Presidents Message - May 2011

Take a look at your plate…guess what, it’s full!  (Back to your plate in a minute.)  As I write this Pete Smoot and his group are hard at work on the Western Regional Rally scheduled for October 3 – 7, 2011 at the luxurious Las Vegas Motorcoach Resort (formerly Outdoor Resorts).  This is a high-end, full hook up RV resort and the plans for this rally are awesome.  Great location, perfect time of the year, plenty to eat, fun things to do at the rally, and a price that can’t be beat.  Let’s support this 4-chapter (or more, since any ACA member can attend) rally and make your reservations as soon as the information is posted (spaces are limited).

Good news!  We are so lucky we will be hosting the 2012 Fall National Rally for American Coach.  Is that great or what?  So for those of you who just said “or what” here’s the neat thing.  We get to plan it, we get to choose the location, and then we won’t have to do it for several more years!

We’ve got an awesome steering committee who volunteered with enthusiasm.  They are (what’s that, do I hear a drum roll?):  Bob Clapper, Chair; Beverly Petty, Co-Chair; Art & Sandy Bridges, Finance; Pete & Eileen Smoot; and Debbie Darby.  It goes without saying that the next group listed will also be wrapped up in the planning and details (whether they want to or not): Becky Clapper; Ben Petty; and Joe Darby. 

Here are the first details about our National Rally.  Proposed 2012 dates are October 4, 5, 6, 7, 8^th, out on the 9^th.  Now what’s a bit whacky about these dates is October 4^th is a Thursday.  We’re trying to keep in mind those members who are still working, so they can incorporate the weekend as part of their vacation. 

Location – we’ve batted around several locations and keep running up against that California problem:  too small, no clubhouse facilities, no place for vendors, no place for new coaches, nothing to do once we get there, etc., etc.  Then we factored in how much time we have to plan this event and do we really want to make it harder on ourselves by spinning our wheels trying to find a new, different, perfect spot for 150 coaches?  Finding this spot in California is just about impossible.  So here’s what we’re thinking:  back to Sam’s Town in Las Vegas, or go way out of the box and try The Oasis!  What’s cool about Sam’s Town is it’s almost turn-key.  They just hosted the October 2010 National Rally and seem very receptive to our return.  On the other hand The Oasis would be slightly different and a new venue for all.  So stay tuned.

Now about your plate (being full and all).  It’s time to step up and volunteer your time.  We’re lucky we have some great people who will handle the lion’s share – the Steering Committee, but we need your help to.  We need it now, and we’ll need it at the rally.  Here’s who have graciously volunteered to be Chairs so far:

·         Registration:  Debbie Darby, Pat Adams

·         Food:  Carole Hoffman and Aleta Weins

·         Ladies Luncheon:  Eileen Smoot and Betty Tilley

·         Decorations:  Peggy and Fred Hodge

·         Souvenir:  Don Katz and Merritt Mosby

·         Parking:  Sal Speziale and Gary Adams

·         Master of Ceremonies:  Jim Hinesly (actually he didn’t volunteer so much as we just gave him the job!)

We need more chair people to run other important committees, those openings are:

·         Entertainment

·         Vendors

·         Dealers/Suppliers

·         Seminars/Meetings

·         Sub group: Golf

·         Sub group: Tours

·         Facilities/Support

·         Golf Carts

·         Information Booth