Closing Ceremony

[Visian]

The earlier comments about making it about the attendees and not the vendors and volunteers makes sense to me.

well, here is the deal, and i am going to stick to the GS Giant session, as it's the only one i am guilty of.

the talk I made *was* about the attendees. there were about 100 attendees in those stands that had a very good time at this event. They enjoyed reliving the experience and sharing it with their friends who didn't get to see the event live. if you think one minute about that is a big time waster, then be a little charitable to others and go buy yourself a coke during that part of the show.

the talk i made thanked the volunteers who helped put this event on, who, btw, are rally attendees, too. It took 20 seconds to thank the top people on the team and show the other names on-screen. while some people may be completely insensitive to the motivational effects of being recognized, i bet they never had a bunch of young & enthusiastic volunteers come up and shake their hands after the show saying "thanks for a great time!" after working their butts off for the past 5 days.

and, if it weren't for vendors we wouldn't even have grand prizes & sponsorships worth nearly one hundred thousand dollars, meaning we wouldn't have to sit through a boring giveaway ceremony in the first place. certainly there are shorter ways to give supporting vendors their due, which we should implement. but i'd personally take the current approach over the lifeless, no, soul-less but yes, shorter closing ceremonies being recommended, and i sat through both of versions of them.

ok, now i will SHUT UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP! ( sorry rob)

ian

[Visian]

We have noticed: even when you are incorrect, you are right. You do a lot of good here. A reality check is in order. Read what's been written. Go forth and do briefer.

thanks for the complement, i think.

fwiw, i set the timer on my phone to 2 minutes and started it when i started talking. if i set my timer wrong, then shame on me, but i walked up to that mic with every intent of keeping it really, really short.

when the timer went off, i wrapped up very shortly afterwards. so shortly that i forgot to recognize one of our sponsors.

a happy mistake, btw, as it led to what some say was the most interesting moment of the rally: The GS Giant riding his new toy out to the track and getting it dirty.

to each his/her own, i guess.

ian

[bobfromva]

I have attended a lot of Rallies but this one will go down in history for me. I do feel bad for the Organizers, because they had no control over the weather. Unfortunately the venue had little control over their AC. The vendor areas were hot hot hot...and that was inside. I went there with a big laundry list of things I wanted to buy, but honestly had no energy to even consider trying on pants or even buying a new helmet I needed.

I think, the vendors were even happier to see this rally over.

No need to comment about the closing ceremony. Everybody else echos my exact thoughts....too long...too long...and the cars needed to END!

The good thing is that I still had the opportunity to visit with old friends and make some new ones...so....I guess thats what this rally was suppose to be all about.

[azgman]

I think the vendors that donate prizes deserve recognition. Having them speak at closing ceremonies is not the way.

Here is an idea. How about giving away some major prizes between sets during evening entertainment? It would let the vendor talk to a friendly audience. Give people tickets to drop in upon arrival, if it's a must be present to win prize, then people should drop off tickets when they arrive!!

Great idea Gail!

[statdawg]

I'm glad that we got some feedback after my comments. I certainly did not disparage the GS Giant concept, ONLY the AMOUNT of time spent on it relative to other worthy topics:

To requote myself: "GS Giant was a big time-waster and didn't deserve the amount of program time it took."

Great feedback, I hope they are listening!

Mark

Mark, I humbly accept your feedback due to your life experience but the GS Giant, a new MOA event, generated alot of funding that was given to the MOA to be given back to us the organizers to purchase goods and services. So at my level of understanding, I don't know how one could recognise with time restraints or ignore such generous contributors and keep the doors open for future event funding. There is more here than a few extra words in a closing event speech by my Co-Chair Ian. Like where is the beef in the future ?

What would you expect in return if you gave considerable amount of funding to an organization even if the event was self serving company exposure ?

Thank You

[dorongrudo]

While the booing was a disappointment to me, I think all of us on the stage understood, and took no offense. At least we had some shade - - many of the people in the stands did not. We were all aware of that fact.

We all agree that the awards ceremony went on too long. We will try to do better.

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The booing was not a disappointment (to me). The fact that the crowd booed, the flame cars kept on doing their low brow thing and the crowd did not riot WAS a disappointment to me. At least, like the free people we all claim to be, the crowd should have gotten up and left. Leave the honored ones on stage in the shade with their flame throwing cars.
Do I sound angry? - you should have seen me then !!!

[dorongrudo]

[QUOTE=Visian;699805]well, here is the deal, and i am going to stick to the GS Giant session, as it's the only one i am guilty of.

but i'd personally take the current approach over the lifeless, no, soul-less but yes, shorter closing ceremonies being recommended, and i sat through both of versions of them.
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You got it all wrong.
We are the ones that sold our souls to get "something-for-nothing". Do guys go to rallys to get free stuff? What is all that craziness with "gifts" and vendors giving prizes? It all looks worse and worse the more comments I read.
It is about motorcycles, friends and riding. Wake up guys and smell the coffee.