BCM PSA: Arcadia Rally is searching for new hosts to take it over

[HighTechRedneck]

Some folks already know this but many who may have interest do not.  Unless new hosts are found to take over the Arcadia Rally, the one this last New Years will have been the last one.  Jack & Paula Conrad founded this great rally and hosted if for its first decade. Then Bill and Brenda Phelan took over hosting it for the last five years. For all of these years it has been the preeminent bus conversion rally in the Eastern U.S. and arguably in the entire country.  People have come from as far as Alaska, Nova Scotia, Costa Rica, and even Australia to attend the rally.  But this great heritage has now come to an end if someone, or some group, doesn't step up and carry the torch forward.

At the last rally, Bill and Brenda announced that due to time constraints they would no longer be able to host the rally.  So far a new host has not been found.  Hosting such a rally is no small task and it takes someone with the passion for the hobby as well as the time and energy to do it right.  Bill and Brenda wish to see the rally continue and thrive.  To that end they are willing to assist with the transition in the following ways:

• They will provide the new hosts with all of the contact info for sponsors, vendors, entertainers, etc.
• They have some banners, New Year's hats and decorations, and miscellaneous items (assuming someone steps up before they have to empty their storage)
• Answer questions as they arise, via phone or email.  (due to their work, it may be a day or so before they can respond to messages)
• As long as someone takes over enough ahead of time for them to work it into their schedule, they will plan to attend the rally.  If so, they would be available on-site to answer questions and assist in a limited capacity.

The rally has broken even financially most of the years of its existence, including the last four years.  There was potential to make a modest profit on it, but the hosts have traditionally chosen to cycle the proceeds back into the rally to keep making it better each year.

This is a very time sensitive opportunity as the venue will soon release the reservation hold for that date if someone doesn't take over by then, and it is likely to become unavailable very soon after the hold is lifted.  It is also time sensitive because planning such a rally takes time and planning to do it right.  Lastly it is time sensitive because you will want the materials and on-site assistance that they Phelans are offering.

Individuals are certainly capable of carrying on this great tradition, just as it has been done for the last 15 years.  But this is also an excellent opportunity for one of the bus conversion clubs, or a group of bus conversion owners forming a new group.  With a group of people the responsibilities and work of hosting could be divided up among more people.

You can contact Bill or Brenda by phone at -  ate six three six six oh ninety-two twenty-five   or email at bphelan340 at gmail.com   (I am sure anyone interested knows how to interpret this line and if you are in doubt, you can private message me for confirmation of the contact info.)

[lostagain]

We were at the Arcadia rally last New Year's. That was great in a lot of ways.

If someone takes it over that would be fantastic. But it would be an enormous undertaking.

It is really difficult to break even, let alone make any profit. The entertainment for the evenings is expensive, and not very well attended. The majority of people get up and leave after dinner, leaving the band to play for a handful of fans. Most people would rather go back outside and visit with other bus nuts, rather than sit and listen to mediocre music. There was more people outside at the banjo/bluegrass impromptu jam between two buses...

The seminars are  really good. I don't think they cost a lot. Most of them are done by volunteer bus nuts, or professionals promoting their business.

The hardest part of hosting a rally is getting a suitable location. So carrying on at Arcadia would obviously be good because I heard the price is as low as possible.

Maybe the model for big rallies is getting old?

Small rallies are easier to organize. You don't have to get catered meals, or entertainment, or big meeting halls. And they are just as fun. You can meet just as many people by going to 2 or 3 different small rallies every year.

Maybe Arcadia has run its course. Other rallies, some big, mostly smaller ones, will get organized, because people like to meet to compare buses and shoot the bull.

I put on a small rally a few years ago for the BC Bus Nuts. Lots of work, lots of fun, and rewarding.

Just my thoughts... meant to be constructive criticism.

JC

[HighTechRedneck]

Based on my experience, I tend to agree that live entertainment may not be a vital part in the future.  Or perhaps simply not as much of it.  But I definitely do think large rallies are still an important part of the bus nut community.  Large rallies pull in a significant number of people who don't/can't make the rounds of smaller rallies.  For them, attending one big rally works better with their schedule.

The Turner Center in Arcadia is a good venue for many reasons.  It has a good array of full hookup 50A sites as well as ample space for dry camping.  It has a good variety of facilities.  It is very bus friendly and accessible.  Typically good weather that time of year.  And, it is very familiar to the "regulars" who have attended it for years.

As to profitability, indeed, anyone who takes it on should do so out of passion for it, not as a profit making endeavor.  It has been around for 15 years and in most of those years it has at least broken even.

So, I do hope someone, or better yet, some group, chooses to step up and keep the Arcadia Rally going.

[luvrbus]

It's a changing of the guards the newer generation of bus owners are mostly people with children or full timers and don't go to rallies for information and ideas like we did 25 years ago now they have the internet and the forums.
I even prefer the smaller gatherings now they are some much more personal and you get to know everyone on first name basis.
I hope the Arcadia Rally survives but like Bus'n USA and the Bus Conversions rallies I think it has ran it's course and people move on.
The Arcadia rally drew a lot of Canadians, now they are staying home because of the difference in the dollars.
For us the date never worked it was our family time of the year when all the kids were at home lol and I was busy trying to get them out of the house and gone

Good Luck       

[Boomer]

Let's face it, it's a dying hobby.  Kids today don't even like classic American cars they run around in cheap asian crap with coffee can exhaust.

[luvrbus]

Let's face it, it's a dying hobby.  Kids today don't even like classic American cars they run around in cheap asian crap with coffee can exhaust.

LMAO you are top of your game today Mark, it is sad but what you say is the truth most do not even own a pair of good shoes they only wear tennis shoes or flip/flops  

[DoubleEagle]

There is also the not so small matter of the price of diesel fuel causing a decline. I do not go as far now as I used to because I think $1.26 a gallon is reasonable, and missed a lot. This talk by some younger folk that the 2 cycle is obsolete is not helping. It is merely a mature engine design with self-oiling properties that sounds and smells really nice.

[Van]

Let's face it, it's a dying hobby.  Kids today don't even like classic American cars they run around in cheap asian crap with coffee can exhaust.

  LMAO!  Now that is hitting the nail on the head.

Clifford, flip flops are not all that bad after XX amount of years of wearing boots lol! 

[kyle4501]

My 2 cents - based on the one time I attended the Arcadia rally

- I was more interested in socializing than getting my hearing damaged by the "entertainment" (louder is Not better).

- A few catered meals are nice

- The seminars were great & the discussions afterwards were even better 


After hosting my non-rally for 10 years, I have not made money, but I have received the support I needed to get it all done & made tons of new friends!

I would highly recommend to whomever takes this on - keep it simple.
Have 2 or 3 provided meals ( Spaghetti would be a very economical meal, so would stuffed baked potatoes . . . )

Fancy meals aren't what people come to rallys for, it is the fellowship, so keep it simple & cheap.

[Scott & Heather]

Having attended the Arcadia rally, I will say that bill and Brenda were really really great hosts and put a ton of work into it, but we also were not impressed by the entertainment and spent most time out at the buses. If we had the time, Heather and I would give this a try...we organize big events or help organize them and have some experience. We are currently at our church Campmeeting here in Michigan and there are well over 530 RV's here and another several hundred tents. 6000 people attend this every year. It's a big event and we've helped out here in many ways and have a glimpse into the work needed to make it all run smooth and safe. But we are pedal to the metal with concerts and our 8 month old daughter and our new bus conversion. Sorry to see it go, but glad we attended one.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Still looking for hosts/hostess for the rally normally held December 26, 2016 and ending January 1, 2017. If no one steps up there will NOT be a rally. Arcadiarally.com website expires soon and will not be renewed by me. Can we find a host/hostess? I would hate to see this rally die

arcadiarally.com
ARCADIARALLY.COM

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Come on folks. If I lived closer I would volunteer to do this myself. Even though you don't have to live close by, it would be nice to have someone who at least lived less than a days drive away. I am willing to help all I can by sending several door prizes from BCM and publish an article with tons of photos after the rally. Also Brenda said she too will help with everything she can including logistics so it is not like starting all over. I am sure anyone that volunteers to take this event over will feel rewarded 100 times over. Even if you don't feel you can do it all yourself but are willing to help plz contact Linda so if/when someone does step up to the plate to be the main organizer they will feel comfortable knowing they will have help to take some of the load off.

[kyle4501]

I can't host this one due to other commitments  - - - -
But, based on my experience from hosting a few over the years . . . .

The more things that are added, the more stressful it becomes & the less fun for the hosts. 

Might be easier on the new hosts if the task isn't so overwhelming . . .

What if the theme was changed to a simpler format - no formal entertainment & such. Just fellowship & hanging out. Maybe a few simple catered meals . . .
Only thing the host does is keep up with who has paid & where they park.

Maybe a bulletin board for people to post announcements - that way if someone wants to have a seminar/ round table/ tech talk/ etc - they will be able to announce it there so others will be able to find it with out the host having to keep up with the details.

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

I agree. It would be nice to have all of the bells and whistles but it makes for a lot of work for a volunteer.  If it is toned down some it may be easier to get someone to volunteer as you suggest.  Something is better than nothing as long as there is enuf going on to encourage bus nuts to get out there and enjoy their buses.  That is what it is all about.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[niles500]

If you could coax Jack out of retirement ...........
I hope Bill is doing OK, he and Brenda are great people .....