Future of the Virginia Rally (of interest to Va Guzzisti)

[Ronkom]

 Guzzisti,
After the 2013 Va Guzzi rally  Kurt & Sue Nordstrom stepped up & took over the  rallymasters job. Doing our 33rd & 34th annual rallies,  Kurt & Sue guided us through a move to a new rally site, and an upgrading/streamlining of "the way we've always done it". The results were successful rallies in 2014 & 2015, smiles all around. Unfortunately, after the 2015 rally this past June, Kurt told me that he & Sue would have to bow out as rally masters. Kurt has a long term medical issue to deal with, & doesn't feel he'll have the energy/focus to do the kind of job he would like.  On behalf of the Virginia Guzzi Riders and rally volunteers Alice & I extend our thanks to Kurt & Sue for a job well done.
Over the summer I have talked to some of folks who have been active in Va. Guzzi activities. So far, no one has expressed an interest in taking on the rallymasters job. So, I'm throwing it open to the group. If we are to continue the tradition of having a "full boat" rally, we need someone to step up as rallymaster. Of course there are  questions, A couple basic points:
 
1. Nothing is "set in stone" I have our regular last weekend in June date reserved at Willville, and the second weekend in October reserved at Glen Maury. So a new rallymaster has two options, but if he/she wants to move the rally somewhere else, a couple phone calls will cancel those reservations in a heart-beat. Almost all the rally gear is packed in a 5'X8' trailer that can be moved where ever the rally is to be held. Location, format, schedule, etc. rallymaster calls the shots.

2. Help, there is a small core group who have been instrumental in putting on the rally for years (decades!). We are getting older, & I would hope that a new rallymaster could recruit new Guzzi Riders & his/her friends to bring in new energy.  But, we older, experienced hands are willing to do what we can physically, and of course answer questions based on 34 years of putting on rallies. For example, I designed the 2015 t-shirt, the plan being to keep the same design, changing the color of the shirt for several years (as is done for the Western NY & Ohio rallies). The design is on file with a company in Lynchburg who did a good job this year. It can be easily modified for a different rally location. So, I have the 2016  t shirts taken care of if a new rallymaster so desired.

Sound interesting? Please get in touch with us asap & we'll talk details.  (434)993-3841.

Alice & I have talked at length about doing it ourselves again, but we were pretty well burnt out when we turned it over to Roger & Marilyn in 2007. Now, 8 years later (older) we would really have to have strong  dependable support & help. At a minimum we would need:
 
1 Thursday afternoon  unload & set-up crew: (at least 4 people)  Unpack & set-up shelters, coffee, hang banners, etc. so everything is ready to go Friday morning .

2. Door Prizes: A person, couple or a few friends to take on the door prizes. Compose, write & send letters to potential donors. Have prizes shipped in. Bring them to the rally. Display prizes Saturday afternoon. Oversee drawings.  Copies of letters sent, lists of donors, etc. from past rallies are on file, so, this won't be all "cold turkey".

3. Coffee czar: Coffee, creamer, cups etc. will be provided. Coffee czar is responsible for setting up pots w/ timers Thursday, Friday, & Saturday evening, then being up early Friday, Saturday, & Sunday morning to keep the pots in production until the morning rush is over. Sunday morning scrubbing pots & packing up in the trailer (with help from the Sunday morning crew).

4. Awards: Pat Galbraith has been buying regular commercial awards & having them engraved etc. for years. She has volunteered to continue doing that task if necessary.  I am wondering if we don't have a craft-person in the group who might want to take on making something unique to  be awarded. An example would be a used Guzzi part mounted on a wood base with an engraved plate. In the past we have given up to 9 awards + the Chuck Galbraith memorial Loopframe award which Pat provides.

5. Sunday morning  tear down, pack, cleanup crew: (also at least 4 people)  Tear down & pack the rally gear in the trailer. Also help the coffee czar  make sure the coffee pots & any utensils used are scrubbed clean before packing. General clean-up of the rally site.

Well that's it.  Either someone steps up to be rallymaster, or we get people willing to commit to help us do the job.  If this effort fails, we are open to suggestions. It would be a shame to let the 34 year tradition of  a yearly Virginia State Moto Guzzi Rally die with a whimper.

Thanks,

Ron & Alice Komoroski
                   

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Although I'm not a Virginian, I would be willing to arrive a day early to help with set-up and hang around later on Sunday for tear down.

[mojohand]

I also am willing to get there on Thursday and leave late on Sunday. Count me in on that crew. I'll also talk to Bob about doing the coffee--he's always up early anyway and grousing about coffee ;)

I'll be glad to set up eventbrite.com for registration so we can move into this century ;) and do electronic registrations. Again, I'll talk offline directly to ya about that.

[Ronkom]

I've received a few responses on my email message, and from the Va Guzzi Google page. Enough that I'm reassured that we won't have to let it die. But exactly what we'll end up with ("full boat"........"NotaRally") is still in flux. Stay tuned.
ronkom

[Tom]

Good luck.  I know it's not easy.

[Wild Bill Guzzi]

Ron,

Please give me a call 573.397.2703 

[Ronkom]

I've been working with a potential new rally master for several weeks & things were  looking good. Unfortunately all has fallen through, due to major life changes for both he and his wife.
Plan B is to continue to look for "new blood" to invigorate the rally in the future.
But, for 2016 I have committed to Will that we will have a Virginia Moto Guzzi "Gathering" at Willville In Meadows of Dan Virginia June 24, 25 & 26. Exactly what this will consist of depends on the help Alice & I are able to recruit. So far we have minimum crews, set-up for Thursday afternoon, tear down & pack  for Sunday morning (could use a few more). We have help with getting registration "streamlined" on social media. I have the tshirts covered, & am working on food details, Anybody want to step up & do a one-pot meal for Friday night?.
So far no responses on::
Door prize procurers
Coffee Czar.
"crafty" homemade awards.

Ron