Steve, good question, in looking at the BCA National Meet Guidlines on the web site, it is in need of a major update for the changes the BOD made for meets starting with 2009, ATTENTION BOD! Get it done and I'll post on the web site, asap! Would help all who could be interested in 2010, for sure!

Having just done the 2008 BCA National in Flint, I can tell you this, doing a non-judged meet was even a major undertaking, we tried to make it simple for the members, and it worked, had it been a judged meet, we would not have been able to handle even with over 120 volunteers. So the sooner the better we can update the Meet Guidelines, I think could help folks decide, bits and pieces in the BUGLE, may have confused folks, and the entire Guideline may need to printed in the BUGLE, to clarify the deal.

Just my $0.02!

TX in October better than Orlando in July, but MI in July 2008 was perfect, but Michigan in 1988 was 108 in the shade.
Can't predict the weather, and praying doesn't always work as far as the weather is concerned!

I would like to chime in at this point and say what a super job the Flint group did hosting the 2008 National Meet. All in all it was great. The biggest problem was the fact that people were spread out in a whole bunch of hotels. Going back to one of my previous posts, that is why there was no get together at night. Our hotel bar was rather empty to say the least.

Anyway, the fact that there was no judging did not hurt the show at all. As Roberta said, a judged show would have been a bear to organize.

Roberta, Renee and Harold along with all of their team did a wonderful job.

stevo

Different times of the year to accomodate better weather for the area in question is a good idea. Keep in mind that this could negatively impact families with school-aged kids, and also may cause problems with Regionals which may have to seek dispensation for any dates that coincide. But it can be done.

The bigger drawback is what Roberta said; 120 workers and they may not have been able to do it if the meet had been a judged meet. Granted, we'd probably never get the turnout that Flint always gets. But our Chapter has 40 members who reside in a wide arc around our nucleus. This is another major hurdle for small remote chapters. We'd need volunteers from the general membership to help out.

Back in 05 in Batavia I volunteered to help out the FLC with security. As it was Niagra Frontier Chapter was providing most of the manpower for this. My 2 boys also agreed to taking on the overnight shift just before the big show. Since I was involved in their decision I wound up getting up early in the AM to relieve them if they needed it. The end result was the three of us basically missed the entire show day. And my point is this, They had so few local people available to do this task that I don't know where they would have wound up had others not volunteered and then what type of event is it for those who do volunteer?

I wonder if it is feasible to reduce fees for those outside the local chapter who do volunteer so that at least there is some incentive and payback.

I am just curious WHAT the actual members say of a chapter /regions/co-chapters when the subject of hosting a National come up.

What are the reasons now?

Is it still our aging membership and guys just not interested in the work?

Why don't we hear from some chapter members who say 'we would like to do a National but need some volunteer help.'

Sounds like a survey of the membership is needed here. I've written surveys for the Air Force and would be happy to help construct the questions.

<Disclaimer> MY OPINION HERE, not of the BOD or anyone else.....

In my opinion, all it takes is 1 or 2 people willing to take on the monumental task of organizing a National Meet. Once someone steps up to the plate, others will follow. Look at Colorado, for example. Frank Lyle stepped up to organize and now the chapters around Colorado Springs are stepping up to help.

But even after getting 1 person, you have to have feet on the ground in the location chosen to arrange, negotiate, plan, and to pay in the location chosen. I was on the Plano organizing committe with the North Texas chapter and I was in Dallas once a month at first and then every two weeks as time got closer. It took the whole chapter to pull the meet off.

I think wih the National Meet comittee, working with a local presence, helps as some of the more difficult work is done (registration) or helped with (negotiations for hotels etc.) but it still takes a lot of time and effort to put on a meet.

Plus when you are putting on the meet, you dont get to see cars or visit with people or do any of the fun things that happen at the meet.

How can we get someone to step forward and volunteer to put on a meet ? Thats a 64,000 question that we have been trying to solve.

Another idea is that we have basically a large virtual chapter online. Anyone here on the Discussion forum want to take this task on ? Are you willing to spend the next 18 months working to put on a good show ?

If someone stepped forward as an organizer, would any of you be willing to help the week of the show ? Spend time at the show parking cars, in the hospitality tent or out in the parking lot at 3 am making sure no cars are damaged.

These are just a few of the tasks that go on behind the scenes that need reliable people to help with.

Like I said, these are MY opinions for whats its worth.

As I said before as a BOD member, we are aware of the issues and have been discussing the problems and trying to find a solution.

Please let me correct a couple of misconceptions.

The host chapter does NOT need to have 120 volunteers to put on a national meet. North Texas Chapter has done it twice with less than 40 volunteers. In addition, if there is judging, the host chapter does not need to provide any volunteers for that, except for one person: the Assistant Meet Head Judge. All other judges and volunteers for the judging process come from those who have registered for the meet and who volunteer their time for judging. They can be from anywhere.

Pete Phillips, BCA #7338
Sherman, Texas

Being retired, I volunteered my time to Jon Henry, our Minuteman Chapter director, if the BCA powers-to-be decided to have the 2010 national in New England but only if it was to be held in either Conn, Mass, or RI. Northern New England (esp. Maine) is just too far away from my home to be running back and forth; plus you can't get there from here! I think one of the casinos in Conn would be an ideal place to host the event. Don't slap me upside the head...JUST MY OPINION...please.

Dave,

We tried the approach of offering bus trips for our Regional in 2006, but the word from some directors at that time was they would not like to present that as an option sanctioned by the official Club.

Also, I am not sure how often you visit the CT casinos, but I seldom do. But, my observation is that is not truly family friendly for a 4-5 day stay and not inexpensive. Up until the recent financial situation, they were doing fine without much convention type business, but I believe they are getting more into it recently.

Again, just my assessment at this time. There are a lot of other nice places in New England that could work.

I'll check for any responses after Hershey.
John

I see your point re: potential non-family atmosphere at a casino. Two problems I see w/ having a meet anywhere along the New England seashore (esp. Cape Cod, Newport, Mystic as examples) anytime during the summer is the cost of hotels and the traffic congestion due to tourism. So, my guess is that the meet would have to be located somewhat inland w/ manageable access to highways...maybe Sturbridge Village, MA or Providence, RI or even the Gillette Stadium complex in Foxboro, MA. Patriots owner Bob Graft has just finished creating a huge complex in addition to the football/soccer stadium right off Rte 95/Rte 1. There are quite a few cheaper hotels and lots of restaurants in the area. Just food for thought???

Dave,

I had earler suggested a Buick meet in San Antonio in October to get away from the summer heat, but your suggestion of New England made me think of something else.

Can you imagine a Buick national meet when the leaves are at their peak of fall colors? WOW! Talk about photo ops....everyone would be looking for places to park their car and get some of those incredible fall scenes in the background.

And, the older cars with no A/C would feel great in the fall!

Well, your description of the fall colors sounds great, and I'm sure would be, but, and this is a BIG but, it is three thousand miles or more for any west coasters to travel to. Interpret that as drive to and at that time of the year facing the possibility of having to drive on snow covered roads over the Rockies or Cascade mountains. I understand that there is a higher concentration of club members in the eat and mid-east, but us west coasters would like to be able to get to these meets too. Just one westcoasters thoughts. Any others?

West coast?

San Francisco (away from downtown to accomodate the parking) would be great--and it is COOL there in the summer!

Of course, someone would have to alert all of the California tree huggers that thousands of gas-burning massive Buicks from the last 100 years are coming, endangering the Arctic circle with their V-8 engines.....