If you don't have the presence of mind to think of that when you lean over a engine...well then Darwin will sort everything out shortly.

 

I've never seen someone with an *** that can talk so well. Coordination of MOTD is 100% open to the public. The people that put it on this year and other years and the people that step up to the plate and help. These aren't hired personnel who run events. These are fellow MINI owners who want YOU to have a good time (and of course have fun themselves). If you think you can do it better then step up to the plate next year.

And as for your pricing comments, how about we make you negotiator on the prices for dinners next year. Let's see what you plan when Fontana tells you they won't do a dinner for the super low price you seek. For them it's better to not do a dinner than not profit or take a loss on one. Bring your grill next year so you can whip up dinner for everyone.

 

Accidents happen and people don't think sometimes. Even if you thought about it and held it back, it could still get away and get tangled in something. That's why breakaway lanyards exist.

 

Wow that was a stupid comment
Guess you have never seen an accident before

h

 

Lets see, this is an illegal speeding event on a public highway, and we want OSHA badge lanyards. Hm, starting at the wrong end for safety, aren't we?

 

My favorite part: Seeing old friends and meeting new ones.

Least favorite part: Attendees getting very upset and complaining before they have all the facts. I wish "complaints" would only be voiced if they are constructive and maybe posed as questions instead of insults. (some either forget or maybe just don't care, but there are real people behind these events.) For example: "I didn't like X, why is it done or not done like this? Often the answer makes people say - "Oh, I didn't realize that. I'm glad I asked before jumping to conclusions." and, if possible, please follow-up with ideas for solutions and/or "What can I do to help?"

As someone who puts a LOT of effort into this event, it is so disheartening to hear what people complain about and how they do it. Especially when they offer no solutions or assistance. Contrary to what some believe, nearly this entire event is in fact done by volunteers. I love doing what I do, but it actually brings tears to my eyes to hear some of these complaints. I know it's difficult to understand when you aren't standing in these shoes, I get that. But when you have volunteered literally hundreds of hours over the course of a year and work so hard to make the event what everyone wants - planning and organizing, dealing with problems that inevitably come up, and finding workable solutions, it is quite painful to hear. I can so handle constructive critcism, in fact I welcome it - it helps make things better. What I can't handle is cruel complaining and ripping the event to shreds but offering no workable solutions or help.

Take a look at this brief list, nowhere near everything that happens at MOTD - I think it will help give a visual of what I am saying:

NAM - Registration online
NAM & Volunteers - Registration on site
Volunteers - Information Table
NAM & Volunteers - Four on site dinners so people did not have to drive 20+ miles for a meal
NAM & Volunteers - Tent and vendor organization
NAM & Voluteers - Coordination with Fontana
Volunteers - Brew Swap
Volunteers - Monte Carlo Night
Volunteers - Midnight Run
Volunteers - Dragon Draggin'
Volunteers - Little Dragons
Volunteers - ALL planned drives
Volunteers - Ice Cream Run
Volunteers - Group Photo
Volunteers - Parade
Volunteers - Autocross
Volunteers - Car Show
And so much more!!

I don't get what is with all the false entitlement issues - the attitude of "You better entertain and inform me, do it extremely well, without mistakes, customize it to just the way I want it, oh, and it better be cheap or free!" How could any event possibly meet these demands?!?! It's amazing to me how contradictory people are with what they want:

- they don't want to be responsible for anything, but want to benefit from everything

- they don't want too much "commercialism" or organization, but they want options and everything they want available on demand.

- they don't want events being exclusive, but complain when solutions are found to make them inclusive.

- they want a large selection of events that offer entertainment at any time they want it, and it better not conflict with something else they want to do, AND all schedules must be customized to every individual so they don't have to make choices AND they don't want to have to pay for any of it.

Okay, I am done for now, I am exhausted and refuse to shed anymore tears over this.

Pamala

 

IBFTL

 

Call, judging by that comment alone, it appears that you have completely misunderstood what MOTD is. It is ALL about grassroots volunteerism and individuals stepping up to make things happen. There are no professionals running the show that "should know what they are doing." If that were the case, there would be no such thing as MOTD - or, at least, it would cost a whole lot more. It is pure enthusiasm, effort, and collaboration that makes it work. I have planned and/or help run at least one event each of the 3 years I've come - yes, even as a first-time newbie. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING!!!! But I figured it out along the way (and made mistakes each and every time) and have still managed to host activities that people enjoyed and were grateful for their existence.

For ANYONE who thinks otherwise, MOTD is open to the general MINI public for the planning and coordination of events. Those of us who have stepped up to do things have tried to make that obvious for the last three years but apparently failed.

It is folks like you who make me not want to bother volunteering my effort anymore. It just wears me out. Thanks for nothing.

Having read many similar comments from both sides over the past 6 years, I will throw out a few comments: I planned a separate night run last year for an intimate group of friends. I did it that way because I got the feeling that I would be "stepping on the toes" of the Midnight Run and didn't want to create any friction or dilute the Midnight Run. I'm rather certain that umbrage would have been taken if another run were planned that thinned participation in the standard Midnight run. This is the first I remember seeing one of the Midnight organizers suggest that they wouldn't be p!ssed (or at least irritated) if another run were planned - even though it was doled out as a back-handed suggestion. To think that not planning another run was actually showing some courtesy and respect for the Midnight tradition, yet now it is being portrayed rather as just inferiority of some kind.


But, back to the point of the thread:

Favorite: Watching everyone enjoy the Dragon Draggin' Pinewood races despite our mistakes. (Of course, spending time with friends and great motoring are a given!)
Least Favorite: Bungling getting the car kits to folks at registration earlier in the week.

 

amen, Pam!!

This was my 6th Dragon, of which I have volunteered and worked 3. I was in charge of the info table and worked my butt off since January to pull it off.

Last year, folks complained about not having the upper lot of the AVC to hang out in. So, Mark came up with the idea of the tent to facilitate just that. More complaints.
If not enough vendors showed up, that's their fault and NOT the organizers!!!

Meals: Fontana has a captive audience and knows it. They do not permit outside food vendors for meals. Stacey, who organized the farewell dinner, begged. cajoled, and pleaded with Fontana to lower the price of dinner, or else it would've been higher.
Portions: get over it people..there is rampant starvation in this world and there are complaints about not having mountains of food on your plate?? sheesh. There were seconds, ya know.
Volunteerism: Everyone and anyone can and should help. There is no exclusivity in this. Step up and help, period.

 

Might be time to move the event to the TN side? Still convenient to the Dragon and a lot more amenities available?

 

Are you from there? Is this really a possibility?

 

Heaven help us! Everyone run for cover!!

 

Hey Pamela, I'm currently from Vegas. But Chattanooga is a large town, I'm sure there are plenty of resort hotels willing to accomodate a cash cow like MotD. HotelCalif and Donna are local, could be very helpful.

 

I know Donna! Got my hardhat on standby!

Short hijack, I saw justAmy at AMVIV this year, it was very nice running into her.

 

Are you serious? There is less on the TN side than the NC side.

Chattanooga is ~ 70 miles from the Dragon
Knoxville is ~ 45 miles
Pigeon Forge ~ 45 miles

Plus you lose the "village" atmosphere.

Not really very convienent?

 

Strange, I keep reading about Fontana internet being out... I used it every night from Monday through Sat evening with no problems. I used Skype to make voice phone calls over the net every night with it and no dropouts or anything.

 

Ok, let's be serious. Chattanooga is roughly 2.5 hours from the dragon. That is NOT convenient!

 

It's more than convenient that Pittsburgh!

 

Chattanooga is the largest metropolitan area nearby, but there are still a lot more amenities available in Marysville than in Fontana, and it is convenient.

I have attended my last dragon, in 2007, so have no dog in this fight. I don't want to spend the time or money going back to an event when there are plenty I haven't attended yet.

 

The only place I could get it to work was in the lobby at the Lodge. It seemed to have a very short range. I couldn't even get it to work in the Lodge restaurant.

I have to agree, though, that it was nice being disconnected for a while, even if (or maybe because) I'm one of those people who can't go half an hour without checking email. Not being able to do that was kind of a relief after I got used to it.

I sat on the porch for a bit with my laptop working on pictures and probably about 25 percent of the people who walked by asked me if I had an Internet connection.

 

Keep in mind the vast majority are happy, enjoyed it, and will never post. People are much more moved to post when they have a complaint then when they're satisfied. In my opinion the silent majority appreciates what's done each year.

 

The majority of the LEOs were in TN. Comparatively we as a group spend next to nothing in TN compared to NC. TN claims it is a safety thing, my guess is it is a way to get the "tourist" dollars that they lose to NC.

 

WRONG!

Organization is open to anyone who wants to step up! Please accept my personal invitation to help next year, so we will finally have someone who knows what they are doing! Just make sure your plans are perfect!

 

I had a huge plate, I was very late and people were in line for 2nd and 3rd helpings!

 

I like the idea of multiple smaller dinners. It would be nice to have the choice of several smaller dinner gatherings, all with the company of MINI enthusiasts. Sweetwater BBQ and Dragon Den Grill are two nearby restaurants we ate at this year and the farther you go from Fontana the more options there are. We'd most likely sign up for some of these if they happen.

Would those who drive some distance to dinner miss out on evening events such as the Brew Swap or Monte Carlo Night?

We only went to 1 big dinner this year, but wanted to be near the action the other evenings, so we brought our own picnic food. That way we could grab a quick bite whenever we got hungry, but it didn't give us the chance to eat with a bunch of other enthusiasts. It worked OK though, because it allowed us more time for the party events, the vendor tents, & "Ego Alley".