Hi all,
As most of you know, I serve on the spring reunion committee.� We talk to each other often through email.� Lately it has been daily as we are trying to set plans for the 2017 Spring Willys Reunion which will be the 25th anniversary.� Some of the things we have been discussing are the location of the reunion and the banquet format.� I was given permission to ask you guys some questions to see how the participants feel.� These are my own questions but the committee will look at the feedback.� In the end, we want to satisfy the participants while keeping our own work load at a manageable level.
Location:� The Effingham show was an average show but we did not see any boost in participation over Hudson.� There were, however, several complications the committee had to go through with the hotel and banquet.� Based on these complications, we have pretty much agreed not to have the 2017 Reunion in Effingham.� I can tell you from a work stand point, The Clarion in Hudson has been the easiest hotel to work with and has the best facilities at a reasonable price.� Also, Having the reunion in Hudson makes it easier for Bob and Mindy.� The show was moved to Effingham for 2016 in response to several request from the participants who requested us to the move the reunion back to the central midwest.� The show turned out to be the same size but from what I have heard, the vendors did better in Effingham. Right now, the committee is in discussion to move the reunion somewhere between Hudson and Effingham.� We are also considering moving it to Michigan where Bill Norris can be "boots on the ground"� Of course, any time we move it, there can be unforeseen complications.
Banquet:� There has been some discussion on the format on the banquet.� Some feel it is too long.� We want to have a good program, but yet we also want to give our friends more time to visit "parking lot style".� Right now we are discussing a way to have an informal gathering outdoors to try and bundle the meal, program and parking lot gathering into the same event.� This would also utilize some of the down time from 4:00 to 5 when everyone is getting ready for the banquet.� This can be complicated if it rains.� �Since rain at the reunion is a given, we are actually talking about renting or buying one or more large tents to help the vendors, move registration outdoors, have a place to congregate when it rains, and have an outdoor banquet.� Of course if we do this, we have to pay for it so the banquet price might not go down.� Hotel's won't let you cater your own food in and we can't have it off-site due to drinking and driving.� Typically the banquets have cost $30 per head.� I have also suggested to the committee that it might be a good idea to stop having a guest speaker.� This would shave 30-40 minutes off the banquet and relieve us from paying mileage and possibly a hotel stay for the guest speaker.
These are just some thoughts the committee is working with.� Here are my questions.� Again, these are my questions.� I'm asking them to help me form an opinion to the committee and the committee will be reading the feedback.
Vote with a number 0-4
4 - YES,� Absolutely!
3 - yes, this is what I prefer
2 - Neutral
1 - no, I I'd rather not
0 - NO, Absolutely
.... I'm also going to ask you:
Do you, or will you register a jeep
Do you, or will you attend the banquet
Are you, or will you have a vendor spot.
Your vote will be weighted based on those three particulars.
The questions:
1.� Have the 2017 Reunion at the Clarion in Hudson, OH� (YES = 4 .. 3 ..2 ..1 ..0 = NO)
2.� Stop having a guest speaker at the banquet if it meant having the banquet over by 8:00� (YES = 4 .. 3 ..2 ..1 ..0 = NO)
3.� Have an outdoor banquet/cookout even if the price is $30 per ticket. (YES = 4 .. 3 ..2 ..1 ..0 = NO)
Do/will you register a jeep?� YES/NO
Do/will you attend the banquet?
Are/will you vend?
I"d appreciate feedback on what I have said above and please vote either here in this thread, or privately through email:� jpet@willysreunion.com
I'm looking for feedback from folks who attend or have attended and the outcome of this survey might effect their attendance.� If you don't come to the reunion, I welcome your comments but appreciate it if you do� not vote.
Again, this feedback is for me and will influence my emails to the committee.� Please let me know what you are thinking.� Now is your chance.� Also, know that we can't make everyone happy but we will try.� Thanks for reading.
If I posted this in the wrong location please move it to where it belongs.
