"As for moving the Gathering all over the country, you are a bit late to that discussion. We moved it to Chino,CA in 2014, then to McMinnville, OR in 2015. That pretty much excluded the east coast folks and many of the midwesterners for 2 years."
Yes, I agree that any gathering venue faces an inherent problem - either it is moved around to make it available to folks who won’t or can’t travel 1500 miles, or it is in a “central” location so that one coast or the other only has to travel 1500 miles. If we are set on a “central” gathering location, then it seems the decision is between a quiet, KR only, friendly space, or AirVenture - a loud crowded distracting event where hotels are very expensive and fun/instructional flight is restricted. Seems like a clear choice, but: 1) OSH is a massive event, which is exactly why I suggest it. AirVenture is a loud crowded and distracting “zoo”. But even at the AirVenture zoo, we can have a quiet side location where we can set up large meeting/shade tents, food prep, and hands on KR workshops. Camping facilities are pretty good (showers, power, bathrooms). And external aviation resources can’t be beat anywhere in the world. If we want Garmin, Dynon, Revmaster, Hummel, Jabaru, ICOM, etc to give us personalized KR focused presentations – OSH is the place to do it. 2) The hotel situation can’t be fixed at OSH – they are hard to book and bloody expensive. So if hotels are a deal breaker, then I agree OSH is not the place to have the gathering. But for me, I’d much rather camp. 3) Hangers – also not going to happen at OSH, so again, if that’s a deal breaker its out. 4) I’d much rather go to the KR Gathering than look at a few pictures of it on a computer – and I think the KR Gathering would benefit from having more of our members attend. How many more of our members would be able to attend if we did it OSH? I think a lot. Perhaps not? We will only know if we ask, survey, try. At best, I can only budget only one cross country fly-in a year until I retire in 10 or 15 years. I think this is a situation many of us are in. How many of our members are in a similar situation? RE: “I'd say the average number of new "KR tire-kickers" that show up is probably three, so I'm not convinced there's a ground-swell of potential KR builders there.” - My major concern is a Gathering venue that allows more of our members to attend (which is what I think AirVenture affords). Secondary concerns include: Improving technical content, variety and opportunity of the Gathering. Improving public exposure. We don’t need a ground swell, but quality exposure and interactions can only help to improve KR aircraft and hopefully increase our safety. It could also only help to improve the health KR suppliers Improving AirVenture. Experimental / homebuilt aviation should be the hart of AirVenture and bringing back type clubs to improve their airplanes and their experience of their airplanes just what AirVenture needs. I think it is also what we need. I really think we should do the Gatherings at AirVenture, but if thats not in the cards I’d be delighted to host a Gathering at KEDU or KDWA - both near Sacramento CA. Both are hotter than hell during the summer, but camping would be available. I’d be happy to work with others to host at other central CA airports that may be more a conducive/pleasant venue. We could set up shade/forum tents - and I think we could get Steve from nVAero here if the trolls on this list haven’t quashed that. RE: “If you've never attended a KR Gathering, I'd say that you … are not qualified to criticize the current arrangement” or “I have attended both regularly for several years with my KR, so I think I am qualified to comment.” or “Talking it out on KRnet is a good way to get a consensus, but the vote that counts is at the (Gathering) Banquet.” I’m just raising an issue that I think is worth considering and may strengthen our community and improve our airplanes. I’m hoping you didn’t really mean to be that exclusionary. If you believe that the only members who’s concerns are valid or count are the ones that attend the Gathering, then ok. I didn’t realize. _______________________________________________ Search the KRnet Archives at https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/. Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change options. To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to [email protected]
