Southeast Bus Nuts Valentine's Rally

[Linda-XL40-FL]

Sorry to disappoint, Ace, but I wasn't "making a point" -- I was suggesting an accommodation/compromise (which might or might not be feasible) for people who might want to attend the rally but can't make a definite commitment due to work or other considerations.  Mike in GA posts our rally information on the bulletin board so that bus nuts who are not members of SEBN can feel welcome to attend.

Some people like living in condos or homeowner associations, some people choose to live with no close neighbors at all.  There are lots of organizations in this world to choose from, if one chooses to join an organization to begin with.  It's all a matter of personal choice.  Not all bus conversion owners like the same thing or choose to be involved with identical activities, just like some people like bluegrass music and others don't like it at all.  Some people are "old fogey's", some are curmudgeons.

It is the rally host who decides where to hold a rally, what activities can be planned, what sort of meal arrangements are to be offered, etc.  They do the best that they can.  If someone doesn't care for the location, the activities, the meals, or whatever, they have the freedom to choose not to attend.  Someone could also step up and volunteer to host a future rally, where they can "do it their way".  I don't envy the job of a rally host, so I tend not to criticize the arrangements.  Jerry & Rosemary Campbell found a campground in the southern half of Florida that can accommodate a largish group (not an easy task in the winter) and made arrangements to satisfy those who complain about having to cook, found some activities that might appeal to the more adventurous, and did a lot of other planning as well.  I applaud and commend them for volunteering as hosts!

The Southeast Bus Nuts chapter of FMCA (and yes, you actually have to join FMCA to be a member of the chapter, imagine that, though we gladly welcome visitors) has over 100 coach memberships.  Good luck keeping more than 200 people all happy about the same thing at the same time.  But, we manage to preserve and enjoy the acquaintances and friendships that have formed over the years, recognizing that it is a group and the direction of the group is the result of group discussions and decisions.  Yes, sometimes the discussions get lengthy, because everyone in the group cares about it.  If they didn't, they'd just show up at the rallies (or not), skip the meetings, and do their own thing.  To each, his own.

[Ace]

So I guess this goes to show that these clubs and their rallies are centered mostly around the retired group that can just make plans well in advance over those of us that still hold down a job and can't make plans to attend until we know what our schedule holds!
It's all good! This is the way it was and I see no changes in sight! As Linda said, you can't make everyone happy and having twenty + coaches out of 200+ members proves that!
I guess that's one reason why we started the NRG'S so EVERYONE attending is happy!
Thanks for your replies!

[Linda-XL40-FL]

Again I have to disagree with your characterization of what I was saying, Ace.  Kirby and I had our bus and attended many rallies for more than 10 years before we retired.  The rallies are not planned just for retirees.  Not all rallies have catered meals, that is a decision made by each individual host.  Plus, you are mixing apples and oranges by comparing 20 coaches to 200 persons -- I was generally assuming 2 persons per coach.  And yes, 40 people out of 200 people is a relatively small turn-out of the total membership, but our membership includes people from down in the Florida Keys up to Virginia and the Washington DC area.  Rarely will a single rally attract a majority of the membership, if for no other than geographical reasons, as well as personal considerations.  Under your reasoning, one could say that those who don't attend your NRG's are unhappy with them, which doesn't make any sense at all.  If you don't like the SEBN rallies, don't go to them.  Why bitch them out?

[Ace]

Linda mike whoever, it's MY opinion about NOT allowing people to arrive if they haven't PRE registered and I'm sticking to it but just like in Titusville when the club asked for my opinion/s, they didn't listen then and I'm not surprised they are listening now!  Like I said, it's no biggie! Im just making a point that there should NOT be a deadline for those that want to arrive not knowing if they could or couldn't! If people want to show up as some have mentioned just to look around and it's your dinner time, are you going to say  " hey, hang tight for a while until we're thru eating" or would you invite them to stay and eat? Then there's those like yourself that don't want the meals! Why PRE register other than to let the host know your coming in? Look at Arcadia! There were PRE registered and those that just showed up! We're they turned away? That would be rude wouldn't it? But then again, I consider the source too!
Listen, you all have a great time! I wish you great weather and most of all a great meal! I mean it's not like any of you missed any meals before!
When mike said no to my reply, we made other plans! We're still going to have a good time, just not eating a meal prepared by some unknown and were Definitly not going to waste our time off away from work sitting in some useless meeting discussing mute issues such as this that never get resolved!
Bye and please say hello to Kirby for me!