Lansing Rally - 2004 - What a disappointment!
I attended my first International Rally in Lansing Michigan - as a working person who took most of my vacation to attend this rally it was an extreme disappointment. I realize that complaining in this forum will not accomplish any purpose so I would like to ask who can I send a letter to and / or can I talk with. I would very much like to offer my reflections and recommendations from my point of view as an event organizer and director of communications. I will be happy to cc any and all that you might recommend. Thank you.
If you are interested in my reflections and recommendations I will be happy to post them under a new thread or send them to you directly.
I would like to hear about the rally. We've considered going next year.
I would send your comments to the new WBCCI President and 1st and 2nd Vice Presidents. They are the folks who will be putting on the next 3 Internationals. They will be listed in the next Blue Beret and on the WBCCI website.
The new President (Holloway) is well into planning for next year's International at Springfield. he is an Associate member of our unit and spoke to us two months ago about plans for the rally. There will be 30A power available; something very necessary at Springfield in July.
I'm not sure what problems you ran into, but I do know that the persistent rain this spring caused havoc in parking.
There is no reason not to openly discuss your experiences at your first rally, as long as you are being honest and do not personally attack anyone. We are also first timers planning to go to MO for the international next year, and would like to hear what it was like for you.
Yes please by all means post your thoughts and complaints (and kudos too) here. Be direct and thourough if you will. If it sounds personal your creditability may suffer, but most of us can glean the grain from the chaff.
THIS FORUM IS NOT AN ARM OF THE WBCCI. (Or is it)? A friend of it certainly, but not it's official propaganda device I trust. If it is then I want no part of it.
If one reads closely and between the lines it sometimes appears, I am afraid, that honest discussion and opinion that might be construed as "negative" is feared and discouraged around here, but as a potential joiner of the WBCCI I want to know everything I can about how it operates and I will then weigh that body of "evidence" to help determine my own need to join or avoid the group/s.
This forum has no association with the WBCCI, VAC, or any other AS organization. It was formed to become the "Airstream Knowledge Sharing Forum", a repository of knowledge for the repair, restoration, and use of everything Airstream. There have been threads in the past about the WBCCI, if you search you will find them.
As it is not related to the WBCCI any posts here about changes or improvements you would like to see made are probably not going to be seen by people who will consider these. WBCCI does have a website, I would start there.
Since his issue is with WBCCI, let him address it with that organization.
Any report about the rally is always welcome.
I read and reread roadeo's post and found absolutely nothing either inflammatory or negative - just an opinion, a question, and an observation.
It's amazing how different people will read the same paragraph and come away with entirely different interpretations of the content.
I, for one, and I suspect most of us on the Forum who has not been to an international, would very much appreciate an open airing of a first timers (not a WBCCI insider) view of the big ralley - both positive and negative aspects.
C'mon, John, we need to hear what your experience was like! Most of us have never been to an International Rally. You might save us all the trouble... or make some changes that vastly improve our/your experience in the future.
We, too, were first time attendees. I doubt that your disappointment had any reference to the weather. We had opted to stay in a local campground, the Cottonwood, which was quite pleasant, 30 amp, and perhaps 20+ AS there also. That created an ad hoc, 'mini-rally', which was delightful. Everyone we met was friendly and gracious, genuinely nice.
In re, the rally itself, it seemed as slow as a turtle trying to moonwalk. The general sessions were protracted, announcement periods inane, but the evening entertainment, a little hokey perhaps, was family oriented and well, talented and entertaining. No threat to the drivel we watch on television every day.
Retired, at ages 64 and 56, my wife enjoyed the quilting and needle art afternoons, while I found the technical sessions and the bridge tournament rewarding. One can only guess as to the average age of the rallyists, but we were on the low end of the spectrum. As to all the pomp and pageantry, perhaps we will need to mature a little prior to returning.
I attempted to revel in the knowledge that this is a 'volunteer' organization, well intentioned individuals doing their best. Look, beside the sharing of opposable thumbs, the right to trail by jury, and purchasing a product from the same company, it is intrinsic in all of us to find other common denominators. On a scale of one to ten, I would be generous and give it a five. To others, perhaps, they may view a moonwalking turtle as a 3 or even an 8. We may do it again in the next decade.
I can surely sympathize with you if it represented a hard-earned week away from work. Next time, bring more beer.
Based on feed back from many of our local unit folks, staying in a local full hookup campground is preferred. From what I gather our locals begin to scout the new rally area early and usually have reservations at a private campground by fall of the year preceeding the rally. Most of them have been through too many horror stories of heat, dust, mud and other issues to want to camp at the official rally grounds.
As far as the content of the International rally goes, it seems nothing more than what I have seen at a regional rally I attended last year. Personally we didn't find it that much fun and probably will not attend Springfield, even though it is technically in our back yard. But as I always say different strokes for different folks. Maybe when I "mature" I'll enjoy this type of event. As far me give me a campfire, woods and a nice campground and I'm set.
If we change our minds, and that's a big maybe, we might just head down to our favorite tree shaded campground in Branson and mosey on up to visit for a day. Branson is only about 38 miles south of Springfield.
As a resident, let me say that the ONLY reason to come to Springfield in July would be if you enjoy the rally experience itself. That is not to say there is not plenty of other things to see and do, but there are more pleasant times of the year to see and do them.
Those in charge of entertainment had better be up on their toes as the competition is very stiff around the fourth. Firefall is a patriotic day long program put on by our parks and recreation dept. It will be June 25, with a rain date of July 2. It features a variety of excellent musical acts through the afternoon, skydivers, hot air balloons, plenty of food, and is capped by a major fireworks display synchronized to the music of the Springfield Symphony orchestra. Then on the fourth itself (and only a mile from the rally site) is James River Assembly of God's "I Love America", a Christian-oriented afternoon and evening celebration with one or two Branson acts, gospel music, food, games, other entertainment, usually an air show, capped by their own 60 piece orchestra and 200 member choir, again synchronized to fireworks.
Both events are absolutely top drawer, and draw 60,000 to 70,000 people EACH!
the rally itself, it seemed as slow as a turtle trying to moonwalk.
Retired, at ages 64 and 56, One can only guess as to the average age of the rallyists, but we were on the low end of the spectrum. As to all the pomp and pageantry, perhaps we will need to mature a little prior to returning.
I think the Bass Pro Shop is worth the trip to Springfield on its own merits! That's a pretty neat place to stop....even for someone like me who is not a hunter or fisherman.