2012 Rally- Sedalia, MO

[greenwald]

With all due respect for those of you in the hospitality industry, that wouldn't be the first time that a hotel/motel manager mis-managed their reservations and then decided to throw the MOA under the bus rather than take responsibility. There was a nasty incident at the Redmond Rally. Most of you never hear about these things, but it's all a part of what goes on behind the scenes.

The MOA books less than 4% of the available rooms for the people who make the rally happen wherever we have a rally. That block of rooms is locked down well in advance of the announcement of that site. Yet. somehow we are the reason so many people can't get a room or get bumped. I'm confused.

What "confusion?"

How the MOA / Rally staff handles their accomodations is above board (no pun intended to 'board' members) and is not the problem.

Price gouging and the occasional hicup in ethical behavior on the part of the hospitality industry accounts for last-minute grief when it comes to secruing / retaining rooms at rally sites.

Wish that were not so, but as faithful members, we soldier on.

[jaherbst]

With all due respect for those of you in the hospitality industry, that wouldn't be the first time that a hotel/motel manager mis-managed their reservations and then decided to throw the MOA under the bus rather than take responsibility. There was a nasty incident at the Redmond Rally. Most of you never hear about these things, but it's all a part of what goes on behind the scenes.

The MOA books less than 4% of the available rooms for the people who make the rally happen wherever we have a rally. That block of rooms is locked down well in advance of the announcement of that site. Yet. somehow we are the reason so many people can't get a room or get bumped. I'm confused.

Greg, the hotel did not throw the MOA under the bus. When I called the MOA office after I was cancelled they admitted that they did not book enough rooms and needed to have more so all the staff could stay at the same hotel. This was done only one week before the Rally. Shame on the MOA and the way this was handled. I was the one thrown under the bus by the MOA not the hotel.

Jack

[greenwald]

Greg, the hotel did not throw the MOA under the bus. When I called the MOA office after I was cancelled they admitted that they did not book enough rooms and needed to have more so all the staff could stay at the same hotel. This was done only one week before the Rally. Shame on the MOA and the way this was handled. I was the one thrown under the bus by the MOA not the hotel.

Jack

Oh,OH!

If true, "Lucy...you've got some 'splaining to do!"

[nytrashman]

Oh,OH!

If true, "Lucy...you've got some 'splaining to do!"

i have watched this thread for approx the past week and since there has been no response defending the alleged actions i would have to say that the board is "guilty as charged" if this is not the case then lets hear there side, but the deafening silence on there part does not cast them in a favorable light.

[xp8103]

i have watched this thread for approx the past week and since there has been no response defending the alleged actions i would have to say that the board is "guilty as charged" if this is not the case then lets hear there side, but the deafening silence on there part does not cast them in a favorable light.

Seriously? So what you are implying is that the conversation between someone from the MOA and the hotel manager might have gone something like this:

Hotel: Hello. Redmond Plywood Ranch Hotel

MOA: Hi, this is xxxxxxx from the BMW MOA.

Hotel: Oh, Hi xxxxxxx. How are your preparations going for the rally? We're excited about having you folks come to Redmond and we're going to roll out the red carpet!

MOA: Everything is falling into place nicely. Except that I don't think we reserved enough rooms for the Rally volunteer staff. Do you have anything left out of the xxx that we blocked off?

Hotel: Oh no. Ummmmm.... I'm afraid we're booked up solid. We've had calls all week about rooms and really there are only a couple that the general public have reserved. Your membership has the rest. There are always going to be cancellations, I could call you if.....

MOA: Dammit. Well, we need those rooms. Why don't you go ahead and cancel the reservations of a couple of our members. We're a hearty bunch, we ride BMWs. They won't mind sleeping under their bikes on the ground. Yeah, I think that would be best. Just go ahead and cancel those reservations.

[Voni]

i have watched this thread for approx the past week and since there has been no response defending the alleged actions i would have to say that the board is "guilty as charged" if this is not the case then lets hear there side, but the deafening silence on there part does not cast them in a favorable light.

Seriously, how many times and how many ways does it have to be explained that the Board works through communication with us in many channels that do NOT include coming to the forum and getting beaten up?

Voni

[SUE]

i have watched this thread for approx the past week and since there has been no response defending the alleged actions i would have to say that the board is "guilty as charged" if this is not the case then lets hear there side, but the deafening silence on there part does not cast them in a favorable light.

sigh ....

And this, my friends, is why so many of the board members don't even READ the forum.

From my foggy memory:
First, a message to Jack: On behalf of the board, let me apologize if you were one of the people affected by the major room-reservation snafu in Redmond. I am apologizing - not because the MOA did anything wrong, but because it is what people do in a polite society, expressing their sympathies when something happens out of everyone's control, resulting in an unfortunate experience for a friend.

Briefly (if I recall correctly) -- the host hotel in Redmond had a personnel switch in early 2010 resulting with information & contracts not transferred at their level. This resulted in rooms being double booked by the hotel. The MOA was not a player in this until very close to the rally dates, when the problem was brought to light. At that time, the signed contract was sent to the hotel & the MOA staff moved heaven and earth to try to accommodate everyone. It sounds like Jack's reservation was one that could not be fixed/saved/corrected.

Board member hat off:
Why are you always assuming the worst about us? Jeez-Oh-Pete ... give it a rest, will ya?
Board member hat back on.

[GREGFEELER]

i have watched this thread for approx the past week and since there has been no response defending the alleged actions i would have to say that the board is "guilty as charged" if this is not the case then lets hear there side, but the deafening silence on there part does not cast them in a favorable light.

You many have been watching this thread but not the calender. Jack posted his reply stating the MOA office said they took some rooms late the evening of Sept. 2nd. That was Friday night of a three-day holiday weekend and there was no opportunity to follow up on this until yesterday. Unfortunately, Tuesday was booked for me, but I do intend to investigate and report back to Jack.

[Weasel]

My gosh...if I go to the rally in Missouri, the last place I'd want to be is in a hotel room. You miss all the action, to be sure. I've seen too many hotel rooms. I wanna be where the bikes are. I'm sure it will be hot and miserable that time of year, but so what. I go to Antique bike rallies in all kinds of nasty, hot weather, and no one complains. The focus is on the bikes...I didn't go to Redmond, but did hear about the SNAFU with the hotel rooms. Stuff happens. Focus...bikes...focus...comraderie...focus...anoth er great rally to tell tales about.

[squiffynimrod]

My gosh...if I go to the rally in Missouri, the last place I'd want to be is in a hotel room. You miss all the action, to be sure. I've seen too many hotel rooms. I wanna be where the bikes are. I'm sure it will be hot and miserable that time of year, but so what. I go to Antique bike rallies in all kinds of nasty, hot weather, and no one complains. The focus is on the bikes...I didn't go to Redmond, but did hear about the SNAFU with the hotel rooms. Stuff happens. Focus...bikes...focus...comraderie...focus...anoth er great rally to tell tales about.

Well said, Weasel. I didn't go to Bloomsburg, but did go to Redmond. My first National. It was hot in the daytime. I finished the Redmond 1000 in the early afternoon, and after the adrenalin rush HAD to sleep, at about 3 pm in my tent in the blazing sun. It was Bloomsburg hot in there, I'm sure. But like you, it's about the experience. Being around bikes, and riders who are my peers. And there's things that happen at a rally you just can't get anywhere else. Here's some of the examples of what I experienced. I received a hug from THE Voni Glaves at the Redmond 1000 bash when she found out I was a first time attendee. I got to say hi to Matt Parkhouse and tell him how much I appreciate the Keep Em Flying articles. I got to volunteer in the vintage display. I got drunk and shut down the beer tent one night. I got to see a beautiful example of the Milky Way right overhead at about 3 am. Lemons= lemonade for me. I'm sorry I missed Bloomsburg. If the planets align I'll be in Sedalia and gladly share a beer with you, and anyone else who's getting sick of rally bashing. Folks, the rally committee, chairs and volunteers give up their valuable time for us to enjoy ourselves. I, for one, am grateful for their efforts.

[nytrashman]

Seriously, how many times and how many ways does it have to be explained that the Board works through communication with us in many channels that do NOT include coming to the forum and getting beaten up?

Voni

we have two board members that have been commenting in this thread as they see fit. when asked to comment on the alleged actions about some motel rooms they become silent and the old school members defend them with statements like the one i quoted above. i'm sorry but you can't have it both ways, if you do not want to discuss club business on the forums then don't, but don't make comments one min and then use the silent approach because "we don't' discuss cub business on the forums" the next.

as a relatively new member to the MOA it is my understanding that the club is seeking ways to attract new members. you can't have new members come in and expect everything to be status quo. new members mean changes, whether that is when the rally is held or how the board conducts business, but change is inevitable.

some (perhaps many) may think i am a royal PIA with my posts but i assure you if i did not care so much about this organization i would not be posting and questioning things the way i do. i want to see the MOA grow and prosper in the coming years and, perhaps to the dismay of many, that means i post on issues i feel are important. you don't have to agree with me but at least be open to holding an intelligent conversation on topics that to many members, myself included, are important.

[xp8103]

we have two board members that have been commenting in this thread as they see fit. when asked to comment on the alleged actions about some motel rooms they become silent and the old school members defend them with statements like the one i quoted above. i'm sorry but you can't have it both ways, if you do not want to discuss club business on the forums then don't, but don't make comments one min and then use the silent approach because "we don't' discuss cub business on the forums" the next.

What are you wanting them to say? Have you considered the possibility that they may not actually KNOW what happened or why? Also consider that Sue HAS commented on her admittedly vague recollection of events and the President of the MOA has taken your issue and agreed to follow up on it.

How much more feedback do you want?

It's like talking to the "lets move the date to September and pick different venues" crowd. No matter how many times the date and locale criteria are laid out, unless someone from the MOA says "Ok, we're doing it in September someplace cool" the same questions keep getting asked.

[Newstar]

All of this is making me .

Can't we all just get along???

[TED]

While you guys were all arguing I just booked a room with two queen beds for $99 a night less than 10 minutes from the rally.

Just saying.

[greenwald]

While you guys were all arguing I just booked a room with two queen beds for $99 a night less than 10 minutes from the rally.

Just saying.

In fairness to Jack's unfortunate situation from last year, the "proof in the pudding" will be if your $99 reservation is still there next July.

Just saying.