hi All, should we have a National getogether, a convention if you will, not necessarily yearly, and to that end, should we have regional getogethers, in advance of the national. should some formal rallies and/or NRGs be reconstituted as regionals? is there even a feeling that bus nuts should be that organized?
I'm sure all the bus conversion parts and pieces manufacturers, would like to have a booth at some such event, with their demographics gathered in one place, a bus conversion quartzite so to speak. some might want to sponsor and off set some of the costs, and another thought, isn't that how FMCA and good Sam started , not that those are great examples.
Well what are your thoughts, good and bad, don't hesitate, to comment.
is there a desire for this idea.
lvmci...
Yes, definitely Tom. Go ahead and set it up and send me the info and I will get it in Bus Conversion Magazine. I will be glad to bring a bunch of magazines to hand out to everyone that attends.
Will you be raffling off your 102C3? Just a suggestion to help draw a larger crowd. ;)
Will it be based out of Las Vegas?
I will do whatever I can to help you get this going so keep me informed.
You would have to have it jump around the country like Cliff's favorite, FMCA, if you really desire significant participation. We already have one in Arcadia? I would love to attend one but too far west for me. Even Arcadia is 2000 miles round trip for me. FMCA has a converted coach chapter which if everyone belonged to them the logistics would be easier since everything is all ready there except for us and vendors. Now that FMCA has shrunk significantly, maybe they would have more interest in our group instead of the mega dollar people.Who knows. Some on here don't have much time for them anymore. Plus many of the newer members here seem to be working on a shoestring budget or intentions, so they may not be interested. Go for it though and let's see what develops.
Unfortunately unless someone steps up to the plate to continue the Arcadia rally, it is all over.
Bill and Brenda are not going to be able to continue putting on this great rally anymore do to health issues. If someone is willing to take on this project and continue this rally, BCM will be there to support you as best we can. It is a big task and a lot of work to put on a rally like Jack and Paula Conrad originally did and the Phelan's continued so someone would have to have to commit to spending the time and effort like the past rally organizers did to pick up this torch ad run with it.
But if we have any volunteers, we can put you in touch with the people you would need to discuss this with if anyone is interested.
FMCA started out with and because of Bus Conversions and then when the expensive and many trailer and motorhome s came out they pretty much abandoned us and they are in it just for your money now. To expensive to go to their rally's etc. It would have to be center if you want all to be there. Back to the West busnuts and the east busnuts and we never meet?!... NRG's are fun....
Washington coming up in September is close for us but still for only 3 days it will be 7 days because of driving and staying out of heavy traffic.
Dave5Cs
National or Regional conventions are very useful. I went to two MAK Publishing sponsored conventions in Las Vegas back in the nineties. It was like being in a bus candy store between all the private coaches that were there, and all of the suppliers of conversion equipment. I got to meet Dave Galey and George Myers, and many others. I used to be a member of FMCA, but I drifted away when I realized that they were focused on top dollar RV's and half-million dollar Prevost's. Undoubtedly the high price of fuel that we went through put a damper on our hobby, and slowed down RV and Conversion travel. If bus conversions are to survive, some members of the current generation will have to come to appreciate the beauty and substantial nature of our buses. A convention that is open to the public in some way will help spread the desire.
But only Bus conversions or x bus owners with SS's but that way it would focus on the Buses and not high end SS's like most shows. Parts swaps and Bus part vendors. Seminars about working on Buses etc.
Dave5Cs
All that is needed is good old rallies, or gatherings, or whatever you want to call them. Just like most rallies happening around the country lately. Someone decides to host a rally, advertises it here and on other sites or media, and bus nuts and want-a-bes will come. If it gets big enough, the sponsors, vendors and seminars will come too. I will not pay any dues for any "club", or be a member of any formal organization. Nowadays with the internet, it is not necessary. We already have great rallies happening like the Dam Rally, and Arcadia, and others all over. Some keep growing every year, and some run their course and die, like maybe Arcadia, but there are rallies to go to several times a year in all corners of the continent. And every once in a while a new rally gets started by someone somewhere. That is the way to do it. I love a rally, or gathering, or whatever you want to call it. They will continue to happen, just because like minded people like us enjoy gathering and comparing buses. I don't think we need to start organizing "conventions". Or is it a different name for a rally?
JC
I'm with you on this one JC. Maybe change the wording a little like maybe "Bus Conversion National and Regional Non-Rally Gathering Conventions International" or sumtin like that. ;)
Don't forget the Southeast Bus Nuts, we have a rally this month in South Carolina that all of you are welcome and enjoy with us. Check out our web sight sebusnuts.org
There is also a very active West coast busnut group.
Jack
You including school busses?
We don't care what kind of bus you have, we even welcome SS. Come one come all, if you are a camper you are more than likely a good person that we would love to have at any of our rally.
Jack
Quote from: blue_goose on April 03, 2016, 07:11:12 AM
We don't care what kind of bus you have, we even welcome SS. Come one come all, if you are a camper you are more than likely a good person that we would love to have at any of our rally.
Jack
Excellent attitude!
Yes, and sometimes school buses turn into coaches after a few years when they want to move up to something beyond the starter coach.
We are fortunate enough to have attended Arcadia a couple years ago and we enjoyed it very very much. As most of you know, Heather and I are 31 and 33 and were some of the youngest attendees there, but it was a blast. The issue is that it is in southernish florida....bottom corner of the country. So we have to be in that area to make it worthwhile fuel wise to attend. Something more central in the U.S. would make it easier for more bus owners to access.
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hi All, there is obviously interest in such getogethers. I think there is more startup NRGs now, Van & I, put the Dam Rally on just with a desire to have friendly bus nuts come by. all of these responses are good and proper remarks. I would think a national getogether, should be held some place in the central and mountain time zones, alternating between the two. but the regional, getogethers, I would think, would be important to feeding the national getogether. Is it time to think about expanding the collective organization of and for busnuts? what are your thoughts, sorry to hear about Arcadia, I always wanted to go to that rally, lvmci...
FROM CLIFFORD,
We attended every Bus Conversion Rally that Mike K put together,vendors stopped coming because the market just wasn't there. The seminars were good I always set in on Dick Wrights he would walk you through the inverter and generator setup.There were other like Jim the RV Safety guy he had a good seminar but I really don't see vendors spending the money on a bus rally today they do the FMCA gig and that is about it now lol I posted this in the wrong thread and I don't know how to move it
A bus/busnut gathering would be great. I wonder if the Motorhome Hall of Fame in Indiana would be interested in hosting a gathering. It is fairly central off I80. They have a very large parking area ac power would be your generator/no hook ups. Maybe water from the building on a long hose if needed and a sanitation truck if needing to dump. Anybody in that area that could stop by and see them to discuss if the BCM site has enough serious interest.
You might have a problem yet with sufficient vendors. The economy crash and insane fuel prices have all but killed the Motorhome and Bus conversion hobby / lifestyle. It is young to take a few more years to recover and us older ones are getting older,driving less and dying off more. I rarely see bus conversion out on the roads anymore and motorhomes a little more. FMCA has really shrunk in the last few years. I do think the MH Hall of Fame would be an excellent location though. Been there and think it is a nice location. Just don't have it in July or August.
Another focal point of a get together could be the Museum Of Bus Transportation in Hershey, PA. They have the largest collection of passenger buses in the US, including a Golden Eagle. They have parking for a few buses, but not for a big gathering. There might be an appropriate campground in the area. The Motorhome Hall of Fame might be good, but I wonder how bus conversions would be viewed by the RV interests.
They have that large convention center next to Hershey park. Maybe those in charge could allow parking on a non use weekend. Or everyone could show up at the largest RV show in September. Hundreds of coaches, RVs, campers, seminars,etc and some vendors. Great for looking at all of them for conversion ideas.OR you could buy one of the million dollar rigs instead.
http://www.aacamuseum.org/blog/2014/06/07/museum-bus-transportation-spring-fling/ (http://www.aacamuseum.org/blog/2014/06/07/museum-bus-transportation-spring-fling/)
Quote from: chessie4905 on April 04, 2016, 06:01:52 PM
You might have a problem yet with sufficient vendors. The economy crash and insane fuel prices have all but killed the Motorhome and Bus conversion hobby / lifestyle. It is young to take a few more years to recover and us older ones are getting older,driving less and dying off more. I rarely see bus conversion out on the roads anymore and motorhomes a little more. FMCA has really shrunk in the last few years. I do think the MH Hall of Fame would be an excellent location though. Been there and think it is a nice location. Just don't have it in July or August.
My wife and I and three children are trying to join you all, just need to find a good bus with bunks (3)! See you all at a future rally.