International meet

[Edsel Face]

Since 2010, if my research is correct, there have been only 2 International Meets west of Missouri. The other 13 have, or will be held, in the eastern states Why is that?

[mbstude]

It's all dependent on an active group of SDCers that are willing to do the work and host an event.

[Mark L]

Someone from our Board of Directors or Cornerstone Registration should be able to answer this: What % of members with addresses in the US and Canada are west of Missouri's location on the map?

[garyash]

The current center of the U.S. population, and hence the SDC membership, is now in Hartville, MO, so half the population does lie west of MO. But, as Matt said above, it takes volunteers to put on a meet. Does this week’s meet in Iowa count as being in the West?

[Edsel Face]

I would say it's in the center, not the west.

[6hk71400]

Bing,b
Let's say you convince your local SDC chapter ttaccepts you proposal. You as chairman now have as an unpaid volunteer a full time 60-80 a week job for a year

You now need an army of volunteers to pull this off. On top of that, the chapter runs the risk of losing money.

Where next years meet is being in Pittsburgh is you draw a circle 500 miles from the center you have 50 percent of SDC membership. That is not the case when the meet was held in Las Vegas Phoenix or Denton Texas where the 2026 meet will be held.

So the $64,000 question is are you or anyone else in the west willing to step up and make a presentation? By the way, the weather great here in Iowa,

[6hk71400]

Sorry for duplicate post

[PeterHawk]

How much consideration has been given to selecting an outside contractor who could run an International Meet?

[Skip Lackie]

I think only a current member of the board or IM committee could answer that WRT current thinking -- but it was discussed off and on in past years. The big hang-up is always our reputation for being CASOs -- cheap hotels and low registration fees are mandatory for many members. Contractors who know how to conduct a big meet are expensive. Middle ground can be found if the meet is conducted at a resort-type venue -- one that provides a full range of services in exchange for all attendees renting rooms from their host hotel. An example was the Dover meet -- a large hotel associated with a casino and race track and acres of parking for the latter facilities. The hotel provided a number of worker bees that helped out in a variety of ways, and thereby reduced the need for the local chapter to provide that labor.

Other clubs with somewhat more wealthy members use this approach all the time.

[PeterHawk]

I guess that the CASO reputation is just another way for keeping the SDC Brokerage Account (currently valued at over one million dollars) in tact.

[Avantidon]

Skip is correct in his statements about outside contractors for events. For over 20 years I ran multiple events across this country for a major corporation and other large Concours type automobile e events. It was an expensive undertaking for the groups. As Skip points out an all inclusive resort type facility is the way to go for these large events run by a contractor/event coordinator. The SDC costs for running an event pale in contrast to a major corporation and to those large Concours type events. In the car world over the past several years, Hagerty has begun to run many of the prestigious auto events because local groups could no longer do it.

[Milaca]

With costs rising, perhaps we need to consider a less formal meet. Strip a meet to its bare essentials (a two-day car show and swap meet) so that it requires less funding and fewer individuals to operate.

[studefan]

Bingo Milaca! This is what I have been saying for years. The club does not need to support, pay for, or provide logistics for Lady's luncheons, ice cream socials, tours of local attractions, etc. Folks can decide for themselves what they want to do in the surrounding areas. Just plan a car event and swap meet. That's all that 95% of attendees really care about.

Also, shorten the meet and run it from Friday to Sunday or Thursday to Sunday. Attendance by club members and non-Stude people interested in something do on the weekend will increase. Overall, the costs will go down and attendance will go up. These are simple changes/improvements that will make a big difference.

[StudeNewby]

Works for me!

[mbstude]

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend this year's meet in Iowa but friends that were there assured me I missed a great time.

Next year's meet is in Pennsylvania and I think it'll be a good one. There's a large concentration of the SDC membership in that part of the country, with a lot of nice cars. I went to a zone meet in Gettysburg about a decade ago and the turnout was pretty impressive.

The last time my '53 Commander was at a national meet was in 2002. I think it may have to make the trip to PA.

[Clippertown]

Wow I couldn't disagree more. All the tours (driving and bus) seminars, socials, etc are what distinguish an International Meet from just another car show on a parking lot. Visiting and learning about the local area is part of the fun of attending an International Meet. For the who just want a car show and a swap meet, don't sign up for the other events.

[studefan]

Clippertown, the point is that something needs to change. Costs and the need for a large number of people to host/support an International meet have become an issue and the "old' way can't be sustained. I do think that it would be great to continue with the technical seminars and items like that as those tend to be volunteer events. If you have any other ideas to save on costs and manpower, please share those.