2010 TCC Spring Meet 25-27 March

[Gregg(What's his name)?]

Hi gang hope every one recovered from a fun filled 4th weekend? During our nice Sunday dinner, the Austin TCC started planning on the 2010 TCC Spring Meet.



The Spring Meet dates are 25-27 March 2010. BTW Easter Sunday falls on April 4, 2010.

The first thing that was mentioned was making sure the hotel is available for our annual meeting. I talked with Dee and he had a meeting scheduled for last week, but because his back was bothering him he couldn’t make the meeting. Dee has already been making contact with the hotel on other occasions and some of the sticking points was the parking. The hotel loved us, but doesn’t want to give up all that parking. We can’t blame them for trying to fill up the convention center. The first solution is to convince the Hotel that we brought in almost 300 hotel room days for the weekend Not bad considering it was two weeks after spring break.

Secondly and I think everyone is in an agreement, that we should do away with the tail gate parties. There are enough food courts and restaurants in the area that almost any palate can be satisfied--even during Lent. I think if we can have the hotel cater out Saturday night awards and annual meeting; this gives them a another bone and they might ease up on the parking.

I think one more thing the hotel forgot to consider was the nightly bar tab members of the TCC rang up in the lounge. Not even mentioning the hotel restaurant.

Dee is going to schedule another meeting in the next week or so with the hotel. I plan on going down with Dee and talk with them and hopefully come up with a solution.

One thing we might start preliminary discussions on moving the event back to Austin if we get any bigger.

Which leads me too a topic of concern. If we get bigger we will be needing more help from the outside. If any one has an idea please post it or send to myself at gherdlitchka@austin.rr.com but also add a solution to your idea. We aim to make the 2010 event and beyond even bigger.

I am going to copy this and put this on Club Cobra so the rest of the TCC can view this thread.

Thank you all for being a great bunch of guys and gals.

[jdean]

Gregg,

You guys are starting early!! Good move on doing away with the tailgate events. They were great but we are getting too big for them IMO. I am sure any hotel would rather us not do it, not that that is the deciding factor.

Doesn't mean we still cant hang out on the parking lot.

John

[SoTxButler]

Ditto on the tail gate parties. San Marcos was a great venue...I know the hotel enjoyed having us. From the hotel's perspective, there were an awful lot of little people in that convention center....do their cars only take half a space? (Ooops, should not have said that) If not, I understand the hotel's concerns.

I hope San Marcos works out for 2010.

[jshel1]

Gregg and Dee,

Will the dates coincide again with LPA District 8 Spring Regional Meeting?

[Gregg(What's his name)?]

Originally Posted by jshel1

Gregg and Dee,

Will the dates coincide again with LPA District 8 Spring Regional Meeting?

John,

The dates have not changed. It was changed a few years ago to the last weekend of March unless Easter happens to fall on that weekend. I hope this doesn't ruin your plans.

[elmariachi]

You've got an email.

[charles roybal]

I will have my car painted by Dec. and plan on attending. I belong to a small cobra group out her in west Texas,"Coyote Cobras” and have mention your annual meet to them. Possibly 8-9 cobras may attend form this group in March

[Gregg(What's his name)?]

Charles we hope come on down and enjoy the other side of Texas Hospitality.

[jshel1]

Originally Posted by Gregg(What's his name)?

John,

The dates have not changed. It was changed a few years ago to the last weekend of March unless Easter happens to fall on that weekend. I hope this doesn't ruin your plans.

I'm not that short.

[SSSammy]

Greg and Dee,
I sure trust you guys to make the right decisions regarding the venue of our annual fling! My input, not news to you I am sure, is that PARKING is the main reason we left RR, and the best thing we liked about Embassy SM. We would like a place to park our rigs, where we can get to them anytime, and a place for the Cobra display and nightly socialization.

I agree with the change regarding the tailgate parties, so are we saying Sat is a "banquet" that will be funded by the attendance fee? And that individuals or local clubs are on their own for Thurs and Fri nights? I could imagine the local clubs convening at particular restaurants, for instance.

I don't have an issue with other conventions there if we have our parking solved. Little, tall, even Corvette people .. we can all be polite Nothing the little folks did had any effect on us.

Sam

[tomh440]

I thought the little people were great! I had a drink at the bar with one guy. He was hilarious!
I think we all want parking lot time to socialize with other groups. We don't have to eat all at once, or together.
As long as Larry brings the gas powered marg machine i'll be happy.
Tom

[jshel1]

Ditto with parking and sharing covention space. The little people were great, and even though this was my first meet and have nothing to compare, I had no complaints. I say stay flexible to preserve this great venue.

[Gregg(What's his name)?]

Originally Posted by SSSammy

Greg and Dee,
I sure trust you guys to make the right decisions regarding the venue of our annual fling! My input, not news to you I am sure, is that PARKING is the main reason we left RR, and the best thing we liked about Embassy SM. We would like a place to park our rigs, where we can get to them anytime, and a place for the Cobra display and nightly socialization.

I agree with the change regarding the tailgate parties, so are we saying Sat is a "banquet" that will be funded by the attendance fee? And that individuals or local clubs are on their own for Thurs and Fri nights? I could imagine the local clubs convening at particular restaurants, for instance.

I don't have an issue with other conventions there if we have our parking solved. Little, tall, even Corvette people .. we can all be polite Nothing the little folks did had any effect on us.

Sam

Sammy,

Parking to us is a big issue. We know every one wants access to there rigs and equipment. That is an issue we will need you guys to help us come up with a proper solution.
1. Idea If they can gaurantee security at the Target Parking lot for the trailers and then beef up security at the hotel parking lot could be a solution. Just thinking out side the box here. We won't know until we meet with the hotel.

Concerning the Banquet. Our thought is to do away with the THursday, Friday and Saturday Tailgates. And holding just one big Banquet on SAturday Night. We can conduct our yearly meeting and have a nice meal. We have plenty of great video's to show. (Right John!)

I also will be in touch with the Austin Convention Bureau to see what happens when we out grow San Marcos.

Hope this helps.

[Roush #1]

Greg,
First of all, thanks for all the work everyone in your group has done in the past on this annual event. I think most all of it has come from the Austin club and we really appreciate it.
My input on future events is as follows:
I think the top feature an event hotel could offer is secure parking. Security of our vehicles is at the top of our list and having quick access to our trailers is right behind that. Comfortable rooms and good hotel staff attitudes are a plus as well.
I am guessing what you are referring to on the tailgate parties are the groups (Dallas and Houston) hosting dinner for everyone. It has been great in the past, but not being a member of any group that sponsored them, the only way I have ever contributed is by $ donations so I can only imagine the logistics of putting on one of the events.
If this is what you want to do away with, I think we can work around that.
If you are asking the smaller groups to abandon their individual tailgate events, that gives me a bit of heartburn.
The reason that most of us come to events is to be able to talk with friends with a common interest and meet new folks. I am not sure we would be able to comfortably do that at a commercial location.
Just my two cents worth.....
Whatever you decide to do, I am sure we will all adjust to it.
Thanks again for your hard work!
Jody and Nancy Orsag

[Gregg(What's his name)?]

Originally Posted by Roush #1

Greg,
First of all, thanks for all the work everyone in your group has done in the past on this annual event. I think most all of it has come from the Austin club and we really appreciate it.
My input on future events is as follows:
I think the top feature an event hotel could offer is secure parking. Security of our vehicles is at the top of our list and having quick access to our trailers is right behind that. Comfortable rooms and good hotel staff attitudes are a plus as well.
I am guessing what you are referring to on the tailgate parties are the groups (Dallas and Houston) hosting dinner for everyone. It has been great in the past, but not being a member of any group that sponsored them, the only way I have ever contributed is by $ donations so I can only imagine the logistics of putting on one of the events.
If this is what you want to do away with, I think we can work around that.
If you are asking the smaller groups to abandon their individual tailgate events, that gives me a bit of heartburn.
The reason that most of us come to events is to be able to talk with friends with a common interest and meet new folks. I am not sure we would be able to comfortably do that at a commercial location.
Just my two cents worth.....
Whatever you decide to do, I am sure we will all adjust to it.
Thanks again for your hard work!
Jody and Nancy Orsag

Jody,

Thanks for the response!. We encourage everyone mingling and enjoying each other company. This is like a big family reunion. What we are suggesting is that instead of having the Austin group, the Dallas group and the Houston Group be responsible for the food during those nights. That everyone is pretty much on there own except for Saturday Night.
This way we can tie in our annual meeting with a nice dinner and some good old fashion ripping of each other in a more comfortable setting. We let the hotel wine and dine us and then clean up the mess. This kills two birds with one stone.
Security was very much present at the hotel. We had San Marcos PD and Hayes County covering the parking lot. We feed them dinner and gave them cokes and water. The guys where pretty wonderful to us. Especially those of us walking around with adult beverages.
I hope this puts any worries anybody has to rest.

[Bwana Snake]

Gregg,

You guys are definitely on the right track with doing away with the hosted tailgate parties. We have certainly outgrown the ability to do a good job with this format.

There use to be a fair ground type venue in San Marcos real / real close to the hotel we used in March. At one time they had chilie cook offs their every September; this might / could be am excellent place for us to stage our support vehicles / trailers and maybe do our personal tailgate functions. I suggest we check with the city a see what might be available. It might require additional security but I question if that would be a big issue.

Gary

[gsharapa]

Gregg,

Looks like you guys are right on track with changes for 2010. I actually missed last year (job conflict) which was a first for me as I have been to everyone since number 1. I also agree we have out grown the tailgate parties and need to refocus on just getting together in the parking lot and then let groups go to dinner where they desire. The Saturday night banquet sounds interesting as the Mid America Shelby Meet in Tulsa does that as long as it doesn't cut short the Saturday cruise as that is what everyone really enjoys.......

[Tugboat]

Greg,

Keep up the good work!!!!! It will work out either way.

Tom, I could just build a silencer for the gas powered marq. machine and bring it to the party!

Also, please do not call Damon a short person, he is just vertically challenged.

How many days till the end of March? I am READY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Larry

[Gregg(What's his name)?]

Thanks guys afor the input. We have numerus folks working on the event. So I will pass the compliments on to them. I wish it was March as well. It is cooler.

[Gregg(What's his name)?]

Just wanted to keep this at the top!