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Topic: Tennessee Grandvention, September 24-27 (Read 4101 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Tennessee Grandvention, September 24-27

Reply #100 –
Back before the dues were raised the motorcade club had 1800 members. That number has fallen to the 800 of so today. No one is proposing that the club be disbanded but it would be nice to see them use some social media. I spent some time with Greg Talking about the benefits and areas where they might join us. For instance the fuel and tire deal. That would have been a great thing for the club to do.  There needs to be some changes made to the MC club. Beverly talked about that their were issues and we all needed to become more involved during the chapter reports.  An updated web presence and site for all of FT would be a great start. I have more likes on my photo page on Facebook than the club has on their page. Posting more information on chapter rallies might help too but it needs to be more than just the dates.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Tennessee Grandvention, September 24-27

Reply #101 –
Dues were raised in 06 or so.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Tennessee Grandvention, September 24-27

Reply #102 –
Thanks for all the information guys. We got a round up here to attend to for the next two weeks. So I will be back after that time and hopefully 2000 head of beef will behave. Thanks for all the good help. From the sky country of Montana! Take care.

Re: Tennessee Grandvention, September 24-27

Reply #103 –
Anny,

Sorry for the delay in responding.  We have several irons in the fire and too little time.

Please do not feel offended, as that certainly was not my intent.  In fact, I tried to choose words so as to avoid offending anyone.


For over 15 years, we have participated (as often as possible, but long for more) in the FT Motorcade Club, in ALL of its various forms; motorcades, events, GV's, rallies, pre-rallies, driving school and other activities.  We have carefully chosen ways to be positive contributors and have thoroughly enjoyed as well as appreciated FT's role, the Motorcade club and the many benefits.  Not the least of which has been the discovery and nurturing of long-term, close friendships that we would never have had without FT's and the Club's influence.


That said, we also recognize certain realities in the club's evolution.  Since we all hope to see FT thrive for many decades to come, we understand the necessary relationship of club events and activities to the FT business goals.  Simply put, the club fosters a myriad of new (and turnover) sales and service opportunities.  Obviously, the business focus needs to be on the highest probability customers.  And that is all that I was making for a point.  FT is not going to sell many new $600K to $1M+ coaches to owners of 10 to 20 year old coaches.  More likely the new coach target is owners in the 1 to 5 year old coach range (or other-brand owners).  Thus, without any direct or overt owner action, the FT sponsored events will migrate toward what the newer (say 1 to 10 year old) coach owners enjoy and express interest in (the 5 to 10 year old coach owners are equally important for the remodel and service businesses).  Thus their considerable, even if silent, influence.


And the (1 to 10 year old) group of  owners will likely be less focused on cost conservation, thus the Motorcades and such gradually become more expensive than fixed income retirees feel comfortable with.     


Now coming full circle back to my original premise to Tim, because there is such a large population of greater than 10 year old FT coach owners, "The financial wherewithal dynamic is particularly important..................".  Motorcades that cost less than $2K, with less than $500 misc. expenses, back when we first started participating, have become well over $6K and the travel "to and from, plus miscellaneous expenses" add another $4K, so it is no wonder that many of our friends are saying "The motorcades were fun, back when, but we just can no longer afford them."  If our friends even remain Motorcade Club members, they stick to the chapter rallies, which (at least in the Northeast and Southeast Chapters) are very high on volunteerism and cost/scope control.  But Club participation overall, as others have pointed out, is dwindling as a large FT population (MY OPINION -- older coach, >10 year old) participation decreases due to the financial wherewithal bind against the high cost Motorcades and events.


I hope that this clarifies my wording and intent, ...............and sorry for the confusion.
Neal
 
The selected media item is not currently available.
Neal (& Brenda) Pillsbury
'02 U320 SPEC, 4200, DGFE, Build #5984
'04 Gold Wing
'07 Featherlite 24'
'14 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit
MC #14494
Exeter, NH & LaBelle FL
Quality makes the Heart Soar long after Price is Forgotten

Re: Tennessee Grandvention, September 24-27

Reply #104 –
Neal

More well thought out input
Tim
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Tennessee Grandvention, September 24-27

Reply #105 –
Neal, I would say age is as big an issue as finances.  There are some older members who have all the financial horsepower to buy a new big coach but the last time around went for the 38 foot double slide nimbus.  In fact it is a coach with more storage than the 45 foot IH and made for long trips. Also, late model coaches are selling very strongly. I talked to Corey about a customer who came in bought a new IH and was parked next to me. He had a pile of stuff in the Living Room that there was no cupboards for.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Tennessee Grandvention, September 24-27

Reply #106 –
                   I have read some very good thinking here . What I feel is key here is , --do not draw a line in the sand --! We are one club . Lets keep it that way . Age of coach ,  of owner or wealth , should and can not  be a divider of our club . We need reasons to stay whole as a group and not find a place to drive in a wedge . There are a number of folks in the 10 year and even older coaches that could write a check and buy a new IH with no sweat . So it goes back to ,"don't judge a book by it's cover ".  Let's find ways to be happy ,enjoy each other.  After all very few of us are getting younger.                  Brad Metzger
Brad Metzger
2010 Phenix 45'

Re: Tennessee Grandvention, September 24-27

Reply #107 –
Agree very much with Brad.  I only wish I could have been at this GV as it was only 6 hours driving time.  How old of a coach or car one drives is no indication of a person's wealth or inclination, status or otherwise.  We all have something in commmon; we are Foretravel enthusiasts.  I might add that likely not all Foretravel owners are Foretravel enthusiasts.  This is partially the reason some owners do not belong to either the Foreforums or the MC.

I'd just as soon let the MC do its thing and the Foreforums do theirs.  Should there be a meeting of the minds down the road:  all the better.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Tennessee Grandvention, September 24-27

Reply #108 –
What were the dues raised from? We had our free year in 2005 and then started in 2006. I don't think dues are too high and enjoy the Mag and would attend the rallies more often if they were where we are. Not their fault, we just keep moving and scheduling before finding out where they are.
Larry
1996 U295 36'
Build # 4805
Actually we sold it but just like to lurk

Re: Tennessee Grandvention, September 24-27

Reply #109 –
Dues are $75 a year. I get that back 3x - 5x in parts/maintenance discounts each year .
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Tennessee Grandvention, September 24-27

Reply #110 –
They can be higher in other areas. In Florida they add 20 bucks.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Tennessee Grandvention, September 24-27

Reply #111 –
The part that is added is your chapter dues. I know I have a lifetime of dues with the discount I have received already. To answer your question though, they were 35 dollars plus the same chapter dues.  The old forum had people up in arms on it when they raised them but they were the same for a long time. I agree with Brad the club is a great benefit. How often do you get to sit down and have dinner with Greg Amy's and Cory and James T.  I had one meal with each of them and they were very receptive to my questions and I asked a lot. I came away very impressed by all of them and what they are doing.  The club is a great way to meet management and build rapport and when you need James or Corey they already know you.  The ability to have James walk over yo your coach and ask him a question is great too.  All in all I found the friendships I made in the club, both at the national and chapter level to be outstanding. I know people wonder at the pricing but it was catered meals three times a day with refreshments available all the time. There were shows every night but the chapter dinner and you could choose a show for that if you want. Last time we were there I had our chapter go to the Dixie stampede.  All in all it was a very busy time but well worth the time and money.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Tennessee Grandvention, September 24-27

Reply #112 –
Re the Forum and coach years, I wish we could get more of the newer owners posting. I'd love to read about what's going on with the late models.
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: Tennessee Grandvention, September 24-27

Reply #113 –
We have quite a few Nimbus and Phenix members.  Not as many IH but that model just came out.  I talked to the owner of the first IH.  He is on the forum but does not post much.  Foretravel was driving his coach back to Nac for him to address a few warranty issues.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Tennessee Grandvention, September 24-27

Reply #114 –
Quote from: Brad Metzger –
...  So it goes back to ,"don't judge a book by it's cover ".  Let's find ways to be happy, enjoy each other.
For us the Foretravel Club, with all it's activities (Rallies, Motorcades, Grandventions), is a great way to meet and get acquainted with folks from all locations, areas of experience, occupations, and financial status. Fantastic!!!
Audrey & Harvey Nelson
2000 U-320, 40' towing 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
nelsonah@ieee.org

Re: Tennessee Grandvention, September 24-27

Reply #116 –
The entire Granvvention at Sevierville was a total blast for me, being able to meet and chat with the entire gang from Fortravel, all who are an unbelievably talented in their field, just makes one aware of the capability contained within the company.  But the very biggest surprise was humor from Beverly and her broken hydraulic bra, hope she outlives that comment  :o
Total happy event with fantastic folks, thanks to all.
Dave M

Re: Tennessee Grandvention, September 24-27

Reply #117 –
I laughed pretty hard at that one too
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon
 

Re: Tennessee Grandvention, September 24-27

Reply #118 –
This was my first GV.  I thought it was great.  Met alot of great foretravel owners and made some new friends.
Hope to have the opportunity to be there next year.
Jerry & Nanci
1999 U270 34'WTFI
2011 Malibu
A smart man knows what to say, a wise man knows when to say it.