Rally Chat More rally's and meets needed?

Ambilkate

Ambilkate

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Been giving this a lot of thought especially now the winter is nearly upon us . Luckily for some they will be venturing of to warmer climates . For those of us left at home it can get a bit boring to say the least sooo . Ideas thoughts needed .We have been to some meets with Fun & MCC were schools colleges etc have been used a warm room usually provided .could be a risk for initial layout costs for the person wanting to do it is there any way round it ? MCC seem to have worked there way round such meets . Have any of you been thinking of doing anything similar . We loved Kens soul weekend and Hagnaps meets in the past so for those interested let's all put our thinking caps on and see if we could come up with ideas etc .
 
Good thread, Kate. My initial thoughts would be the possibility of hiring a village hall, if it has sufficient suitable parking for MH's.
Obviously, if costs are incurred then deposits would have to be requested.
 
Kate, the meet of Haganap's at the Knutsford hall was really good... Limited number of vans but so what ... It was the No Meat Meet ... don't know why called that as there was definitely meat there. :)
 
Double click on first photo and then single click on that and you will get a run through.

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Winter meets usually get a coald reception tried to raise interest a few times like raising the dead
Bill
 
Yes think there needs to be a really good evening event to encourage people to venture out on a cold evening
A couple of suggestions are the Bridgewater carnival (absolutely brilliant) and on a smaller scale Matlock illuminations
 
The C & CC Folk Song & Dance section have regular meets involving village halls with carparks large enough to accommodate quite a few MHs.

Ones we've been to include Lower Brailes in Warwickshire and Beckford in Worcestershire. Local ones coming up are Hanbury and Shatterford, Worcs,
 
We manage to get off just as much in the winter as the summer.
Usually by ourselves to various favourite CL'S or with CCC . And the MCC section . If you want to go to the social rooms or marquee's they ( very nearly always ) provide , you can.
In fact I remember going to Hawes one winter. When we were walking past the little stone built room they use , for social gatherings, ( to the pub!) we heard our very own Suggs singing " and it's hey ho never........." !
Granted they aren't funsters rallies, but a few of you could arrange to go , and have a meet within a rally ??
Plus they are a cheaper way of getting out , rather than using campsites.
 
The best 'closed' season venue I've been to in recent years with a club is Cheltenham race course. The caravan club site is utilised after it closes in mid October, all hardstanding and hookups available (at additional cost if wanted). The hardstanding in front of the 'Best Mate' stand is a bit sloping but gives a great view. The town 'Park & Ride' is in the main car park, a few minutes walk and the Gloucestershire Warwickshire railway runs steam trains over many weekends from the station in the racecourse (10 minute walk)Link RemovedSevern Valley MCC used to book it for the fireworks display every year, but that stopped a few years ago and a couple of railway groups. Sorry, never been involved in setting anything up at this location, so no contacts.
Very similar venue to @haganap wonderful New Years meet at Uttoxeter.
 
We tend to use Mcc up till Xmas then we park it up for the next 2 or 3 months depending on how wet and windy it gets.
 
The simple thing to do is look in your caravan club meets or ccc meetdo that they do.
You then see which village halls they use and you then contact and book it having gone first to view is suitability..

I can never understand that 120 plus vans want to go to a show yet none of those want to arrange a simple get together at a village hall which is often more personal and more fun.

Nikki and I have done plenty over the years despite both having full time jobs and for the most part a young family..

Think we are awaiting the retired to step up to the mark now. .

Winter is the best time to be out in your van imo
 
the fix it meet is probably on for next year venue and date to be confirmed
bill

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We attended the Bridgwater carnival meet that Daventry from Motorhometoday forum arranged. Unfortunately none have been organised since, which is a shame as it was a great venue close to the carnival route and a hall to use in the evening. Maybe somebody from Bridgwater can resurect for 2017?
 
We have just had a meet with the N+B owners club at Worksop, why Worksop? you might ask, well there is a small campsite a few hundred yards from the town centre, a cricket club house who made us welcome at their bar. We managed 13 vans which was all the site could take at the time but it's a great number to get to know people, you can arrange a meal out or just all go to wetherspoons etc etc.

My guess is that if anybody puts something on the forum they would soon get some company.

Lots going on in Shrewsbury Kate @Ambilkate and there is always the chance of negotiating a room to use if the weather inclement.

Martin
 
funflair said:
We have just had a meet with the N+B owners club at Worksop, why Worksop? you might ask, well there is a small campsite a few hundred yards from the town centre, a cricket club house who made us welcome at their bar. We managed 13 vans which was all the site could take at the time but it's a great number to get to know people, you can arrange a meal out or just all go to wetherspoons etc etc.

My guess is that if anybody puts something on the forum they would soon get some company.

Lots going on in Shrewsbury Kate @Ambilkate and there is always the chance of negotiating a room to use if the weather inclement.

Martin
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Hi Martin I did have a long chat with the people at Shrewsbury and there is loads of stuff going on during the year . They are going to email me with events for the year. There is a carbooty's type market on there thought that would be good but was waiting to see the room at new year and see what the site itself is like before I jump in and arrange anything. The idea of this thread I was hoping was to see who else would be interested in doing or helping with meets .
X Kate
 
As it has been said, MCC and CCC hold winter rallies. The obvious is they have an annual membership fee. Therefore if cash for the organiser is the stumbling block, either a yearly fee, or 2 Fold Membership Card is a possible answer.
Not personally interested in regions, meetings, committees etc, the strangle hold and slow death knell of many organisations.BN included.
But their could be a holding National Treasurer using an escrow account, that organisers could loan from. Fund raising at the event could make up cash difference and pass on excess.
 
RanC said:
As it has been said, MCC and CCC hold winter rallies. The obvious is they have an annual membership fee. Therefore if cash for the organiser is the stumbling block, either a yearly fee, or 2 Fold Membership Card is a possible answer.
Not personally interested in regions, meetings, committees etc, the strangle hold and slow death knell of many organisations.BN included.
But their could be a holding National Treasurer using an escrow account, that organisers could loan from. Fund raising at the event could make up cash difference and pass on excess.
Click to expand...
I personally do not want MHF to end up like the CC or C&CC. It is mainly a forum devised and run by @Jim and the money we pay each year goes towards Jim's costs and so he can make some profit for all the time he devotes to the forum.

Meets and rallies we may organise in MHF's name are for fun as well, and any money they make has to go to charity and does not go back to either the organiser or Jim (Jim's rules). That is the way I like it, as do others I suspect. Those meets and rallies (aside form the ones for the shows) are run by volunteers.

The only way that CC and C&CC hold so many rallies is that they have lots of standing committees who are there to do this. I, like you, do not think that is the right way to go. So that means we are reliant upon ad hoc volunteers. I suspect that the reasons that there are few winter rallies is firstly that they are not particularly popular because of the weather risks and secondly because most of the people on the forum who would run or go to them are in sunnier places over the winter.

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For sure there are less Funsters either at home or interested in going out in their motorhome during the winter months and indeed I think any winter rallies/meets would need to be completely different formats as not many want to sit out in a field a freeze their bits off.

How much interest would there be? Don't know until somebody tests it I guess, yes New Year is popular but that is a special occasion.

Martin
 
Someone "organised" a meet up at the Canterbury P+R some time ago, a venue like that, or a repeat, would be good at a time of year when it is not so busy. I think the group also organised a meal one evening.
 
Whitebirdyman said:
Someone "organised" a meet up at the Canterbury P+R some time ago, a venue like that, or a repeat, would be good at a time of year when it is not so busy. I think the group also organised a meal one evening.
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Canterbury park and ride is an Aire, if it starts to be a venue for meets it may not be a Aire for long, just an observation.;)
 
kevan said:
Canterbury park and ride is an Aire, if it starts to be a venue for meets it may not be a Aire for long, just an observation.;)
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You might be right if there were consistent complaints from people who could not get on the aired because some others had arranged to meet up there. I can't see there is anything wrong with an informal arrangement to meet up with others so long no-one blocked empty spaces to keep them for people arriving later.

I did hear of a group arranging to meet at the Canterbury CCC site and having a meal at Polo Farm (that is a nearby sports centre for those who do not know the area, @kevan and I being local).
 
I haven't considered the ' who would attend question' just thought about what sort of place. Main thing must be hard standing followed by water supply and grey/black disposal. Livestock auction sites seem to fit the bill and are rarely used more than once a week, often only once a month. Many country towns have them and not all run car boot sales at weekends.
Perhaps those living in such places and who are interested could put out feelers.
Not me, as you know I favour warmer climes. ( Even if we have had several thunder storms over the past few days).

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Malcolm Bolt said:
I haven't considered the ' who would attend question' just thought about what sort of place. Main thing must be hard standing followed by water supply and grey/black disposal. Livestock auction sites seem to fit the bill and are rarely used more than once a week, often only once a month. Many country towns have them and not all run car boot sales at weekends.
Perhaps those living in such places and who are interested could put out feelers.
Not me, as you know I favour warmer climes. ( Even if we have had several thunder storms over the past few days).
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One more thing to add to your "must have" is a place for everybody to sit in the warm and have a chat. No point in arranging a meeting if people just sit in their motorhomes because it is too cold to go out.
 
Ive organised over 30 meets for fun in all seasons in all weathers..we have never worried about who would come or how many or what people want to do when they get there.
We have had people come and stay in their vans all weekend and never come out and leave the best reviews ever..
We have arranged meets where we have had to do nothing more than turn up and every one else has mucked in and taken over.
Many many funsters have joined as a result of the meets we and others have put on over the years..

We have taken the decision to probably make new years the last for us. We have done all these meets whilst both working full time and for many of the early meets raising a young family.
Organising meets is one of the most rewarding things you can do and a great way to get too meet people.
So stop talking about it-find a venue like your local village hall-grab a theme and stick it up..go on your retired with plenty of time on your hands... ;-)
 
peterc10 said:
One more thing to add to your "must have" is a place for everybody to sit in the warm and have a chat. No point in arranging a meeting if people just sit in their motorhomes because it is too cold to go out.
Click to expand...

Indeed, I haven't made any enquries but livestock auction sites often areas indoors. The sale ring for one and there is often a cafe.

Just thoughts I'm sure others will know of other venue types.
 
haganap said:
Ive organised over 30 meets for fun in all seasons in all weathers..we have never worried about who would come or how many or what people want to do when they get there.
We have had people come and stay in their vans all weekend and never come out and leave the best reviews ever..
We have arranged meets where we have had to do nothing more than turn up and every one else has mucked in and taken over.
Many many funsters have joined as a result of the meets we and others have put on over the years..

We have taken the decision to probably make new years the last for us. We have done all these meets whilst both working full time and for many of the early meets raising a young family.
Organising meets is one of the most rewarding things you can do and a great way to get too meet people.
So stop talking about it-find a venue like your local village hall-grab a theme and stick it up..go on your retired with plenty of time on your hands... ;-)
Click to expand...

Wow 30+ meets Paul "respect" but I reckon you still have a few more in you as well, you are right though that it is also time for others to take up the challenge and yes it is rewarding to put on a meet and see everybody enjoy themselves and ultimately go home happy.

Martin
 
haganap said:
Ive organised over 30 meets for fun in all seasons in all weathers..we have never worried about who would come or how many or what people want to do when they get there.
We have had people come and stay in their vans all weekend and never come out and leave the best reviews ever..
We have arranged meets where we have had to do nothing more than turn up and every one else has mucked in and taken over.
Many many funsters have joined as a result of the meets we and others have put on over the years..

We have taken the decision to probably make new years the last for us. We have done all these meets whilst both working full time and for many of the early meets raising a young family.
Organising meets is one of the most rewarding things you can do and a great way to get too meet people.
So stop talking about it-find a venue like your local village hall-grab a theme and stick it up..go on your retired with plenty of time on your hands... ;-)
Click to expand...
Hi
Never been to one of your meets as only joined last Year and have enjoyed all the ones we could fit in. I posted this because I sense frustration from you which I can understand. We used to organise, change of subject, football, home and away tickets including transport, flights,hotels ect and had enormous pleasure when it all came off. If, in the future I can do something to help this wonderful, club ? association? as I seen debates on here about this,then I will. My problem at the moment and am sure with lots on here is, although being retired we have elderly parent problems and recently daughter's marriage,with three children, breaking up.
We don't know each other and I sincerely hope from what I read from other funsters that we do in the future. So,at the end of that,what more can I ramble on ( sounds a bit like E. Clapton. GOD ) about, please stick with it and hope to meet up sometime next year.
Ray

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