Build-a-Rally

[wb13798]

edie
forget the breakfast . i didn't have one free cup of coffee or pastry at the Florida rally . but i did have a made by sue breakfast at 0900. i have just about give up on the old folks. up at dawn in bed before the chickens at dark. if you need matches for the fire just beat on my door.

[mandolindave]

1. Campfire ( the only place hot dogs are allowed )
2. Pot luck dinner ( no hot dogs )
3. People of all ages
4. Mandolin player
5. Quiet section ( no mandolin players)
6. Sleep late section ( mandolin players )
7. Tie dye berets, patchwork flag
8. A swimming hole
9. A fishing hole
10. Shade trees
11. Some flat spots
12. A hiking trail
13. Ice cream truck
14. Parametic
15. Post card sunset ( breakfast time )

[cosmotini]

Edie -

We've never been to a rally. Can you - or anyone else - please describe what a typical rally consists of?

Thanks,

Dennis

[Pahaska]

Originally Posted by till

TCL, We will need to have a "Trailer Cat" contest at the Rallies too.

At the just-ended region 9 rally, we had a pet contest with two ladies from the local SPCA as judges. The judging was 30% personality and some percentage behavior, and the winners, as a rule, weren't the high-priced animals. In fact, there were 2 best-of-breed dogs that didn't get ribbons. It was a lot of fun, especially since my cat won a blue ribbon. Main thing is to get some impartial judges.

Another hilarious event was the turtle races. Each WBCCI unit brought a turtle, some dinner-plate size and some dollar-size. They were released 3 at a time at the center of a 20' diameter chalk circle and the first one to cross the chalk won that heat. Sounds dull, but it was a real hoot with some real close races. Each Airstream could bring a turtle. Making a starting gate is pretty easy.

I also say "ditch the breakfasts". I'm diabetic and can't eat most of them anyway, although I do go later for the coffee.

[Pahaska]

Originally Posted by mandolindave

1. Campfire ( the only place hot dogs are allowed )
2. Pot luck dinner ( no hot dogs )
3. People of all ages
4. Mandolin player
5. Quiet section ( no mandolin players)
6. Sleep late section ( mandolin players )
7. Tie dye berets, patchwork flag
8. A swimming hole
9. A fishing hole
10. Shade trees
11. Some flat spots
12. A hiking trail
13. Ice cream truck
14. Parametic
15. Post card sunset ( breakfast time )

How about a tenor banjo player instead? Although I also play mandola and tenor guitar.

[Edie]

Originally Posted by cosmotini

Edie -

We've never been to a rally. Can you - or anyone else - please describe what a typical rally consists of?

Thanks,

Dennis

Here are the rally schedules for our Unit's last 4 rallies. We don't have a Unit rally in February, instead we go to the Florida State Rally as a Unit.

[53flyingcloud]

Originally Posted by Edie G

Let's suppose you could build your own rally. What would you include? What would you exclude?

We go to about 12-14 WBCCI rallies each year, and some are better (to us) than others. I'm sure you have your own ideas about what does (or would) make a good rally.

I'll start:

I would forget about a group breakfast at the crack of dawn. I have a breakfast routine every day. I do best if I stick to my own breakfast.

Who's next? You can list as many ideas as you want.

I'd like to add these to the already posted list

• 1. Educational Seminar, pertaining to the repair or maintenance of A/S.
  (For example, a demo on how to correctly repack wheel bearings.)
  2. Contest for judging an exceptional unit, be it for the best original unit,
  restored unit, etc (your choice).

Just a couple additional thoughts..
I gotta have my coffee and English Muffins (Top'd with Horseradish Jelly~)
at the crack of dawn..
My challenge to whosoever is putting a Rally together is this:
You should strive to keep the cost DOWN~!!
ciao
53FC

[Stefrobrts]

I'm amazed at the rallys I go to that cost $10-$20 dollars for the weekend and they have breakfasts and dinners and snacks during evening entertainment, and all that for under 20 bucks? They do a really good job. But really I could feed myself, however it's the main socializing time, so I guess that's why they do it.

A little how-to would be fun. The best time I had at a rally last year was when my trailer's previous owner was there, and the folks next to me were restoring their trailer, so I said I would introduce him. We all ended up sitting around chatting about vintage AS for the next couple hours, and he even pulled out a rivet shaver and gave us a demo on how to clean up the olympic rivets I'd installed. A great time was had by all.

You never know what's going to happen at a rally, but so far they've all been fun, or at least memorable!

[Safari Streamer]

Wow, y'all need to come to #150 (Coastal SC) rallies. We have sooo much fun. Many rallies have a theme - Hawaiian, circus, cowboy, etc. We've had hula hoop contests, juggling and dancing lessons, etc. Most night many of us sit around a campfire. Saturday mornings, the men always cook breakfast! We either have sausage, pancakes, and fruit or eggs and bacon or sausage. Nothing tastes better in a campground. Of course we also have attitude ajustment hour, and a dinner - either potluck or prepared by a volunteer. Sometimes it is hard to fit the activities in between all the eating! The weekends always end way too quickly and we always look forward to the next month.
Come join us!!

[maxandgeorgia]

I second 53 FC: some how-to's. Packing bearings, tighening lug bolts, rivets, polishing, fly fishing! A sharing of whatever the expertise is in the group. Probably everyone could learn a little and share a lot!

[till]

Sorry, Yes do away with breakfast at the crack of dawn if there is to be any campfire activities. I'm out at 9 in the evening if you want me up at 6:30 for vittles otherwise lets talk 9 ish for breakfast. Sounds like the Moraine View rally will be a lot like what is being descibed here.

[rluhr]

From my experience you don't need much formal organizing to get a "how-to" session going. Just show up with a problem and point it out to someone. Pretty soon a crowd will gather around your trailer with tools and advice, and voila! you're a case study for everyone else. I got a dozen new rivets installed and shaved at the last rally I went to, and it wasn't even my idea!

At another rally, I did an impromptu 5-minute Southern Shine demo, which was fun. Last month a fellow gave me a 5-minute Mother's Polish demo and showed me how he did his entire 28-ft trailer BY HAND with that polish.

I'll also vote for the campfires, but with a twist: try to get someone to organize a little music, campfire songs, or other group participation activity and make sure it has appeal for all ages! People with kids will come if there's more to do than just sit and chat.

And we love food, but there's NO WAY we are going to stay at the campground all day to eat, eat, eat. Breakfast, lunch, happy hour, dinner, ice cream -- thanks for all the food but it's more chattin' and chewin' than we want. We come to rallies to see and do things we can't do at home. We already know how to eat!

From our perspective, the most appealing draw of any rally is what there is to do in the area. We don't hang around the campsite much. Having options outlined to bike, hike, sightsee, shop, kayak/canoe, swim, and learn, really help offset the sedentary "sit & chat" aspect. That way everyone has a choice of what to do.

BTW, leaders of rallies don't have to organize off-campground activities, simply point out where they can be done in the area. We'll figure out the rest.

[smily]

I have not seen anything listed, short of the Mandolin, that the Unit 150 does not do...............
We have music, campfires, TONS OF TECH TALK, of course, we are fortunate to have Phred Sez in our unit, but if you are familiar with Phred Sez writings, they are usually compilations of other members input.
We have trips, info on local attractions, always great meals, plenty of cheer, kids, pets, We even had a pet costume contest, (now that was a hoot, you had to be there), we have ice cream, fishing, swimming, holiday events,
Airstream decorating contest, Did I mention a cruise? Thats right we have even organized a cruise to the Carribean (SP?) that is up for a repeat due to the the succes of the first one.
Something I find a little strange, it seems to me that the older folks in ur unit stay up later than most of us young ones.(no kidding). Very rarely do we repeat vsit to a campground, (at least not two times in a row).
And best of all, no judgement! if you dont get up for breakfast or stay out late ot you dont play cards or even attend Sunday Service, you are always welcomed and I bet you look forawrd to next month just as much as I.

I love this stuff!

Smily

[Edie]

Originally Posted by smily

I have not seen anything listed, short of the Mandolin, that the Unit 150 does not do

Great! But, back to the question...what would YOU change (include or exclude)?

What about the days of the week when the rally is scheduled? How far are you willing to drive? What would make it even better?