2011 Rally ..Just thinking

[ktp_guy]

I thought, at one time, we were going to announce the rally locations two years in advance. I know we missed the 2008 Rally and will miss the 2010 Rally mostly because we couldn't schedule the vacation time early enough to make the rally.

For those of us on the right side of the Mississippi, a western rally is more than a week's vacation. I'm sure an eastern rally is the same for our members on the left side of the Mississippi.

I don't want to take anything away from the 2010 Rally, but it would be nice to able to include the 2011 Rally in our travel plans.

[Madame Boomer]

Ktp_guy -

The National Rally process involves a lot of organization and we are trying diligently to get on a schedule where iRV2 members know 2-3 years out where they will be so we can adjust our vacation schedules to be able to come.

Every year, we are faced with the daunting fact that our members are spread throughout the country and realize that one National Rally isn't going to be accessible to everyone...no matter how hard we try! Even "middle America" is a long haul for those on either coast.

We'll miss ya'll out in Az in 2010 and hope to be able to post something soon about the 2011. Keep checking back!

Sandy

[small5]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madame Boomer Ktp_guy - The National Rally process involves a lot of organization and we are trying diligently to get on a schedule where iRV2 members know 2-3 years out where they will be so we can adjust our vacation schedules to be able to come. Every year, we are faced with the daunting fact that our members are spread throughout the country and realize that one National Rally isn't going to be accessible to everyone...no matter how hard we try! Even "middle America" is a long haul for those on either coast. We'll miss ya'll out in Az in 2010 and hope to be able to post something soon about the 2011. Keep checking back! Sandy

Anything new?

[TXiceman]

There has been some discussion and trying to figure out the best way and pattern to do the rallies. If you have any suggestions, we will surely listen to you. The problem is finding a place than accommodate a large group and still have activities in the area that will interest everyone. Next is finding a willing Wagon Master to run the show.

Ken

[bdaball]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXiceman There has been some discussion and trying to figure out the best way and pattern to do the rallies. If you have any suggestions, we will surely listen to you. The problem is finding a place than accommodate a large group and still have activities in the area that will interest everyone. Next is finding a willing Wagon Master to run the show. Ken

What are the anticipated numbers, etc.??
Maybe the members could provide some choices...

[NLOVNIT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdaball What are the anticipated numbers, etc.?? Maybe the members could provide some choices...

We can usually count on a minimum of about 40 rigs. We generally look for a place having full hook ups with a mix of pull-thru's & back-in's, shade for those that want it/open sites for those with satellite, easy access to state routes or interstates, a meeting house or pavillion for our pot-lucks/catered dinners/& gatherings, & like Ken stated, enough area attractions to interest folks of all ages. Attractions within about an hour or so of the Rally campground make for good daylong chartered excursions.

We'd love to get members' input. Since this year's Rally is in the west & the '09 Rally was east, I think it would be nice for it to be somewhere near the geographical center of the states for 2011. No matter where we hold it, there can be a lot of driving for some which may cause folks to forego the trip in hopes the next year's Rally will be closer to them.

There can also be more than 1 Wagonmaster. Putting a National Rally together takes planning & is best when shared.

Lori-

[cb5300]

Here's a pretty nice place...About 4 miles off of the Interstate, not far from Dollywood, and enough shopping and attractions to keep everybody of all ages busy. Campground is a nice place that I would rate a 4 on a 5 scale.

Riverside Campground & RV Resort Sevierville, TN

[NLOVNIT]

Thanks, cb5300. The 2006 National Rally was at River Plantation in Sevierville. There certainly IS a lot to do in that area.

Lori-

[JMonroe]

Thinking "Central", the Branson / Ozarks area comes to mind.

[NLOVNIT]

Our 2002 & 2007 National Rallies were held in Branson. A wonderful area & quite centrally located. Are there other things in that area, besides Branson, or even somewhere else in that state which would possibly draw our members?

Lori-

[JMonroe]

For our one trip to the general area we actually stayed a bit south of there, in a very quaint little town called Eureka Springs Arkansas ( Eureka Springs, The Extraordinary Escape or The OFFICIAL Eureka Springs, Arkansas website - in the Beautiful Ozark Mountains ). We loved the area. While we didn't get to it, just down the road from where we stayed was the Passion play. The Thorncrown chapel nearby is not to be missed ( Thorncrown Chapel ). When we stopped to visit the chapel a tour bus had just stopped too, a church group. Their minister and the chapel's on site host sang a couple hymns. It was great.

While we were there there was a parade through their downtown. Very eclectic. We commented at the time that we might have expected to see something similar in, say, San Francisco. A lot of fun. I don't remember what 'festival' it was exactly, but while sitting in the town square park, right next to the town mayor, she told us that every few weeks there's some festival or celebration going on. It's an artist's community with a lot of victorian era homes, many of which have been restored. There's a 'trolley' tour that runs a regular schedual from the chamber of commerce building. All in all, we really enjoyed the week we spent there. We made one day trip up to Branson, which is about 45 minutes north, as I recall.

[TXiceman]

The other major requirement is a adequate indoor rally area for our use.....


And anther thing to consider....maybe two regional shorter rallies on 2011 and then back to a national in 2012????

Ken

[Elkhartjim]

Rafter J Bar Ranch - Home
Custard State Park, Mt Rushmore, Deadwood, 1880 train ride, The Badlands National Park, Crazy Horse memorial, Needles hwy, Spearfish canyon.

They don't have a building/pavilion but they do have a large tent that they use to serve breakfast each morning. However, the owner told me last summer that have a building in the planning stage. Might be ready by 2011 (?).

BTW...last July, we had to use the heat pumps some mornings to knock the chill out of the air.

[Hitchhiker]

We used a large rental tent (60x120) at the 2005 National in Lancaster, PA, it worked out good.