2011 Arcadia Rally

[garhawk]

We just returned from the Southeast Busnuts Hoboken, Georgia rally with some confusing news. 

Several folks are under the distinct impression that the upcoming Arcadia, Florida rally will be a 'general camping' event as opposed to an exclusive "Bus Rally" as has been the case previously. 

If this event is being advertised and/or promoted to 'general camping'
participants, i.e., tenters, pop-ups, trailers, etc., or, if other segments of the camping world are allowed, then it seems to me that we Busnuts ought to know. 

Time is drawing near - may we hear directly from the Horse's mouth?

[buswarrior]

Read all about it on the front page of the site:

http://www.arcadiarally.com/

My two cents?

Right from the get go, Bill and Brenda have not been hiding the fact that they intend to get the numbers up and broaden the appeal of the rally.

Critical mass, the numbers of people needed to make this thing work,
for vendors to come,
to get give aways and door prizes,
seminars and crafts
and the services that we have grown accustomed,
and the amount of work that goes into arranging the small army of folks that make it all happen,
is way too tight at the size the rally is now.

Especially in a down economy, which puts further downwards pressure on attendance.

Too many busnuts are unable to travel, though they would dearly love to attend if fuel was cheaper.

I like to think of it as an opportunity for evangelism?

Once those folks in other kinds of campers see what a bus conversion is all about, we just might see a renewed interest in purchasing a used coach...

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Ace]

To my knowledge its always been a bus rally where EVERYONE and EVERY form of camper was welcome whether its a class c, a, or tent, so what's the big deal?
Where were you back in the day when people flew in and slept on tables and I'm taking REAL people, not birds that just happen to be flying south for the winter.
The problem with people, especially those that frequent the Hoboken rally is, they are not open to any changes. THATS one reason why the attendance numbers at down at that rally and if you look at the the recent choo choo rally, it too took a beading from low attendance.
If ANY rally shut the door to anything BUT bus conversions, then you might as well camp out at walmart with your buds. It will never grow, nor will the hobby. It its not supposed to be the best kept secret. I idea is to show mh enthusiast what its all about. There have been many transformed into owning a bus and there has been some that have owned a bus and downsized for one reason or another but in the end, they ALL are welcome.
So with that said, rather than hear it from the horse's mouth, think about where you gathered your information from....maybe the other end of the horse?

[Bill 340]

Well I just logged on to check the board and to find , this thread. Now I appreciate  Buswarrior, and aces comments as support and Mostly factual, The Arcadia rally started in  the year 2000, and the first year we had a CONVERTED TRUCK CAMPER  show up and was warmly welcome. the second year we had saved a parking space for a TENT CAMPER, he was also welcomed and his reservation accepted, well when they showed up they were in an MCI, found it on the way south traded their tent trailer in and continued on with a Bus, then we moved to a larger location for the next year, and for that year 2002 we had 3 MOTORHOMES 1 FIFTH WHEEL. 1 TENT and 1CONVERTED DODGE VAN, 1TENT CAMPER,  2003 we had 1 DODGE VAN( YES THEY WERE WELCOMED BACK) 1 TENT TRAILER, 5 MOTORHOMES 1 FIFTH WHEEL, 20004 we had 1 TENT CAMPER  1TENT  1 CONVERTED BREAD TRUCK  5 MOTORHOMES, sorry after that my notes are vague, Every year we have more motorhomes than before last year we had 12 motorhomes 1 fifth wheel and 1 tag along camper, so you see there has never been an exclusive we are bus people and real bus people never consider themselves better than the next guy,  We traveled fulltime for 14 years and some of the nicest people we have come across have been in tent campers,THEIR COMMENT was I DIDN'T THINK THAT YOU WOULD TALK TO US,  BEING IN A BUS LIKE THAT,  Really that Thu me,  Several of our group have passed or have health problems not permitting the bus life, So those folks have to down size to a small motorhome, that's life some cannot maintain the bus, so the go to a Plastic motorhome, that does not make them any less of a person,  so in reality I could go on and on but my fingers are getting sore ( I only use 2) The rally has always been open to everyone, its about who we are as a group, its about friendships and comradery,  there will always be a few who resent one thing or another, as the Arcadia rally was resented in Hoboken from DAY1, I was there for many years,  And every year there we the same group that trashed the Arcadia rally. Jack Conrad started this rally and  also a club member at the time. they almost refused to let him announce the event,  So you see,  There will always be the few, My suggestion is come to the rally, If you don't like it  just don't return,  I hold no grudges for any comments about Arcadia, IT IS WHAT IT IS  MOSTLY BUSSES BUT FULL OF BUS PEOPLE.  Before I end this, On a more personal note, when Jack said he was giving up the rally it was on line for almost a week and no one stepped forward to save it,  So evidently the fool I am I raised my hand,  Yes the rally has changed over the years  some have buses now and some have motorhomes now, up size downsize who really cares certainly not the majority that email us.  Its been cold there many times so we rented the building where we can all eat, play cards,and listen to live  music, over the years we were cold and wind blown,  but its all we had, My wife and I took over 100 suggestions and did the best we could, My wife and I are on the hook for  over $6000 if this fails , So as a business person to make this go it must be a business with vendors sponsors and all who participate,We are still accepting suggestions as this is not the last  BUS RALLY  in Arcadia, this is the beginning of a new era where we need to educate the rest of the community as to the WONDERFUL world of conversions

[Bill 340]

Before I hear any negative about Hoboken. Folks thats a good rally I have been a member of SE Busnuts for a long time , as well as the SE Cruisers and the Converted coaches of the eastern aera.   Club rallys are needed. it keeps the clubs and member updated on events and law changes, the rally in arcadia is a rally of clubs not a club rally.

[garhawk]

Wow! 

It looks as though I stepped squarely on a land mine.  No offense was intended and, there was no desparity aimed at those who enjoy camping in a manner other than a bus conversion. 

Bus Warrior, Ace and Bill 340 - you have certainly made your points and, cleared up the confusing comments which were presented to me (and others) in a completely different light.  I stand corrected!

We attended the Arcadia Rally last year and our plans are to be there again this December.

P.S. to Ace:  It is fair to say that I met 99 percent of the good folks at the Hoboken Rally this past week and, believe it or not, there wasn't a horse's behind in the lot.  I can say the same for the Arcadia Rally last December. 

[Bill 340]

NO offense taken Just thought if you heard or thought that was true then there must be others,  I will make my self available to talk to anyone at or about the rally, Have a safe trip.      BILL

[Ace]

Well Gary, only thing I can think of then is you must have been talking to that other 1% because I will stand up to anyone and tell them that they misinformed you, whoever that 1% was!
I think this rally needs no further discussion. It is what it is and has been and as mentioned, from the horses mouth, come to it, look around, eat, drink, laugh, play, have fun, meet people, and leave happy! With that, we want you to return from having a great time but if you go away with any other feeling, its your own fault!
Trust me, everything that can be done to satisfy you, will be given every effort. Seeing as how its the first year under Bill's hosting, there's bound to be more expected so please speak up so an effort can be made to make it better for everyone next year!

Ps, was thinking, maybe it wasn't a horse after all. Could been one of them "jackasses" on the other side of the fence!  

[crown]

 ok i am a bus nut i have a bus i am a member of this board and have gone to the arcadia rally the last few yrs in a motorhome and
i will see you all this yr in our new to us motorhome great rally great people
ps. we live in costa rica and fly up to the usa to go to this rally look for the starfire motorhome [ you wont miss it ] stop by and say hi
to all the great friends from yrs past see you sone  john / lidia

[technomadia]

As our routing has us being in Florida (we'll start moving from St. Louis to Orlando over the next week) for the holidays with family, we have signed up for the Arcadia Rally!  We're looking forward to it, and meeting new friends - no matter what type of mobile living quarters they have.

- Cherie

[buswarrior]

Job done.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Ericbsc]

I went last year for the first time. I had no idea what to expect, but had a blast. I like looking at RV'S!!!  There, I said it!! RV RECREATIONAL VEHICLE!!! Includes tents like my wife and I camped in 30 years ago because we were broke! Small campers, like the 20 year old one we bought and remodeled(not a milion dollar one any better to us then). Campers, like the 30' new S&S we bought when the kids came along. Busses, like my almost 40 year old eagle, to the new XL I admired there last year. Mostly I like meeting old friends, and making new ones. I did a lot of both last year, and if the creek or FUEL PRICES don't rise tooo much I hope to make it again. Bring em all, the more the merrier!! Just my .02 cents or less!

[Seangie]

This will be our first ever bus rally.  Sadly we don't yet own a bus.  Many members on this board have encouraged us to attend this rally (bus or not) as there will be many Bus Nuts there willing to help with questions, plenty of ideas, realistic expectations and most of all just having a good time.  I am excited to go.  Brenda has been super helpful answering questions and very encouraging about us attending.  We will be in a van towing a pop-up trailer.  I agree that we will stand out and probably look/feel out of place (I may not be able to figure out who you all are but you will certainly know who I am )  but this is our first step to buying a bus.  I don't think there is any place better to learn about busses and the people that love them than attending a rally like this.   

-Sean

PS - If anyone is bringing an instrument to play, see my post under off topic.

[niles500]

Hey! If they'll let me in ..... they'll let anyone in ..... enough said - When Jack and Paula were running the show Bill and Brenda were right there dilligently parking us (every year) where we would do the least damage to others - Can't think of any one more qualified to carry the torch - trying to make it his year - Good luck to you brave souls - (FWIW check out the ariel photo and you can see Dale with his 5th wheel parked behind my bus)

[white-eagle]

We first came to the rally in a Winnibago.  Jack told us it didn't matter, just pretend we wanted a bus.  We didn't have to pretend, especially after seeing some of the work others had done in building theirs.

We now have a great bus that we bought almost fully complete.  People ask if we did it and we tell them no, but we've made some major repairs and enhancements.  We pulled the engine/transmission last spring with a lot of help from my friends.   So we feel like bus nuts, greasy knuckles and all.

We will be there at the Arcadia Rally, God willing and the bus keeps running.  We plan on helping and vending, supplying a way to check email and i've also got a few items to sell.  Jack did a great job, with Paula, and friends.  Bill has been a vendor with Brenda for many years and knows how shows go well or shows go away.  I'm hoping that a show primarily with seminars about buses, but enough vendors, seminars, entertainment and food to attract others to make this successful for Bill, Brenda and us busnuts.

We look forward to seeing all of our friends and meeting new ones, and new busnuts.  See you there.