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Future PC Rallies in Doubt
These
rally’s are a tremendous amount of work, but at the same time, very
rewarding for all who attend. They used to be an event that everyone
could plan for in advance, look forward to meeting old and new
friends and have a place to learn the in’s and out’s of our Prevosts
presented by the factory itself, Converters and other professional
organizations. It was also a perfect time for the converters, sales
and brokerage folks to bring new or used Prevosts and to off their
inventory.Over
the years many different groups started having their own rally’s, in
many cases twice a year. The rally year is somewhat small because of
climate and temperature and everyone tries to select a place that
will be easy to get to and have plenty of things for folks to do
while in the area. Some of these rally locations are selected years
in advance and others just pop up as the groups decide where to rally
and when.When
we announced the April rally on November 8, 2013, we looked at
everyones rally schedule and came up with a date that would not
conflict with any other groups. April 3 – 6 seemed a good time-frame
and we kicked it off for those dates. The sign-up and activity soared
with lots of folks signing up. Along comes Jamie on December 18th
announcing a rally in New Orleans for March 27 – 30. This date was
intentional and had the sole purpose of siphoning POG members that
were going to Tampa to cancel and move over to the POG rally. For POG
members to jump over to their own rally is understandable, we get
that part. But the intentional rally date conflict from Jamie was
uncalled for, although not the first time.When
you plan rally’s, you want them as big as possible because your
asking the Converters, Brokers and Sales entities to spend a lot of
time and money bringing inventory to the rally. They not only pay the
rally fee, but have tons of expense in the process of bringing buses
to the rally location. The more rally’s around the country, the
more expense they incur trying to get to as many as possible to
support the groups.Jon
and I have for some time expressed the desire to have a really big
rally once a year at a location that could accommodate 200 buses. It
use to be done years ago and it worked well. Our thinking is to have
all groups attend and share in the logistics and planning while still
have their own identity and parking with their group. The benefit of
one large rally in cost savings alone for all involved would be
tremendous. With large numbers you get support from Detroit, Allison,
Michelin, Prevost and all the folks that offer aftermarket items and
accessories. Most that have heard our idea likes it, but
getting it to happen will take input from Prevost, the Converters and
all the coach related businesses.So
for myself, Jon will jump in here I’m sure, I’m done with rally’s.
Unless there is lot of support and help from the members, another
rally isn’t in my future. You can’t imagine the work it takes and
we’re already doing the PC stuff full time.I
like the idea of mini rally’s, started and controlled by the
members. These mini rally’s can pop up anywhere at anytime and
they’re big fun. No plan or agenda, just get together and have a good
time. We will support any mini rally that comes alive and do our best
to be there. One way or the other, PC will participate…
Jon and I have also spent time discussing common ground with Prevost Prouds, Texas Prouds and the Royale Group. We have made good progress with the Prevost and Texas Prouds and as many of you know, we are linking between sites for each others rally’s. We are promoting theirs and they are promoting ours. Our dialog with the Royale group is ongoing.
I can see us in the future attending the other groups rally’s, as PC members, but also guest members to the other groups. We have nothing to lose on either side, the rally’s get bigger, we meet other Prevost owners face to face and likely become members in the other organizations. If we can get that going, a big 200 bus rally with all involved may be on the horizon.
Bottom line, the various groups have to work together for a common goal. Numbers mean something, that’s why you have the discount programs on PC for Fuel, Michelin and Napa.. All members of the other groups could be enjoying these benefits now and no cost to them.
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55 Replies
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Sorry to hear that Tom, I know you and Jon work very hard to get it together, I am going to talk with Trina and see if she would have some ideas maybe she could get involved and get a monster rally going …
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While all the big names are important. The real rallies I go to is about sharing. The side trips are ok. The real knowledge is from talking to the guys hands on about the engines transmissions,electrical,converters,firesupression,battery banks(the people that actually use them) and everything else. Jon & Corey attended Shelbyville on the way to your last rally. First time with that bunch. Next time they will be old hands: there is such a wealth of knowledge there to be had and lasting friendships. As far as POG you must be doing something correct for such a response! Again you are growing and even though it seems impossible the Big ones (Mfg) will be wanting time at your rallies. I have been watching year model of posters and questions and it seems that they should also realize that there is a large market potential here. The purpose of this group was to bridge a gap between Prevost owners.
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I don’t know how many rallies I have been to. They have ranged from at least 200 coaches at Prevost Prouds pre-FMCA rallies to those with only a handful of coaches. There have been highly structured rallies, and there have been rallies with no schedule or agenda. I have been to several rallies with homebuilt coaches, and some rallies where we had the oldest coach.
I have participated in managing all or parts of a dozen rallies or so.
Rallies are important. Forums are an excellent source of information and creating friendships, but nothing takes the place of seeing people face to face, exchanging ideas, attending seminars, and making new friends.
But they are difficult to put together. When a rally is conceived whoever is putting it on needs early, solid committments from those attending. Those numbers drive the rally and it is what everything is to spring from. If there are a large number of signups all activities are geared to that number. We reserve RV park sites, we invite dealers and converters based on the numbers, we encourage others to present seminars based on the numbers, and we pay for off site activities based on the numbers.
Then we work behind the scenes to coordinate the schedule, select the activities to try to please a broad spectrum of interests, we make constant adjustments to the agenda based on avoiding conflicts and availability of people and activities, and then we start collecting money and making sure special requests are covered, ranging from dietary needs to seminar topics.
To be honest setting up a rally is like herding cats. It is fragile until we actually have the money in hand and the numbers are firm. Until then we have to plan based on expressions of interest, and when the real numbers don’t happen we have to see if we can mitigate financial damage, while trying to get those that are showing coaches (for example) to accept the audience will be a lot less than originally planned based on signups.
Then to have another group set out to undermine our efforts it leaves us scratching our head. We stated from the beginning we want to supplement all other groups so we are not going to compete.
In the long run it is best we stop putting on rallies. We are trying to bring all the Prevost clubs and groups together and our rallies may be viewed as competing. This way we are not conflicting with other schedules. We will not have to work as hard to convince other groups to pull together to work towards our original objective of at least one very large rally per year with all the support we would ever need. And if we can continue to put together the numbers we will work on developing more programs to benefit PC members.
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Tom & Jon…
I think its hard for us to imagine how much work is involved and we are so thankful for ALL your efforts and hard work.. we love Rallies… but I have to say I’m not sure that I don’t prefer the “mini” rallies even more !! It’s hard to get to know folks in huge groups, but at a mini everyone seems more relaxed and has even more fun getting to know one and other.
One thing for sure… you will always have a few folks you can’t please no matter what you do… so one often wonders why the heck am I trying to do this…and those few are the ones that never want to help out.
You two have done an awesome job of setting up PC and sticking to your guns… nowhere can anyone get the good advice they can get here… no doubt about that.
Keep up the good work and don’t worry about the big Rallies… I know this one is going to be a good one… can’t wait to get there !!
Cheers,
Diane
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Y’all will meet Ms Diane if you haven’t already, she will be the one that keeps the PC check-in running smooth. Be super nice to her or you don’t stand a chance of getting all your rally goodies. Jon and I just do as she instructs us!
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Based on the knowledge, information, friendship, and caring expressed on this forum this site will continue to grow at an increased rate. When rallies are planned what type of participation number is desirable to get vendors to commit to participate. With people’s crazy busy schedules today people are reluctant to make commitments. With the growth of this forum I suspect this will start to take care of itself.
I suspect the other group(s) that are taking actions to cause issue will actually find their actions to be defeative for them in the long run. I suspect they might be feeling very vulnerable to this sites success.
I went to the POG coach show in January so that I could see many coaches & dealers in one location and that worked well for me. I enjoyed the exposure of multiple dealers in one location. I suspect I won’t need that exposure again unless my wife wants to go. I went in January by myself.
Keep up the great job you are doing, stay true to your plan, this thing will continue to enhance the industry in the great way it has since it’s inception.
THANKS FOR CREATING A GREAT FORUM.
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There is plenty of room for all the goups to all get along and participate with one another.
I left POG soley based on the way it conducted its business and its expressions to PC in general, not because of any members. There are a lot of fine people there as will as the other groups.
Let me just say I prefer to associate myself with an organization that conducts its business on a higher plane, I am not anyone special, just a very principaled person, some times it gets in my way but I was raised that way. Again I am not reffering to the membership at all with my comments.
You two gentlemen conduct yourself to the highest standards that I like to see in my fellow man. I hope every body involed with PC knows what you two do to accomplish what you do and have already done. This is a lot of work.
I would love to see and attend a rally where you have a hundred coaches much less two hundred. That would be so awsome.
I know there is a lot PC would like to say but because of who you are we want hear it, so I hope I have said it for you.
I wish all would get behind PC and help it grow to what I know it can be.
Thanks Guys
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Wow,
It’s stopping before I can even get started? Well, it won’t be the first time I missed a party! LOL!
Hope to see some of you on the road once the new set of wheels arrive!
MM.
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MM,
PC rallies are not done. PC rallies that Tom and I organize and put together may be done or just put on hold.
There is nothing that will stop a rally if the members want to put one together, and that rally can be completely organized, or it can be a no agenda rally where folks just agree to show up somewhere for a few days to enjoy one another’s company. PC has already had a couple of those rallies with no schedule and they have been fun.
Tom and I have been involved in participating in rallies in which the members of the group organized and took control of the rally. The rally was a team effort with different tasks being performed by the different team members. One would handle the financial side of the rally, one would set up the catering and meal schedule, one member would arrange the off site activities, one would handle the seminars, and so forth. We will be happy to allow any PC or other group members to use our site to advertise, and aid in the communications necessary to put together a rally.
Just be aware rallies, especially larger ones need a long range plan because there are so many organizations doing rallies the good venues need not only to be scheduled a long time in advance, they also will expect some earnest money.
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Karen and I enjoyed the Sevierville, TN rally because it was small and it gave us a chance to meet and make new friends. With retirement in sight this year we are hoping to take advantage of more opportunities to gather with this group. Thanks to Jon and Tom for all the work that you have done and we look forward to more times to spend together!
Tom & Karen
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Since I’m rather new at this and only finding this ‘PC’ group a couple of months ago, I see people mention the ‘POG’ group. So, I found the site a few minutes ago and they charge $100 a year? PC prices are a little better!
I know this will seem silly but I have this quirk that there are just some things I don’t like to pay for. One of them is radio (Sirius). I do have it free for life on one of my cars but otherwise, if it’s a free option on a car, I just let it expire (both of my towed Honda’s had that free option for a while).
As a retired Accountant, I have my money quirks. Obviously, buying a new coach wasn’t one of them.
On another site that I read, someone has the definition of an RV’er…. a person buying a $300,000 coach looking for a free night to stay. Personally, we always stay at resorts or the nicest campground that we can find. We have never stayed in a truck stop or Walmart. Nothing wrong with that if it’s your thing.
I stay on the computer enough as it is, if I pay $100 to POG, I would want to get my money’s worth and probably never go to bed! LOL!
It is greatly appreciated that Jon and Tom run this site! :o)
MM.
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As one of the founding members of POG (as was Tom) we were part of the history and at the time it made sense because the $100 paid to support the site since POG had no advertising and was not a commercial site.
Today POG is just one element in a business enterprise, and the freedom to speak openly is no longer available because the owner of the business does not want to offend advertisers. All other Prevost clubs or organizations are member owned and managed and are not for profit, so POG is now unique in that its members are actually customers.
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Jon and Tom
Chris and I know from our Airstream world what is takes to put on a rally. We are currently working with our local group of 13 people, putting together our 2014 Vintage Airstream rally of 80 rigs. Yes, it is definitely lots of work. Thanks for the Branson Rally for sure.
Diane, we agree with your assessment of mini rallies. They lend to a more relaxed atmosphere to get to know almost everyone involved. In our vintage Airstream world, we call these “Unrallies”. No schedule. just a meeting place with a time. As for the motto, Announce a Rally, and they will come.
We agree with Buddy above. We have been thinking long and hard about our POG renewal, and are having a difficult time justifying the expense as it stands now. If we have the need to go to an organized rally, its cheaper for us to rejoin Prevost Prouds. Being a member of the “Free” Prevost-Stuff forum, back before Jim Skiff, and then the first iteration of POG, this decision has not been an easy one. We have made many long lasting friends, and have enjoyed every minute.
So, for a full blown mega bus organized rally, we hope the future is bright. Unitl then, we will continue to enjoy, participate, and help out where we can on PC.
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I was sorry to hear that there will not be a fall rally, but for me, the forums and discount programs are more important!
Kudos to Jon & Tom for setting up the best Prevost site out there! With the info in the aricles and forums, and the programs that have been made available to members, why would anyone go elsewhere?
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We know how much you both work on this site, the programs offered and the rallies. We don’t want you to burn completely out! I certainly enjoyed the Branson rally (my first) and Becky only wishes she had not been sick so as to interact with the group more.
As a working stiff, the timing was bad on Tampa, but we will look for opportunities at other times and places.
Thanks for all you do.
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