Fall Gathering - Input? Problems? Improvements?
- Thread starter Sporin
- Start date
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I fI would have won the tub, although I dont own a 40, it would give me an excuse to buy one. I wouldnt have let it go.
second that you have to start some where with a build why not with a tub!
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The raffle needs to be run a lot smoother. I don't know how GCLC does it but there raffle at CMCC runs a lot smoother and they don't refuse people from winning prizes. I hate to compare clubs but thats all I got to compare to. All in all though FG is great fun.
I had a whole write up and decided not to post it all.
This was my last year participating in raffle as there was too much drama associated with it this year. There were mistakes and we tried to make good on it. I plan to participate in other areas for Yankee Toys. Hopefully more than I did this year. I challenge all of you who read this to do the same.
Thank you to Wally, Kina, Mike Fox and Bud who have always contributed. I hope you continue to do so.
Gary its been great working with you over the past two years to organize the raffle.
I hope you don't take some of the things said personally. It's a learning curve for everyone. And you can brain out every possible contingency til your head hurts and then against all odds the improbable happens.
I wouldn't take it personal, which I know is hard to do at times, but s*** happens and there was no malice on either of your parts.
You guys put a lot of time and effort into that and did your very best. Anyone making comments other than constructive ones can go to hell.
I too want to say that I'm not pointing fingers or saying that anyone did a bad job (I don't believe that to be the case). I've been deeply involved in vendor solicitation for the raffle at CMCC for 8 out of the last 9 years... it's a big PITA. No one appreciates the effort involved and everyone has an opinion about what they didn't like... and (for the most part) none of those people step up to help. GCLC/CMCC has had its fair share of controversy over the years too...
To even pull it off is a feat to be admired. There are ALWAYS things that can be done to improve things. This tread is a great way to hear about and discuss the best ways to move forward.
All of you that put the FG together did a fantastic job.
To even pull it off is a feat to be admired. There are ALWAYS things that can be done to improve things. This tread is a great way to hear about and discuss the best ways to move forward.
All of you that put the FG together did a fantastic job.
It is hard to keep everybody happy. I probaly spent 30 or more hours working on getting donations and I know jason did too. The vehicle specific prizes were at the request of the people who donated them. I am with Jason on this. It is time for someone else to step up and organize the raffle. Thanks Jason and the vendors who donated prizes.
I'm also with you two.
So lets see all you f-ing a-holes step up and help. (sorry Dave)
Stop crying about it become involved.
Or better yet, stay home!
Yes, I'm pissed!
Lane
LOL Dave. Damn Universal Translator.
Jason & Gary - If you guys are resigning from the raffle committee due to this years complaints and challenges, it would be understandable as well as a big loss for the club. You two put in a lot of work to recruit more support from vendors than we've ever had at Catamount or the FG and also did a great job MC-ing the event. Your efforts helped to create a very fun time for members, a solid revenue generating opportunity for YT, and a good marketing opportunity for vendors to show support. Many folks commented on the great job you guys did. Thanks for all your hard work.
Jason & Gary - If you guys are resigning from the raffle committee due to this years complaints and challenges, it would be understandable as well as a big loss for the club. You two put in a lot of work to recruit more support from vendors than we've ever had at Catamount or the FG and also did a great job MC-ing the event. Your efforts helped to create a very fun time for members, a solid revenue generating opportunity for YT, and a good marketing opportunity for vendors to show support. Many folks commented on the great job you guys did. Thanks for all your hard work.
How about something completely different?
Waivers - We need to do a better job with waivers. Either sent in with the application or filled out beforehand. Filling them out in the rush was not good.
Start Time - I agree with changing the start time. Either an artificially early time in hopes of getting out at the desired time, or a hard departure time (set at the time of application) with early check-in.
Check In - I don't know how Saturday went, but Friday was a little hectic checking in. It's a PITA, but it would be good to get as many check-ins done as possible - early on. I was a little "off" this year, but wouldn't mind doing check-ins all weekend next year.
Raffle- Jason and Gary have done a fantastic job for two(+?) years now. Regardless of the glitches, we need someone else to step up and do this next year. It is a lot of work, but all you need is a good phone presence and a lot of persistence. Someone has to step up, and early. Seriously, if you have an inner salesman in you, this is for you.
Caterer - damn fine idea. I think this worked out great. Good eats and easier on the event staff.
Night Runs - We had a bunch of folks thinking about it. Is F&F OK with it?
Volunteers - It is not too early to volunteer. If you are a new or old member, it doesn't matter. If you can make time to help on this event, no one will turn you away. Planning starts early (read: NOW) so let's go. As demonstrated in this thread, folks get burnt out.
I think there's already enough said about the raffle (and a lot to think about), but personally I think the simplest thing (for the organizers, not necessarily the winners) would be to let anyone win anything and then set up a swap/sell meet afterwards.
Also, I second Stinkyfinger's comments about hitting the trails earlier ( maybe there could be separate, later, departures for those that prefer to sleep in ).
Finally, as a first-timer to this event I found that I had to work a little too hard to meet people -- except for Joe ? -- forget his last name but he's one of the original founders of Yankee Toys. He made a point of coming over to my campsite and introducing himself to me, an obvious newbie, and making me feel welcome. Thanks Joe!
I think you should think about having a "welcome team" whose mission is to make the first-timers feel more welcome. E.g., introduce them to others with similar rigs., find out what their planned mods are and introduce them to people that know a lot about those mods, etc..
I'll still be a relative newbie myself, think I maybe met only 10% of you this time around, but I'll gladly volunteer to help out in this area next year.
That said, all in all, this was (is) a great event and these things are minor in the overall scheme of things.
Thanks (again) to all of you who organized and made this such a great event!
Also, I second Stinkyfinger's comments about hitting the trails earlier ( maybe there could be separate, later, departures for those that prefer to sleep in
).Finally, as a first-timer to this event I found that I had to work a little too hard to meet people -- except for Joe ? -- forget his last name but he's one of the original founders of Yankee Toys. He made a point of coming over to my campsite and introducing himself to me, an obvious newbie, and making me feel welcome. Thanks Joe!
I think you should think about having a "welcome team" whose mission is to make the first-timers feel more welcome. E.g., introduce them to others with similar rigs., find out what their planned mods are and introduce them to people that know a lot about those mods, etc..
I'll still be a relative newbie myself, think I maybe met only 10% of you this time around, but I'll gladly volunteer to help out in this area next year.
That said, all in all, this was (is) a great event and these things are minor in the overall scheme of things.
Thanks (again) to all of you who organized and made this such a great event!
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you get what you get and you don't get upset . . .
hi all- this is hillary here- IH8MUD will not allow more than one registration from the same email -so I share kina's.
the only minor complaint i have was the chilly weather at night- tough on the kids. could we consider a week or 2 earlier?
lots of good input about the raffle. i personally think it would be a bit too much work for this (volunteer-lean) club to have to color code tickets or separate into containers for specific prizes. what seems to keep it simple and work well down at the very big GSMTR raffle, which we've gone to a few times, as well as CMCC if i remember correctly, is the general idea of - "you get what you get and you don't get upset". (works quite well with children at the dinner table too.)
if you win a model-specific prize and are lacking the model or don't want the prize- well then you've got yourself something to sell, trade, barter or give as a gift. for example- kina won the pink size small "show me your woody" tee shirt that unfortunately didn't fit him . . . . . so he gave it to me, and i just can't wait to wear it the next time i go out wheeling big blue with my friends!
what people or businesses donate to the raffle is up to them and we as a club need to be appreciative and gracious- or they may not donate again from the 'bad taste left in their mouth'.
another possible idea is to do a silent auction- separate from the raffle- which would use some of the smaller donations and would raise more $ for the club. the items don't all have to be wheeling related . . . could be anything from dunkin donuts gift certificates to tools, etc.
and the other idea that i think kina mentioned which they do at GSMTR- is the drivers' raffle- using only the driver tickets - for a big, non-model-specific prize that anyone would love- that only folks who actually drive in the event are able to win. this adds a bit of excitement at the end of the raffle.
the fg raffle prizes were great this year, and we need to be thankful. maybe next year the people who run the raffle should not be ticket holders, and in general, i think - like most raffles- if your ticket's pulled- it's your prize - do whatever you want with it- but don't complain . . . if the prize isn't what you were hoping to win-oh well-sell it and buy what you really want.
just my 2 cents.
i do think the prizes should be somehow on display- maybe during dinner- to get folks excited and to encourage last- minute ticket sales. a silent auction table could be set up during dinner too for people to make sure they're the winning bidder on whatever item(s) they're going for. our kids' school raises a bunch of money with a silent auction.
a great job and big thanks to everyone who worked hard on this year's fg- it was the best yet!
and by the way- did anyone out there happen to get any pics. of me driving the blue 60 out back at f'n'f on saturday? kina was busy with little will (who loved his first fg) and didn't get to take any . . .
hi all- this is hillary here- IH8MUD will not allow more than one registration from the same email -so I share kina's.
the only minor complaint i have was the chilly weather at night- tough on the kids. could we consider a week or 2 earlier?
lots of good input about the raffle. i personally think it would be a bit too much work for this (volunteer-lean) club to have to color code tickets or separate into containers for specific prizes. what seems to keep it simple and work well down at the very big GSMTR raffle, which we've gone to a few times, as well as CMCC if i remember correctly, is the general idea of - "you get what you get and you don't get upset". (works quite well with children at the dinner table too.)
if you win a model-specific prize and are lacking the model or don't want the prize- well then you've got yourself something to sell, trade, barter or give as a gift. for example- kina won the pink size small "show me your woody" tee shirt that unfortunately didn't fit him . . . . . so he gave it to me, and i just can't wait to wear it the next time i go out wheeling big blue with my friends!
what people or businesses donate to the raffle is up to them and we as a club need to be appreciative and gracious- or they may not donate again from the 'bad taste left in their mouth'.
another possible idea is to do a silent auction- separate from the raffle- which would use some of the smaller donations and would raise more $ for the club. the items don't all have to be wheeling related . . . could be anything from dunkin donuts gift certificates to tools, etc.
and the other idea that i think kina mentioned which they do at GSMTR- is the drivers' raffle- using only the driver tickets - for a big, non-model-specific prize that anyone would love- that only folks who actually drive in the event are able to win. this adds a bit of excitement at the end of the raffle.
the fg raffle prizes were great this year, and we need to be thankful. maybe next year the people who run the raffle should not be ticket holders, and in general, i think - like most raffles- if your ticket's pulled- it's your prize - do whatever you want with it- but don't complain . . . if the prize isn't what you were hoping to win-oh well-sell it and buy what you really want.
just my 2 cents.
i do think the prizes should be somehow on display- maybe during dinner- to get folks excited and to encourage last- minute ticket sales. a silent auction table could be set up during dinner too for people to make sure they're the winning bidder on whatever item(s) they're going for. our kids' school raises a bunch of money with a silent auction.
a great job and big thanks to everyone who worked hard on this year's fg- it was the best yet!
and by the way- did anyone out there happen to get any pics. of me driving the blue 60 out back at f'n'f on saturday? kina was busy with little will (who loved his first fg) and didn't get to take any . . .
I have a pile of video of the first obstacle or two. You want some stills? They will be pretty low rez (video is around 72 DPI)
PM an email address and I can send some out.
Actually, let me digitize a clip or two and send it to your email as a compressed file. Quicktime OK? I can do windows if you want it as a WMV
BTW, thanks to you and kina for your contributions to the raffle and the make good as well.
I dropped a line to IPOR and a few others to thank them and had not gotten around to you guys. I did not win a damn thing, but wanted to thank those whose generosity made the raffle prizes the best I have seen.
PM an email address and I can send some out.
Actually, let me digitize a clip or two and send it to your email as a compressed file. Quicktime OK? I can do windows if you want it as a WMV
BTW, thanks to you and kina for your contributions to the raffle and the make good as well.
I dropped a line to IPOR and a few others to thank them and had not gotten around to you guys. I did not win a damn thing, but wanted to thank those whose generosity made the raffle prizes the best I have seen.
As far as the trail runs go I lead two, well lead one and followed Kina. The one I lead left around 9:30 and all drivers were asked if they were all set. Everyone answered YES. We got to the trail to have one driver say they were out of gas and needed to fill up.
I think a reminder board at the staging area might help avoid some delays. I understand that maybe other leaders do things differently than I and I never thought to ask if everyone had gas.
I think a reminder board at the staging area might help avoid some delays. I understand that maybe other leaders do things differently than I and I never thought to ask if everyone had gas.
Sporin
Site Addict
- Thread starter
- #39
We need to give better instructions for sure and get folks out earlier. Stopping for gas on the way is NOT an option, folks need to plan ahead better.
I think ALL of our trail leaders did a brilliant job and got thier group out as ealry as possible, the owness is on the participants to get in line on time or next year they WILL get left behind.
I think ALL of our trail leaders did a brilliant job and got thier group out as ealry as possible, the owness is on the participants to get in line on time or next year they WILL get left behind.
Finally, as a first-timer to this event I found that I had to work a little too hard to meet people -- except for Joe ? -- forget his last name but he's one of the original founders of Yankee Toys. He made a point of coming over to my campsite and introducing himself to me, an obvious newbie, and making me feel welcome. Thanks Joe!
I think you should think about having a "welcome team" whose mission is to make the first-timers feel more welcome. E.g., introduce them to others with similar rigs., find out what their planned mods are and introduce them to people that know a lot about those mods, etc..
I'll still be a relative newbie myself, think I maybe met only 10% of you this time around, but I'll gladly volunteer to help out in this area next year.
I remember my first Fall Gathering. I had been on the email list and made a couple of posts but didn't know anyone. We got there friday night. Went to the fire and NO ONE was friendly. The wife and I went back to our site and had a fire. Turned out that people had gotten back late from the days wheeling due to breakage.
People form relationships "clicks" if you want to call it. We get to see people that we haven't seen in the last year. We check out everyones mods and talk about past trips. During Fall Gathering we normally have a number of new members and I believe that it would be difficult to take people around to introduce.
I never want anyone to feel unwelcome. I felt very welcome during my first fall gathering even though I didn't meet a ton of the club members. There has to be some sort of even that we could hold on Friday night to get new members more involved.