Personally, I agree that Canton would be fine in terms of the size of the city for lodging/eating/shopping/etc. However, on a national level, I'm not sure that Canton is going to draw the interest that other major cities would. That is the biggest drawback I see...that people voting nationally just won't give enough support to a place like Canton if Charlotte or Atlanta or Dallas is also in the running. It is a metro area of around 400k...that is a huge dropoff from places like KC, Nashville, Vegas or Denver.
To me, I don't care. I will support it locally wherever it is. However, if you are serious on hosting it in this region, you probably will have to focus on MAJOR metros like Cincinnati, Columbus, Detroit, Cleveland or Pittsburgh. While Canton, Akron, Toledo, Dayton, etc are all nice cities, they are less likely to garner the interest of the national crowd.
So market it as Cleveland. I know enough having lived within a half days drive of the whole state that Canton has its own identity - even has its own fair that rivals anything in Columbus - but it is also often lumped together as Akron/Canton an d both are within an hour, maybe of downtown CLE and everything around. So call it Cleveland if that'ss what it takes to get nationally oriented folks on board. But plan it as Canton just the same.
just my .02 and I'm out of here.
__________________
When more than one friend wants to ride shotgun
No, I do not work for GM or any subsidiary or supplier.
Last edited by achieftain : 05-09-2008 at 01:46 PM.
My major concern is if we do not create some form of selection for a once a year "National" (I use that term loosely) Event.
Then we run the risk of competing events that will just stifle the growth of a quality yearly gathering.
I do agree that the kappa community will support the event no matter where it is held.
Las Vegas did not end up drawing the numbers that Nashville did. It was close but it did not grow exponentially like some would have expected.
Was Vegas not a recognized city? I think not, it is just a matter of demographics.
There are more owners in the East than the West. It appears to me that the West coasters did a fine job organizing the event, so this is by no means a slam against them.
Just trying to point out that the name of the city is not as important as it's location in relation to kappa owners.
I also feel that any location for such an event does need to be shuffled around the country giving all an equal opportunity to attend such an event.
The hard core group will travel to anywhere to attend.
If the location ends up being in my backyard, within a couple hundred miles, I will be more than happy to take an active roll in it's planning and execution.
Drop it within about 700 miles and I will be there and be willing to help any way I can once I have arrived.
Further out than that and it will require serious consideration about how hard core I am.
__________________ Volley - ICOD GOTHIC................"Pontiac Pure Excitement".........
.................................................. ...."Drive it like you stole it"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The time has come for the enthusiasts...
website link - NASSOA - Officially recognized by GM
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In my experience, car people go to car meets for several reasons:
> To be with their cars.
> To see other people and their cars.
> To drive their cars to and through interesting places.
I may be unusual, but as long as there is sufficient infrastructure (gas, food, lodging) the size of the venue and its other attractions are secondary, at best. I go to a car event to do car things with car people.
Give me good roads, scenic waypoints, and an interesting destination and I will be happy.
__________________
John
Lexington, KY
Sky VIN 00252
5-Sp Manual
Midnight Blue
NASSOA has assigned itself the role of assisting with Nationals (a very good thing!), I don't see where NASSOA gets to be the "decider". If NASSOA wants to hold an NASSOA national convention/meet, that would be a different matter.
Well, isn't one of the reasons to join NASSOA because you will then have the opportunity to "vote for National Event location"...as listed on their website?
If NASSOA membership isn't the decider, then who is?
If the location ends up being in my backyard, within a couple hundred miles, I will be more than happy to take an active roll in it's planning and execution.
Drop it within about 700 miles and I will be there and be willing to help any way I can once I have arrived.
Further out than that and it will require serious consideration about how hard core I am.
Pretty much how I feel about it, and why we were behind the registration table in Nashville.
__________________ "If you haven't seen the future, you haven't driven fast enough" #000741, delivered 10/3/05
Well, isn't one of the reasons to join NASSOA because you will then have the opportunity to "vote for National Event location"...as listed on their website?
If NASSOA membership isn't the decider, then who is?
I am afraid that NASSOA is a little schizophrenic. They do list voting for the nationals location as a benefit of membership, but when you dig into the NASSOA constitution and by-laws that is not listed as a membership privilege and as quoted previously, NASSOA is dedicated to assisting with site selection.
A lot will depend on what other groups/areas are looking to host in 2010...I haven't seen anything pertaining to interest elsewhere, although I haven't really been looking too hard either.
Which, i thought, to be the entire purpose behind an "open discussion on the subject of the 2010 nationals." This would definitely be the thread to post in if a region is interested in hosting.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DHH
The Nationals seem to have done quite well as grass-roots efforts supported by NASSOA, GM Roadster, and other sponsors. I think they should stay that way.
whole heartedly.
All that it should take to host a national event:
-Strong support from the local group for organizing.
-Great driving roads
-Enough beds to possibly hold everyone but i'm sure a few wouldn't mind sharing.
-Enough support to make it worthwhile. Best location for judging that support: right here.
Lil Mike
Id love to do the logo...I could even start mocking Ideas up now so by the time it is 2010 We have the best logo we can possibly have!
You still have time to do the 2009 logo first...
__________________
Mysterious / Black Leather / Chrome / all other options except On Star and smoker pkg.
Ordered: 8 Sep Delivered to dealer 15 Dec(Watched her come off the truck)
Will you be in Denver for the 2009 Summer Solstice?
12
Wicked 2009 Solstice GXP Coupe on order 24 October 2008
All I can say is Wow! Druid-2 you sure started the 2010 ball rolling early.
The idea of an planning for Annual North American Solstice\Sky Meets predates the NASSOA. The origin of the NASSM was in discussions here on the Solstice Forum. Most the the planners and volunteers for the first three meets were members here on the forum. I would venture to say that most of the attendees were members of this and the related forums. With advance notice and publicity of future meets that is sure to change, although after they attend a NASSM we might suck them into one or more of the forums.
One of the early votes here on the forum set up the 3-year rotation schedule of central, east, and west meets. By design no cities were selected or even suggested then, so that any group or person could suggest a location and then have that discussed before holding a vote. Over time the Kappa community has formed other forums that also will have threads discussing the same subject and are likely to have votes taken to help determine future meet locations.
MNS is right, there are more people that should have a say in when and where the meets are held other than NASSOA members. Contrary to popular belief NASSOA does not own the right to the Annual North American Solstice\Sky Meet (NASSM) name, that right would be split between the co-coordinators of the 1st and 2nd Annual meets who settled on and used that name.
Considerations for those thinking about hosting a NASSM or any large meet:
- Large groups of hotel rooms and banquet\meeting rooms need to be booked at least a year in advance.
- Track usage needs to be booked a year or more in advance for large tracks.
- Hotels and tracks will want a contract and\or guaranteed money to make the reservation, so someone will have to be willing to take that risk.
- Picking a date or location will not make everyone happy, you need go with what works for the greatest number of people as far in advance as possible to allow for scheduling the time off and travel.
- Do central, east, and west meets also need a north\south rotation to spread the joys and pains of planning and traveling?
- Earlier planning allows vendors to set their schedules and fit the NASSM into marketing budget.
- Large company\corporate sponsorships need a very long lead time to allow for company budget cycles and request time lines. BTW, it never hurts to ask, you just might be surprised at what you get by asking. Pontiac and Saturn marketing also need advance notice...unless you are lucky like KC where the second Pontiac truck just happened to see the first one sitting on the hotel lot and came back.
- Don't rely on luck or hope for your plan's success. Sweating the details in advance makes the end result look so much better and run so much smoother.
- Teamwork using private discussions on the phone and\or email allow for a consistent public face to the planning and execution effort. Find a spokesperson to handle the public contacts and information requests\release.
- Asking specific individuals to handle specific actions in support of the meet after they express an interest and say something to the effect of "let me know what I can do to help". Be prepared with a list of things that need someone's undivided attention and then follow to see if the need additional information or assistance to complete the job. Just remember that interaction with volunteers can lead to hurt feelings and dropped balls if not handled well.
- If the first person at a company cannot help you then ask them for someone higher in the chain that might be able to help. Keep working until you get a flat out "No" from the "Big Guy" (decision maker), you get what you asked for or more, or you run out of time.
- At the end of the meet do the after action review by asking all who came (volunteers, vendors and hotel support staff included) three simple questions: What went right? What went wrong? What would you like to see at future meets like this?
- As a follow up after the meet send a thank you letter to the vendors who came and other donors who supported the meet for their support.
- Be prepared to spend long hours and sleepless nights as the meet gets closer.
- Attend the preceding annual meet as an observer and ask questions of that organizing team. You can do this while filling in a needed volunteer role to make it easier to see how things work.
Kathy, Tony, and Theresa can probably add to this list. Before long John will probably have things to add to this list too.
God willing and no more grand-babies due during the NASSM Sherry and I will be at future meets to help wherever we can.
__________________
Mysterious / Black Leather / Chrome / all other options except On Star and smoker pkg.
Ordered: 8 Sep Delivered to dealer 15 Dec(Watched her come off the truck)
Will you be in Denver for the 2009 Summer Solstice?
12
Wicked 2009 Solstice GXP Coupe on order 24 October 2008
