Out of respect for Syd, I'll not break my promise and mention any EOC shortcomings.
If you want a better organization you need to step up and give it a shot, as organizations are only as good as the people involved. A National is a huge undertaking and to try to put it together in 6 months just adds to undue pressure. If the club isn't doing what you need it to do for you, toss your hat in but realize that the job requires that you work for everyone, not just for the small boys club. There's a lot of reasons why this event isn't going as planned, so lets just examine a few. Location? Dayton is great, lots of coupers in the surrounding states and plenty to do. How long will you fly to go to a national? 5, 6, 7 maybe 8 hours? Dates? I don't even know when it will be held, so I can't comment, but weather is always a factor, as are the other current events in your life. Planning? Marketing should also be lumped into this. As I said, there's a lot tasked to the hosts. Someone get tired or frustrated at something? It's pretty easy, but by this time, activities and locations of amenities should be set in stone. Huge undertaking even if only 25 people were to show up. Pricing? Well, the economy sucks right now, so it may be a factor. For me Oshkosh with the Bonanzas takes up my time, so doing two events on top of each other is tough. The club needs to get sponsors to pick up the burden or it'll only be a little get together. Univair, Skyport, Alpha, Vernon and anyone else making a buck from Ercoupers should all recognize the importance to their business and lend a hand - somehow. That's where it takes PEOPLE. One or two guys CAN'T do this alone. Our B2OSH has about 30 staffers and everyone has a job to do. I take care of the flight shirts, everything from securing a sponsor to recommending the artwork, commissioning the artwork, facilitating the manufacture of the T shirts to shipping and handing them out at the arrival party. Takes me no less than 6 months just for the shirts. We have safety people, we have arrival people, we have formation volunteers (I do that, too), we have dinner people, we have raffle people ($30,000 in prizes given away last year) and a load more. Sure it's a bigger deal than we are speaking about here, but the lesson is that there's no room for kings or the anal retentive types when planning any event. It does require a leader, though. Kudos to the boys up in the Dayton area that stepped up to the plate, I'm glad you did and don't blame you for being pissed. The directors alone can't handle this by themselves, they need people to make this party happen. Get involved and if you don't like what goes on, do something about it, you can't leave it up to the other guy. Be a cheerleader! Make folks WANT to get out and fly to your soiree! This can still be done and if you guys get together, consider letting the EOC give their award, then if you care, work to bring it into the 21st Century. If you don't care, then don't be disgusted. Al, Biting My Friggin' Lip, DeMarzo Visit the Ercoupe Swap Page Free, Easy and No Membership Required http://www.ercoupeowners.com/swap/swapbook.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: kgassert To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2009 9:12 PM Subject: [ercoupe-tech] Re: Dayton - The Saga Continues Really, I have to agree, since it is not an EOC event. I am a bit peeved at the EOC tonight. In the December Coupe Capers the location and tentative dates and of the convention were announced and it was stated that it would be confirmed in January. January is now over and the January Coupe Caper is posted but there is no mention of the convention in it. Apparently we don't deserve the courtesy of an explanation and have to hear about this through the grape vine. I will be there to meet anyone who shows up and we will go to the museum, do some flyout and have a flyout/cookout at my hangar and play it by ear. As for the EOC, I also have my renewal sitting on my desk. Can someone give me a good reason to renew? I have been a member for over 20 years, including some years I did not own and Ercoupe. In those over 20 years I only went to two national conventions but I was happy to support them with my dues. I'm kind of pissed so maybe I should just delete this. Kevin, crap I am turning into Al, 1--- In ercoupe- [email protected], thesu...@... wrote: > > > > > Iâ?Tm with Larry on this. > If the EOC has chosen to scratch the convention this year, I see no > reason to maintain any level of officialdom. > > > > >  > > > > Cheers, > > > > Bill > > > >  > > > >  > > > > Larry said: Let's just make this a low-pressure gathering. > > > >  > > > > Syd said: Well, we should have an Awards Banquet >
