And perhaps our friendly hosts will not be pulling knives on those who did not buy welcome dinner tickets, hmmmm?

 

[QUOTE=YuccaPatrol]It is a good saying, SpiderX, but in this case, some of the critique is coming from people who have been creators since the first MOTD in 2003.

My apologies.....but what a mess..... can't we just hire Arthur-Anderson to help us out...maybe a team from Enron for guidance... we clearly need some help

 

I still stand that one group should not have to coordinate the overall event. I think the leaders of each individual group can get together to make sure everything is coordinated. When one group takes the reigns, all it seems to do is inflate egos and anger other people.

 

OK lets get some positive MOJO going here.

So far looks like:
Sunshine Mini's are gonna step up and to the Welcome Dinner
Sounds like the good people at DCMINI have no problem with doing one Dinner
I'm gonna host one day event
Sounds like agranger is willing to do some kind of a day event again
Sounds like Matt is willing to pump Hedi up with Bonnine and do the Brew Swap again
Sounds like melnicki wants to step up and do a "Casino" night

and its only freakin May of 2006

I think that's pretty incredible. Maybe we can persuade Atlanta minis to repeat the chili cook-off (since they did such a great job) or maybe someone else can step up to the plate (how bout it sndwave )

Yeah, the giveaways took a little too long. The Dragon, like life, is learning experience. I'm sure it will get betta next year.

I also agree we need to let the "one person oversee everyhing idea go". There should be enough info. posted here on NAM, that before you leave to go the Dragon you can make your own little calender of what things are going on each day and which ones you want to attend.

Again, to all involved with 2006, the vast majority of us take our hats off and applaud all you did.

 

It wasn't on people who didn't buy tickets, it was on people who would publically trash my volunteer work planning and organizing things.

That said, if you couldn't take the joke it must have flown right over your head.

 

Throughout last years forum on the same topic seen here

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ight=motd+2005

I found some people willing to help with 2006 & organize events and did not follow through as well as some that did.

I found it quite interesting as there were many of the same issues seen here in this thread.... It can make one

Let's keep moving forward....

 

The "Private Party" was over officially when the Cigar Salon started at 9pm. The bathrooms are to the right inside the door, the party was on the left. Please, please tell me you are joking about not being able to go in and use the bathrooms.

Steve

 

Also there are bathrooms available right next door between the arcade and the pool.

 

Its not a joke if it's not funny. You're just lucky I haven't yet pressed charges. I have not yet ruled that out as a possibility. I apparently wasn't the only one you did this to.

 

At this rate, it looks as though I might be sitting out MOTD'07.

 

I want to state for the record that I was not present for any such incident described above, so I do not know the details. Speaking for myself as an individual, I do not condone the display of weaponry to anyone who did not ask or agree to see it. I will not comment on this matter any further.Ego is less of an issue than you think... and what may exist is certainly not exclusive to DCMM members.

 

Think it's time this thread got locked.

 

I don't know if the thread needs to be locked, however, I think anything not a suggestion for next years event should be taken someplace else.

 

I have kept my mouth shut, but this is ridiculous. I agree that this thread needs to be locked - it has turned from something useful to a waste of time. This bickering is bullsh*t. We get it-there are problems. We get it-there are personality issues. This went to a nice thread with suggestions and volunteers to a pissing match.

I was on the committee and I agree with quite a few of the suggestions given early on in this thread, some things can be done differently and better. Though I don't appreciate having mine (and many others) hard work being pissed on. There were a lot of great people, from many clubs doing a lot of hard work and it is sad that some people are missing that.

I agree with Greatbear about maybe not going next year if this continues. I would hate to see MOTD07 turned into a club segregated event.

 

I think we should try a non-sponsored year next year. Everyone can just show up and do their own thing.

 

It sounds like some people are volunteering because they feel obligated to do so.

My suggestion?

Don't volunteer to plan events because you feel obligated. Do it because you want to. If you don't want to, then don't do it. Just don't.

Maybe if there isn't enough activity going on in the months prior to MoTD, then others will step up to plan. Or, MoTD 2007 will happen w/o many events planned.. and once people come home they'll see the value coordinating a large affair... or, see reasons why we shouldn't plan a ton of events.

 

That's fine, however there are people that like the events that are provided.

611 people registered and did not just show up.
240 people registered for the welcome dinner, and did not have to fend for themselves.
253 people registered for the Chili cook-off, and did not have to find something else to do that night.
~200 others who prefered beer went to the Brew-Swap
134 people registered to watch a movie
70 people went to Dillsboro
Alot went on the Smoky Mountain Scenic Drive
53 made music
261 registered to eat and say goodbye to friends until next year at the Farewell dinner.

Some things cost money, others were free, try feeding 250+ people for free!!

See there's a trend, many enjoy and welcome some level of organization.

Steve

 

Exactly, I want to organize an event, and, feel that I can organize an event that many will enjoy! Not for fame or glory, but to provide an outlet for people to do something fun with their other MINI friends. Driving the Dragon is a blast, but partying with 200-300 other people that have at least one common interest is also fun.

Steve

 

I understand that there are people who would prefer to fly by the seat of their pants and do whatever they want, and that's fine.

But don't blast those that have stepped up and spent their valuble time, trying to make the weekend enjoyable and fun-filled for hundreds of people!!

Steve

 

I hope I didn't step on anyone's toes in this thread. I just want to be of some kind of help and I apologize if I've offended anyone. Everyone that worked so hard for this year's Dragon needs to be praised so thank you!

When MOTD 07 gets closer, maybe a few of us volunteers can get together via conference call, message board or something.

IMO, the most important thing that people have complained about so far is not knowing what is going on during the three days at the Dragon and the way the giveaways were handled. I know at our AtlantaMINIs' event, it took a long time to give away all the prizes. Maybe if we just work on these two things and let the rest of the time spent be just nonstructured fun?

 

*putting on moderator's hat*

Let's keep the name calling, finger pointing and accusations to a low hum at most. This is getting out of hand and only causing more problems.

*hanging mod hat back on rack*

Here is my two cents worth, adjusted for inflation. By my direct observation, things went pretty well, especially considering the number of folks attending and involved. Was it perfect? No. Can things be improved for next year? Hells yeah. We (meaning MINI enthusiasts) have brought one of the most successful and well organized event to the area. That is no small feat. For it to continue (if not grow even more) it will take quite a bit of cooperation and coordination. Imagine how things would have been if everyone were to have simply 'showed up' on a particular set of dates. Certainly people would go off and drive the Dragon on and off, but how much overall interaction would there have been?

A few things:

I applaud everyone's efforts in bringing the event as a whole and the various major (and not so major) sub-events together. It was in the beginning, at this particular time and will continue to be a learning process. Here is where we learn. We also learn much more from constructive dialog and suggestions how to make a better event. Sadly, we learn a lot about individuals and subgroups that we ought not want to know based on bickering.

Nothing is more noble in such events than to raise proceeds for charities. Donations from various vendors and organizations give added value to the participants in the form of swag and prizes. However, I am far from averse to contributing to someone's club as a thank-you gesture for their volunteering and hard work. This does not mean that people should somehow collect some sort of 'salary' for manning a table or something. If my entrance fee goes to a charity or to help with a club's fiscal well being, I have no problem with that. I think it is only fair and polite and in the spirit of disclosure that those who collect fees let everyone know ahead of time, during the event and afterwards where those monies went. This has a two-pronged benefit of encouraging people to donate (and participate) as well as prevent any suspicious feelings as to where their good intentioned donation went.

Everyone should get involved if they can. DCMM did have their hands in a lot of the goings on. It was not their intent to be an official sponsor of MOTD06, but this level of involvement makes it look as such.

There is a lot of pent-up energy within this thread. It can be put to good use by aiming it at next year's MOTD, but if aimed at one another, there will be nothing good coming from this.

 

Here, here.

 

Greatbear, wonderful post, thank you.

I too apologize for offense given to anyone, including you. I got defensive, and quickly, because I felt very slighted. I'm not the type to sit idly by when I feel wrongs have been committed, against me or against others. That being said, I'm sure that I could have been more... temperate in some of my responses than I was.

I greatly appreciate that you recognize our high level of involvement was not our intent. We only tried to fill in voids, and there were quite a few large ones. Hopefully there will be much greater involvement from many more individuals and clubs next year, and we can take a significantly reduced role, which we certainly want to do!

Minimom - for my part, I was never offended by anything you said.

 

Oh, I almost forgot. I have almost 4 gallons of leftover chili in the freezer.

 

Sounds like a good idea. Ideally, on a different weekend, so the rest of us can do the group thing.

You're a very negative person. The purpose of this thread is to be constructive and helpful to make things better. Just like in the Panoramic picture thread, your negativity and lack of contribution is not needed... Nor is trying to spread the sentiment to others by suggesting they do not volunteer to help the community. Ever hear the saying, if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all? I think that counts for unconstructive posts and unwarranted naysaying as well.