[SERCAmembers] Convention track day (Time Trials)

[George Roffe]

Kieran A. Lavin wrote:

>Something I've been meaning to deal with... those who are interested
>in hosting or helping to host the convention next year should put
>together a formal proposal.

Well, I guess there is a first time for everything.  Never had them in the
past.  For my part, I will spend my time on making things happen.  If
another group gets their act together first, that's perfectly fine by me.

>I've received one so far and it is pretty impressive.  I'd like to see a
>proposal with a preliminary schedule of events, location, track
>information, hotel information, etc.

Does this proposal have a firm track deal?  If so, we will back off.  If
not, we will continue to pursue a track day at our end.

>We need dedicated individuals and need that to show.

We have them.  Six volunteers already with a strong core and two who have
done this before.

>I've also heard rumors of Texas and Chicago.

Texas is not a rumor.

>We'll probably discuss the 2005 convention at the next mIRC meeting and
>then announce a public session after that at which everyone will be
>invited to speak up.  Hopefully by July 1 or so we can have a vote on the
>council level of where the next convention should be after evaluating all
>of the proposals.

As always, the convention will be wherever a group of volunteers pulls one
together.  Unless SERCA national is going to fund and staff the convention,
all the voting in the world will not make it happen.

I don't mean to be negative about this, and at some point this will become
a necessity.  But so far there have yet to be two groups ready, willing,
and able to put one together an pull it off in the same year.  For my part,
if another group gets it together, I'd be happy to back out and just be
able to attend rather than put it together.  But, we already have started
down the road, so until some other group has it together, we'll keep going
down that road.  I'm damned sure not going to put something together at the
last minute if another group cannot pull it off.

George Roffe
Houston, TX
http://www.nissport.com