I actually thought of something like this last year, but my thoughts were to use a FRS/GMRS frequency that you could switch your radio to get info when you needed it. That way if you were walking around Fontana visiting vendors or friends, you wouldn't need to go to your car/radio.

I like the idea!

 

 

I like this idea but I'd like it even more if we had people actually doing some commentary on there in between announcements. People could just fill in as needed or set it on automate when no one wants to do it. I plan to do nothing but sit around and drink on Friday prior to the Brew Swap so I wouldn't mind having some fun with it then.

 

Maybe the guys that do White Roof Radio could come out and do one of their broadcasts live from Fontana????

 

I think the radio station idea is fantastic! I also agree with Matt that it would be WAY cool to add live commentary on events, guest DJs etc. ...But I don't have the slightest idea about the feasibility/portability of the equipment for live "remotes."

I think that you could probably fill up a number of time slots with volunteer hosts. Not sure the level of knowledge one needs with the equipment, but I could see this being a fantastic "event" all unto itself! Maybe there are scheduled slots when folks can host a show. Sign up for as many or as few slots as you like. For instance, maybe I would reserve 10am-12pm everyday to host a show. Or not. but you get the idea. Work the available time slots for hosts around events that might get their own live coverage like MCN, BrewSwap, etc. Get volunteers to cover those events.

I'm getting all frothy thinking about the possibilities! Someone throw some rationale on me why it isn't possible to cool me off!

 

Trust me, having even 1/2 hour of something interesting to talk about on the radio, is not as easy as it sounds. But I do think a scripted loop, kind of like NOAA weather, 1610 traffic updates, or Airport ATIS would be perfect.

 

Right, impromptu wouldn't be easy. But, we have a lot of time to prepare! We could interview vendors, owners, have on-air contests. Just think about all the possibilities!!!!

 

 

...person in the street (ala Jay Leno)...

 

Oh, the late night DJ's on 7-21 do a FINE job of filling airtime. Shouldn't be a problem for properly talented and, er, fueled folks...

 

My absolute least favorite part was not being there!

 

whoa nelly bell you guys...a radio station??Brilliant idea roomie. Kinda complicated tho, yes?
Massive schedule...format??( talk about trying to please everyone) who decides?...managing the volunteers, tho' mine were perfect ...is a license needed?
Our cabin radio got fried in the power surge...granted, unusual circumstances, but not the 1st time I've experienced a black-out up there..the other was caused by a lightning strike I lost small appliances that time, too

just being a wet blanket...I know, I know...but someone's gotta put the brakes on..

 

What a great idea!!! I LOVE IT!!!

 

I obviously can't say too much since I have a) never been to a MOTD event before, b) didn't register and c) only showed up on Saturday.

Being a new owner, I didn't know about MOTD until it was too late to avoid work conflicts. I've been to the Dragon twice a year for about 8 years but never in the Mini.

I drove up with a friend (a future mini owner) just to run the midnight run. Unfortunately with the rain, we didn't make it.... we split early.

Having said that, for the little time we were there, I do have a few suggestions instead of just BlTCHING....

There should be a general meeting area where anyone that shows up that isn't familiar with the event or the area can meet. Perhaps there was but when we got there, there wasn't a place to really go for information.

The tent was empty'ish and the poor vendors that were left were outside on top of the hill trying to stay dry. I think all the vendors should have been in a big square around the tent.

It seems like a big complaint was the food or lack thereof and/or price. Having organized 3 successful "Jetfests", each time I found a pig pickin' barbeque. The food was great and under 10 bucks a person...

By no means am I belittleing or dissin' the work of the people that put the event on. It takes a lot of work and having done it by myself, I know you can't make everyone happy.

My suggestions are only that.... suggestions to help. I'm new to the mini world and have no problem donating my time to "put my money where my mouth is".

Next year, I'll have my work schedule cleared. I'll be there to help if needed/wanted.

Mark

 

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One thing that I hope we can find a solution for: late arrivals.

I arrived about 7-8PM on Wednesday night. I led an all day drive starting at 9AM on Thursday. I delayed the start of my drive so I could pickup registrations for my whole family at 9AM when registration opened... otherwise it would have been Friday, after the Parade, before we could have registered and gotten badges...

I know volunteers can be hard to come by... but given that some folks (quite a few, I suspect) may arrive Wednesday evening, it would be great to find a way to service folks either late on Wednesday or early on Thursday (and even Friday) to be more compatible with the drive schedules...

Maybe have a short period where registration is open late Wednesday night, after the dinner - like 10-11PM for late arrivals? Or somewhere folks who EXPECT to arrive late can sign up for special pickup...

Spurious thought - has anyone ever asked Fontana about (or previously tried) having them hand out pre-prepared packets at check-in for folks staying on-property? I know I've seen similar stuff done for groups at other resorts. Not suggesting we give them stacks of T-shirts, etc.... but have big envelopes with everything in there for a single registration, or room/party - would just need a checkbox on the registration form for "Staying in Fontana Village?" and someone to pre-pack the stuff...

As long as it was REALLY easy for the folks at Fontana, (pre-packed) and only for the folks staying on property, seems like a reasonable thing for them to do...

Would still need a registration function for those not staying on property - but this would reduce the load on those folks... and provide for 24-hour service for those staying on-site.

(I'm fully expecting someone to say "Tried that already - didn't work / Fontana said no")

 

It sounds to me like we need to elect a committee representing the four corners of the US and Canada.
There are a lot of good ideas being thrown around but some counter each other and without some sort
of MOTD decision making body I don't think there will ever be a consensus.
Of course the other problem then would be getting the group together for an annual meeting to finalize decisions.
So here is my offer: if this committee is formed and a decision on a location where everyone could travel to and
spend at least a weekend, lets say Snooters house (just kidding Snooter) then I would be willing to assist with
travel by providing members with "Buddy Passes" to travel to and from said destination.
Keep in mind that Buddy Passes are on a StandyBy available basis only so if the meeting was in Hawaii then you might be stuck there for quite some time.

JMTCW TIOLI

 

We had a great time, even through the fire and losing power, no tv (didn't bother me except for weather updates), no phone, no stove and my radio charger getting fried. It was great once again to see so many MINIs in one place and get to know more MINIacs.

The only thing I was confused about was the vendor scavenger hunt cards and the drawing. After I hunted down the vendors (some of which were hard to find) and turned it in I never knew when the drawing would be, and neither did the person at the info table. The packet said first 150 would get a special souvenier and winners would be posted on the board throughout the event, but I never saw any winners posted. I did not attend the farewell dinner, so if the drawing was held there did you have to be present to win?

I also want to thank Mark F. for helping with the fire - we were at the tire talk and heard a bunch of commotion and saw Mark run over to one of the Fontana staff and ask if they had a radio because there was a fire. Of course at that point we didn't know it was directly behind our cabin til a friend came over and said, "Did you know your backyard is on fire?!"

This was my 3rd MOTD and I think there were a lot of improvements over the last two years. Thanks to everyone who planned and volunteered to make it all run smoothly!

 

The drawing was at the farewell dinner and you did NOT have to be present to win.

Regarding the first 150, when we turned our cards in, we were told we were in the first 150 and that there was something significant (or at least different) about that, but never heard anything else....I believe it may have just been a miscommunication.

One thing regarding the vendor scavenger hunt cards, going forward we really need to make sure that if a vendor is going to put their name on the card, that they are actually going to be around. I understand if some vendors have to cancel at the last minute (cooperflags, I believe?) but it isn't right to have people searching around for vendors who aren't there.

My suggestion is to have a note on the white board at the info table, saying "regretfully, Cooperflags (for example) couldn't make it this year. go ahead and check them off yourself."

So I guess this also constitutes a 'yea' vote for the info table.

 

With all of the technology available today, are in-person meetings truly necessary? Furthermore, if things are going to progress to that level of organization, then it should probably include the creation of a non-profit corporation for multiple and varied reasons.

 

This is where a MINI-CCA starts looking like a real good idea.

 

All good points... I do especially like the idea of more volunteers and pre-meetings to make everything run a little more smoothly.

As more and more people join NAM and the ownership of minis, I'm sure new members will come forward to keep the flow going nicely.

Having said that, we can meet up at Snooter's house (free beer, room and board ) in Spring Hill. (my parents live about 5 miles from there so I could kill two birds with one mini stone)

Seriously, it sounds like a few more people volunteering may help things run smoother (not smooth, just smoother.... less stress on Mark and his helpers)

Count me in.

Mark

PS. Ya'll are a bunch of OC people... already planning next years event now.... LOL

 

I'm no tax expert by any means but a non-profit entity is a church or charity..hard to establish with the IRS I imagine. A not-for-profit entity might be easier to establish. MOTD, Inc.? DCMM is a nfp entity (501-7c vs. 501-3c <--charity ) Either way, we'd need to be very careful in handling money, cuz the IRS would be watching...one more stresser to add to the overall stress level.

I agree that any organization communication can be done remotely..cheaper than flying about the country, even with a discount.

 

 

Most importantly at this point we need to ask Mark to open up a new forum for MOTD7 so there's a place dedicated to discussions on the planning for next year that isn't intermingled with reviews of this year.