09 Midwest CC Reunion

bkhallpass wrote: IMHO if Alan and Dave are doing the organizing, then they should be able to choose when and where the event takes place.    BKH

In reality guys GL is the only place Dave and I would be able to help with setting up right now and the time and place are just a matter of what we are able to make work with the resources we have and the weekends availble for us up at GL. There are other much larger events taking place in that area that really limit the available weekends for lodging.

Dana and I have spent entire weekends driving around to different spots to address these issues as they are not taken lightly, we are well aware of the driving that many have to do to get up to GL. An alternate site with the amenities GL has to offer right now just hasn't been located within an area that we would be able to help organize.

Dave, Keith and myself are working on plans for 08 right now and the reunion will be similar in format to last year. I'm certain alternate site suggestions for 09 would not fall on deaf ears and I for one would welcome them. Keep in mind the biggest problem once you find a suitable site is finding a few people close enough to the area to be able to co-ordinate it. That is the magic that makes it work up in GL, quite honestly without Dave up north there I don't know how we'd pull this off in the first place.

Now if someone wants to organize an West Coast CCFAN reunion, preferably somewhere warm in the Middle of winter you can count me in as a regular fly in attendee. If it was close to AZ I might start looking for a CC in the neighborhood to buy and keep at my sisters house outside of Phoenix.

I enjoyed GL a lot and I am a definite for this year and hopefully beyond I don't want anyone to mistake conversation for complaining. It is defacto the big CCFAN reunion the one to make if your only going to make one (I would like to make two if the NE one is not on the second sunday in August(hint hint)) and for those that attend it is a great time. Therefore they must be doing something right

Is there another venue like GL (minus the sound ordinance of course) a couple hours south of Chicago with CCFAN volunteers as dedicated and capable of Alan and Mojo, maybe but I sure wouldn't know where either.

Maybe we should be asking those that couldn't make it and wanted to why they couldn't make it. I started thinking of this topic when I saw in another thread that Jbear wasn't going to make it again in 08 because of date conflicts. I know I ended up going by myself last year (and will again this year if need be) because my usual boating cohorts all take the 4th of July week off and could swing taking days off again the week after (alright a couple weren't sure I would actually have a running boat either).

So basically I am wondering what if anything could get more people there.

Maybe, I shouldnt blow off Chris's comments then since I am sure that sh*t talking before hand convinced at least one couple to come on up to GL last year

Tim it wouldn't split the drive up too much for you but your welcome to stop in Auburn NY this year in either direction for a little R&R.

bkhallpass wrote: If it were just a couple thousand miles west, it would make my life easier - WA, OR, NV, CA, AZ . . . I'm probably in the minority, but that's my 2 cents. BKH

I hear what youre saying Brian- its not really fair to complain since I have the NE reunion in my backyard. My only thought was that a good portion of the GL attendees were from IL, so if the reunion were 2-3 hrs south or east of Chicago rather than 2-3 hrs north, it might not put a huge strain on a lot of people who usually attend- and it would make the trip easier for those who drive from points south or east. While this might not work well for people from WI, I dont think there were many people who drove in from points north or west of GL.

Again, I realize that moving the reunion is tough to do since GL makes it easy with regards to logistics. Being as far away as I am, I cant suggest an alternative site or be very useful when it comes to planning- so my opinion probably doesnt count for much. Just throwing it out there.

I love it when Chris posts after having a few coldies!

Joe, I personally dont have a problem with reunion being so soon after the 4th. Im usually off a good part of that week, so I get to relax and gear up for the trip to GL. I understand where youre coming from, though. If it were a week or 2 later, that wouldnt bother me either.

The one thing that makes it tough for me is the drive- the 20 hr ride home (with the time zone change) from Quinner's place was a killer. GL is a great location for a lot of reasons (Dave and Alan's proximity, lodging/camping, food/drink, etc) so I realize thats a major consideration for keeping it where it is. If it were just a few hours further south/east, it would make my life easier though- IL, IN, OH... Im probably in the minority, but thats my 2 cents.

JoeinNY wrote:    My opinion is that it would work better for a lot of people with multiple day drives if it wasn't so close to the fourth of July. I know there is not date that will make everyone happy, but I would think that two major events in two weekends has got to tax more than just my schedule. Thoughts?

drink less and figure out why you couldn't, beat the fifth slowest boat with your stroked BFN, Not broke in.... please... you sound like my buddy that ran his new motor in the drive way for a couple of hours and wonders why he has blow-by and burns oil on a fresh motor.