RockHillWill
Well-known member
I read a few posts in the Model A News cover discussion concerning the interest, or the lack of, hosting the National Meet in one location each year, specifically at French Lick, Indiana.
As a few of you may already know, I have been selected as the VP of MARC and as such, it my primary responsibility to seek out hosts for both the National Meet and the Membership meet. I have already been contacted by numerous folks regarding the recent change to remove the Fine Point trophy presentations from the last dinner, even changing the name from Awards Banquet to Farewell Dinner.
As regards the venues used to host the National Meet, part of the transfer of paperwork included two large carboard storage boxes of contacts and replies that the former VP had accumulated in his quest for obtaining a region to host an event. It was startling to review those 'conversatoions'. There were literally hundreds of request from the VP
asking for those to host an event. There were also a large number of replies that indicated their appreciation for being asked, and the most complete list of 'excuses' that I could have ever imagined. Also found were a large number of 'suggestions' as to how 'things should be changed', but NO offers to help facilitate those changes or to host a meet.
Bear with me here for a moment. I am 72 years old, and have lived a full life.I have experience lows in my life that I would not wish on my worst enemy, and enjoyed a few high points that few could dream of. I work with my hands. I have owned a number of auto tune up franchises in two states and had to deal with an enormous amount of customers during that time. I have spent 12 years as a machine designer working at other peoples thoughts and direction. I also spent 24 years in building and racing stock cars where I raced an average of 34 times a year. Each event required us to be in a different town in a different state for an average of four days. I have calculated that during the stint in racing alone, I have had a personal encounter with over 3.8 million folks. I share this only to illustrate that I have had been exposed to a multitude of life experiences with people, over an extended period of time. NONE of this has made me smart in any way, nor has it had any effect on my intellect, but what it has done is given me a pretty broad and unique perspective into how people think and interract with others. I am a poor purveyor of politically correctness, and I do ask for some allowances for my approach sometimes.
I said all that to say this: It has become somewhat easier to quickly determine if some one is a giver or a taker. Taking, complaining and apathy are very easy to do, especially from behind a computer screen. It takes little forthought for future consequences or the effect on others. Their conversations generally start with "what YOU should do". Givers on the otherhand will start conversations with "here's what WE can do", or words to that effect.
What I found from reviewing the old VP paperwork was a huge amount 'taker' comments and very little 'giver' comments, and that is the crux of the problem of having to gather a willingness for a region to host one of these events.
The folks responsible for French Lick were big enough 'givers' that they formed their own region just so that they could host a National Meet, because they are interested enough in the support of MARC and the entire Model A hobby.The French Lick location was not a random choice of location. The hosts went so far as to enter all the regions zip codes into a computer program to determine the geographical center of the MARC regions, therby providing accessibility to the maximum amount of attendees. The roads are most conducive to the Model A cars, as opposed to the multi-lane freeways associated with the Metro hotels. The facilities are first class. The answer for disdain of the National Meet being held in one location should be to offer to host a meet in your own location.
I applied for a position on the Board of Directors because over the years of my involvement in MARC, I have been helped by an enormous number of 'givers' most of which can be found on this site. Folks on this site have helped make it possible for me to have experiences in this hobby that I would not have thought possible. I felt that it was time to start thinking about how I might 'give back', and this is the manner that I have chosen.
As the title of this posts suggests, I am asking you folks to jump in here, and make suggestions at to what I might do to better serve the community in my capacity as MARC VP, as I seek hosts. I am asking for suggestions for improvements, appropriate complaints for past experiences, and any other comment that might result in an improvement in the National and/or Membership site selections. We have a scheduled BOD meeting this upcoming Monday and I am anxious to report any and all responses to this request.
Have a great day guys. It's 7:30 AM in the Carolinas and I am about to take my breakfast out to the picnic table in the front yard and watch the fish jump in the lake as the turtles meander up on the banks to get a mouthfull of the new cut grass. A large Blue Herron sits down at the entrance of the driveway, just waiting for the stray minnow or frog.
As a few of you may already know, I have been selected as the VP of MARC and as such, it my primary responsibility to seek out hosts for both the National Meet and the Membership meet. I have already been contacted by numerous folks regarding the recent change to remove the Fine Point trophy presentations from the last dinner, even changing the name from Awards Banquet to Farewell Dinner.
As regards the venues used to host the National Meet, part of the transfer of paperwork included two large carboard storage boxes of contacts and replies that the former VP had accumulated in his quest for obtaining a region to host an event. It was startling to review those 'conversatoions'. There were literally hundreds of request from the VP
asking for those to host an event. There were also a large number of replies that indicated their appreciation for being asked, and the most complete list of 'excuses' that I could have ever imagined. Also found were a large number of 'suggestions' as to how 'things should be changed', but NO offers to help facilitate those changes or to host a meet.
Bear with me here for a moment. I am 72 years old, and have lived a full life.I have experience lows in my life that I would not wish on my worst enemy, and enjoyed a few high points that few could dream of. I work with my hands. I have owned a number of auto tune up franchises in two states and had to deal with an enormous amount of customers during that time. I have spent 12 years as a machine designer working at other peoples thoughts and direction. I also spent 24 years in building and racing stock cars where I raced an average of 34 times a year. Each event required us to be in a different town in a different state for an average of four days. I have calculated that during the stint in racing alone, I have had a personal encounter with over 3.8 million folks. I share this only to illustrate that I have had been exposed to a multitude of life experiences with people, over an extended period of time. NONE of this has made me smart in any way, nor has it had any effect on my intellect, but what it has done is given me a pretty broad and unique perspective into how people think and interract with others. I am a poor purveyor of politically correctness, and I do ask for some allowances for my approach sometimes.
I said all that to say this: It has become somewhat easier to quickly determine if some one is a giver or a taker. Taking, complaining and apathy are very easy to do, especially from behind a computer screen. It takes little forthought for future consequences or the effect on others. Their conversations generally start with "what YOU should do". Givers on the otherhand will start conversations with "here's what WE can do", or words to that effect.
What I found from reviewing the old VP paperwork was a huge amount 'taker' comments and very little 'giver' comments, and that is the crux of the problem of having to gather a willingness for a region to host one of these events.
The folks responsible for French Lick were big enough 'givers' that they formed their own region just so that they could host a National Meet, because they are interested enough in the support of MARC and the entire Model A hobby.The French Lick location was not a random choice of location. The hosts went so far as to enter all the regions zip codes into a computer program to determine the geographical center of the MARC regions, therby providing accessibility to the maximum amount of attendees. The roads are most conducive to the Model A cars, as opposed to the multi-lane freeways associated with the Metro hotels. The facilities are first class. The answer for disdain of the National Meet being held in one location should be to offer to host a meet in your own location.
I applied for a position on the Board of Directors because over the years of my involvement in MARC, I have been helped by an enormous number of 'givers' most of which can be found on this site. Folks on this site have helped make it possible for me to have experiences in this hobby that I would not have thought possible. I felt that it was time to start thinking about how I might 'give back', and this is the manner that I have chosen.
As the title of this posts suggests, I am asking you folks to jump in here, and make suggestions at to what I might do to better serve the community in my capacity as MARC VP, as I seek hosts. I am asking for suggestions for improvements, appropriate complaints for past experiences, and any other comment that might result in an improvement in the National and/or Membership site selections. We have a scheduled BOD meeting this upcoming Monday and I am anxious to report any and all responses to this request.
Have a great day guys. It's 7:30 AM in the Carolinas and I am about to take my breakfast out to the picnic table in the front yard and watch the fish jump in the lake as the turtles meander up on the banks to get a mouthfull of the new cut grass. A large Blue Herron sits down at the entrance of the driveway, just waiting for the stray minnow or frog.
Well after crafting a comment it didn't show up. In any event I'm with Brent. A fixed location makes a lot of sense. Look at the motorcycle crowd..........Sturgis is still in Sturgis
