meet!

[my3buicks]

Indeed!
And give lots more folks a chance to join in.

I'm sure Roy is needing a stiff drink just thinking about it!

Let's see, LA, follow Route 66 to Chicago with a possible stop in Sante Fe, Tulsa, then down 65 to Nashville, Mobile, then finish off in Orlando?

Why don't you get right on organizing that BigDogDaddy! I'm right behind you (In spirit anyway!)

No need for an after tour for that meet!

What, not stop in Flint? That would just be SO wrong. : )

[BUICK RACER]

What, not stop in Flint? That would just be SO wrong. : )

Yes, that would have been a wonderful idea, since I was planning on the Great Lakes Regional the 3rd week of August 2013, I think that is now not going to happen............ Can't see a National and a Regional 4 weeks later within 200 miles of each other, sorry folks, planning ahead doesn't always work, eh?

[TxBuicks]

Roberta, why not Flint in 2016 for the BCA 50th anniversary? What a great celebration that would be.

[BUICK RACER]

Roberta, why not Flint in 2016 for the BCA 50th anniversary? What a great celebration that would be.

Roy, I'll let the Flint Visitors and Convention Bureau know, so they can plan for that, sounds like a great idea!!

[38Buick 80C]

Roy, I'll let the Flint Visitors and Convention Bureau know, so they can plan for that, sounds like a great idea!!

Roberta,
With all due respect. The purpose of the National Meet Committee as approved by the BCA BOD is to create the best possible National Meet experience for our members and negotiate the best possible deal for the BCA. As was the case for 2013 and will be the case for 2014 and beyond, all potential meet locations CVB's will be competitively bid against each other including those bidding on the 2016 50th Anniversary. The BCA BOD still makes a final decision on the location of the meet based on the bids received.

In my experience from the outside looking in it would seem the Flint CVB has always been an outstanding partner to the BCA and the Buicktown Chapter so I am certain they will be tough to beat.

Flint would be an excellent location to host the 50th anniversary of the BCA. California, where the BCA started, would also be an excellent location to host the 50th Anniversary meet. So would several other locations for various reasons. Flint would also make a great location to host the 50th Anniversary of the first national meet in 2021 (1971 first meet) which would also be the 50th national meet (no meet in '74) overall.

What I am saying is there are lots of reasons to love Flint, but please let the National Meet Committee work the best possible deal for the BCA using the process they have developed to ensure all possible considerations are accounted for and to negotiate the best possible deal. Thus lowering costs for all BCA members who wish to attend and increasing profits to be shared with the local chapters providing volunteers.

Flint is definitely on the radar of the National Meet Committee and the committee has not yet discussed as a group 2016 locations. We are planning to get together to discuss locations and develop a bid list for several years into the future.

I have spoken to Rick Young, BCA President, and this message is on behalf of both of us, President and VP of the BCA.

[my3buicks]

Ah, remembering the good old days when things were simpler and much more fun

[BUICK RACER]

Roberta,
With all due respect. The purpose of the National Meet Committee as approved by the BCA BOD is to create the best possible National Meet experience for our members and negotiate the best possible deal for the BCA. As was the case for 2013 and will be the case for 2014 and beyond, all potential meet locations CVB's will be competitively bid against each other including those bidding on the 2016 50th Anniversary. The BCA BOD still makes a final decision on the location of the meet based on the bids received.

In my experience from the outside looking in it would seem the Flint CVB has always been an outstanding partner to the BCA and the Buicktown Chapter so I am certain they will be tough to beat.

Flint would be an excellent location to host the 50th anniversary of the BCA. California, where the BCA started, would also be an excellent location to host the 50th Anniversary meet. So would several other locations for various reasons. Flint would also make a great location to host the 50th Anniversary of the first national meet in 2021 (1971 first meet) which would also be the 50th national meet (no meet in '74) overall.

What I am saying is there are lots of reasons to love Flint, but please let the National Meet Committee work the best possible deal for the BCA using the process they have developed to ensure all possible considerations are accounted for and to negotiate the best possible deal. Thus lowering costs for all BCA members who wish to attend and increasing profits to be shared with the local chapters providing volunteers.

Flint is definitely on the radar of the National Meet Committee and the committee has not yet discussed as a group 2016 locations. We are planning to get together to discuss locations and develop a bid list for several years into the future.

I have spoken to Rick Young, BCA President, and this message is on behalf of both of us, President and VP of the BCA.

IT would have been nice to have all the details about the BCA National Meet Committee shared with all the members, I get questions all the time, about why we are saving for an event we may never have.
Lowered costs, I don't see that ever happening, I'm the crumudgeon's friend and becoming one myself fast!!!!!!!!!!!

[bhclark]

I for one would love to see lower costs and especially lower prices for the tours and meals. Bringing a family of 4 or 5, we rarely get to participate in any of the "sanctioned" events. We're usually on our own, touring on a budget.

I'm hoping this CVB approach brings in more family friendly options.

I don't know if this is possible, but I also actually enjoy the banquet and awards ceremony, but could do without the $40+ dinner. It would be nice to have an "attend only" option....as we have been opting out lately due to the high price of dinner.

[Thriller]

I'm with Brian...$45 as a starting price isn't prohibitive if I'm on my own, but when I multiply by 5 every year, it does mean tough decisions about what portions of the meet we partake in.

Last year we didn't plan to attend the meal of the banquet, just sneak in later...someone left a ticket on the dash of one of our cars, so Suzanne looked after the youngsters and I attended.

One thing to keep in mind is how well attended and how well enjoyed the trip to Jewell was last year. I know it can't work like that everywhere we would go, but a nice drive into the country and having a bit of a show and shine with perhaps a fast food option or similar would be a lot of fun on a budget.

I'm not trying to whine / complain...just explain that the meet activities haven't been all that family-friendly from a cost perspective in recent years.

[BCAOffice]

Hey guys.....All members are allowed in for the awards ceremony. The cost is only if you want the meal. We plan to have chairs around perimeter of the banquet room for folks that just want to enjoy watching the awards. I believe it has been that way at most of the National Meets.

Mike Book, BCA 9202
National Meet Committee Chairman

[The Old Guy]

Brian
I am surprized at you !! As much sarcasm as you dish out , I am dumbfounded that you do not recognize it when it is pointed at you !!!

The meets at one point were set up and run by the chapters, and the BCA BOD just watched. Now that prices have skyrocketed and the fun is gone from the meet, I wish you luck

The Old Guy ( my new alias is : The Curmudgeon )