Answer me this!?!?!?!?!?

[Gavin Allan]

I think Rich nailed this one. The timing during school year, the hurricanes, the gas prices, and the overall worry about the economy and our future is what kept folks away.



Dallas is only 500 miles from me, easily reached in a day. I really wanted to go and meet the folks on this board, and see the new SportTrac (and I LOVE going to state fairs!). Also, due to national SkillsUSA conference in Kansas City, I can never make the meet in June. However, I have already cancelled a couple of other trips due to the rising costs of gas and everything else, and I just didn't want to leave home right now.



Please don't start flaming me, because I don't think I ever promised or said that I would be able to attend the Dallas meet. The only thing I have ever promised and not yet followed up on was the thread a month or so ago regarding a potential group buy on a locking gas cap (but I haven't heard any more about this one).



I appreciate Rich Stern's work to set up the meet and the work to keep this website going. I also appreciate Ford's contributions and work. I do want to participate someday when I am able, and I do want to meet some of the fine folks on this board.



Anyway, this year has been a humdinger with the hurricanes, terrorists, wars, and other stuff hitting the news regularly. Lets all pray that things quiet down soon, and we can get back to living life, having more fun, and being content.

 

[Gypsy me]

I drove from Az, 1128 mls to go. Took my daughter who is a sr this year. (she brought her school work with her) One member flew in from CA and and one drove from NY, a couple of members drove in from CA. One from FL, KS,IA, 2 from MO, oh and I think 2 from GA. And a few from Dallas, FT Worth, Waco, and other Tx cities came.



Although we wished more could have come we all really do understand when things come up.



Do you all really want a National meet? Does it really matter where it is?



As Paul stated Ford is very open to hosting this. In Louieville you have the production plant, in Detroit/Dearborn you have the Design team, in Az you have a proving ground. All of these places and in other States Ford has something to see and learn about.



Does it matter where the National meet is held for you? If your answer yes due to gas prices, start saving funds now, b/c you may want to go if there is a next one.



If your answer is school and kids plan ahead and I'm sure the committee will take this into concideration, however Ford does play a big factor in this timing.



If your answer is I'd like to go but... then do what you can to come to the next one start planning now.



All I know is everyone that posts about ANY meet local or national wants to have one but wants it in their back yard or near by. That is understandable. *a reason why I made it to the Dallas meet* But then I think of the folks that drove 1400 to 1500 miles to come and even flew in and came without their trac. And why? Because these folks really did want to come and nothing was going to stop them.



Any ST meet is for YOU folks that really want to meet and see other members and their tracs AND show off yours, to get answers or maybe even help with projects. To have fun.



Believe me, not one member that has hosted a meet or has helped with a meet gets paid to do it, and usually loses money out of their own pockets to do special things for the folks that attend.



Meets are ALL for YOU members that own Sport Tracs. We are either United in the National meet and local meets or we are not. It's really up to you members as to what happens in the future. Keep that in mind.



I really wish you all could have made this years National meet! It sure was alot of FUN!



One more thing, for those of you that say you are coming and then don't show. My first thought is ....I wonder if something terrible has happened on their trip, I hope nobody got into a wreck, I hope everything is ok. If none of this happened that's GREAT news, and you were missed at the meet!



In no way am I pointing fingers at anyone by way of my post. I just wanted everyone to know it takes more than just planning a meet...it take YOU ALL to make the meet happen.