Return-Path: Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 17:56:49 -0500 (EST) Reply-To: east@dnrc.bell-labs.com Sender: east@dnrc.bell-labs.com From: Martyn Wheeler To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: Re: Midwest "RCR"??? X-Comment: East Coast Motorcyclists Mailing List Tom Biggs says (several messages quoted): >Call me as u will, but I distinctly recall Martyn saying last year >that the event had gotten too large, and that if he organized it, he >was going to pick a location far enough out of the way to discourage >people. Then you misunderstood, although I'm glad you said that because I now understand where you're coming from. I really wish you'd have said something about it at the time. You have cause and effect switched: I was going to pick a different location, even if that meant less people would come. That's quite different from wanting less people, therefore picking a different location -- the people are what I go to the RCR for anyway, and the more who come, the more new friends I'm likely to make. >I should have said "discouraging the newbies". And it certainly >does do that. Martyn said that was his goal last year. No, I did not. I certainly don't think we can maintain those attendance levels, and I think it's unrealistic to expect to do so. Picking a site west of the mountains *will* undoubtedly discourage some people -- that doesn't mean that the goal was to discourage. RCR's IV and V were the biggest ever, partly due (several of us surmised) to the relative proximity to the metropoli of DC and New England. That meant that if we even moved south again, we'd lose numbers, and if we moved west of the mountains we'd maybe lose more (but perhaps pick up GA folks who considered MD too far). I wanted to pick a location that was substantially different from the preceding RCRs. For 5 RCR's we'd roamed up and down the Appalachians, I wanted to get away from that for a year. The area we'd laid down as the limits of the RCR were broad, and in the first 5 years we'd been to three sites pretty much in a direct line. I felt strongly that to maintain the original spirit of moving it around, someone should organise one that was nearer the western limits of the area (MD was pretty much at the northern limit, and we'd done south twice). The honourable way to express that opinion was to volunteer to do RCR-VI. The main point I am making is that each RCR doesn't have to be bigger and with more amenities than the one before. We can't realistically expect that and still get volunteers to organise it... we'd have to end up in a convention centre in Hartford if we kept it up! :-) I expect RCR-VI to have less attendees than RCR's IV and V, but I'm expecting more than RCR III. If it *is* the biggest, I'll be delighted, but I'm hoping each RCR can be judged on its own merits, not by comparisons to previous ones -- otherwise I would never have volunteered, as I know I don't have the organisational ability of Jim Bessette or the ease of delegating of Mr. Bill. I don't expect to do as well as the last two OomPahs, and I'm going into this knowing that and knowing that I may have to take some justified criticism -- but I hope I'll do well enough for everyone to have a good time. RCR's IV and V were in many ways the exception -- freely available roofed accomodations, we took over the *entire* site (with the lack of inihibition that can result in ;-) ). That was unprecedented. This year we're back to a site where we won't be the only people there -- in that way, it's more like Cass (RCR-II) -- and roofed accomodations may not have space for all who would want (as opposed to need) them -- like RCR-I and III. If all you've been to is RCR-IV and V, RCR-VI will be different. Better? Who knows? I personally am not going to make comparisons. Later, Tom says: >I was contemplating it - I really think Nova Scotia would be >just the ticket. Too bad about the "north of SC, south of PA" >guidelines. Nova Scotia is closer to me than western KY, >it's really _on_ the east coast, and best of all, it's cooler >in the summer. :-) Actually, if there's a vote, I'll vote for New Brunswick -- almost as far, and no pesky ferries to have to deal with. And I'd be there. :-) Actually, to be honest, I was upset at the guidelines, too -- I've never been to Wisconsin, you see, and I hear the farmland there is really quite beautiful.... :-) :-) :-) Martyn --sasmjw@unx.sas.com--(Martyn Wheeler)--SAS Institute Inc.--DoD #293-------- "I have a vision of a very calming place" -- single gun theory "Life has a funny way of helping you out" -- Alanis Morissette "Can't fight the Seether" -- Veruca Salt