2016 Convention Information Updated

I would love to go to this convention. But I'd like to ask a couple of questions first.

It's 40/45 dollars to register for the convention. But every event/driving tour/dinner/whatever has an additional fee associated with it. So what exactly does the registration fee cover ? Also, why is there a fee to go on a driving tour ?

Now a suggestion: If the club is interested in a good turnout, why not offer an incentive for people to bring their cars ? Free registration (or a refund of registration fee) is one idea.

Ron

Ron,

We are planning to attend next year's convention but without our car. It's just too far to drive with limited number of vacation days. I'm not affiliated with this year's convention but have hosted one way back in '95 and have been active with our local AACA chapter's hosting of the AACA's 80th Anniversary meet. Reflecting on that experience, I'll try to address your questions.

The registration fee is common for most car meets, including your local shows. It covers the cost of printing the convention packet for registered guests, signs for the tours and show field, refreshments and food at the hospitality room, security for the parking lot at night, etc., etc. Most all the stuff attendees take for granted and have come to expect at national conventions costs money.

I'm not sure why this meet is requiring a $5.00 per car charge for the driving tour but hopefully someone will explain. Perhaps it will cover admission to one of the stops on the tour.

The NDC has strongly considered incentives to encourage members to bring cars to the conventions but unless the National wants or begins to subsidize the locals supporting the convention it is up to the local organization to offer such incentives. If they waive the registration fee for those bringing a car then they are faced with figuring out how to pay for all the items mentioned that the registration fee covers.

Hope to see you next year in Baltimore!

Mark

Thanks for the response, Mark.

I would think that the expenses that you mention (likely to be less than $1000) should be covered by our annual dues payments.

Ron

Ron,

Trust me, our annual dues cover a range of expenses in order to just run the club and print the magazine! Conventions are suppose to be self supportive. So, all expenses for a convention must be covered by the convention... without, of course, over charging the members attending.

That registration fee takes care of all set up costs as Mark mentioned above, but also things like dash plaques which I have seen rage from about $7 to $10.00 each actual cost to the convention. Start up costs for a convention can be very expensive. Until you run one of these (I did the '99 conv. in Charleston, SC) its hard to believe the money that's required to get one up and running.

On the other hand, and I am not trying to stir the pot, I have had several members that I have talked with that said this particular convention is going to be very expensive and they are considering not going. I am trying to get them to go anyway... but you know how that goes. I have never seen a $40.00 registration fee nor driving tour charges before and find them a bit high. Perhaps, if Tom (the convention chair) reads this he can explain.

Dean Mullinax

The accounting for the conventions is available for club members. The financial report for the 2015 Convention can be found in the board packet posted in the "members only" section of the forums. Board Packet 374a

The accounting for the conventions is available for club members. The financial report for the 2015 Convention can be found in the board packet posted in the "members only" section of the forums. Board Packet 374a

"You do not have the required permissions to read topics within this forum." is the message I get when I try to access the Members Only section. Yes, I am logged in.

Ron

Try again. You weren't set up as a club member....

I read the breakdown of debits/credits from the 2015 convention. Although I feel that some of the expenses were excessive (postage, printing come to mind), as well as the 75/25 GLC/NDC split for the profit that was made (why is it not 50/50 ?), I will leave discussion on these points for another time.

The overall picture indicates that the club did not lose money and, in fact, showed a small profit. So why is there a need to raise the registration fee by 25%, as well as tacking on questionable costs, such as driving fees for the tours ?

Ron

Ron,

Conventions are suppose to break even or even make a small amount of money to be split with the National. Last I heard it was 70/30 with the 30 going to the National, but perhaps that has changed. The majority of the money goes to the Chapter that hosted the convention because they do all the work. It's a way for Chapters to make money for operating costs and other misc. items. Besides, the National is a non-profit and isn't suppose to make a ton of money anyway. If a convention loses money the National eats that loss. That's why it can be tricky pricing events for a convention. Again, the goal is to break even or make a small profit, though sometimes a larger profit happens. One exception to the above is if an individual club member hosts a convention (not a chapter), then all of the profits, if any, go to the National. This doesn't happen very often.

RON:

I hosted the 13th NDC Convention that was held in Valley Forge PA. As Dean has also stated the costs to run a convention has risen over the past several years. But do you have any complaints when you now have to pay a $20 admission fee for a local car show that only lasts a few hours and with that cost you might not even get a dash placque. Yes even the local car shows have raised their cost to attend a local show and you just park your car for a couple of hours. So when running a convention for four or more days does take some working capital. Yes we all do not want to pay more to attend but costs for printing, paper, dash plaques, signs programs are not cheap anymore. The only way to bring down costs is if someone works for a company that can donate paper, printing costs and what ever can be done by someones company, but this is hard to get because most companies are running on limited funds.

So if the registration fee is $40 for all of your people in your party and lets say just 2 and the convention last 4 days then that only $5 per person per day to attend and participate so that is approximately giving up a cup of high priced coffee for that day for each person. I can not comment on the cost to go on a driving tour but that might be to cover the cost of the maps. The maps might be a real high detailed map so that question will be have to answered by the 2016 Convention Chairman.

So if you go to four local cars shows in a year and decide to pay the fee for the day and in most cases it will be 15-20 dollars then you have spent 60-80 for four single day events.

Please feel free to respond and if you want to contact me directly you can at Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com. I live near Philadelphia PA.

Richard -

Thanks for responding to this lively conversation.

As it is with successful companies, it should be incumbent on our club to keep the costs down. Printing costs ? Print on a home printer. Signs ? Same or hand lettered. Maps ? Same. Dash plaques ? Plastic instead of metal.

The $40 for registration is just the base price to get in the door. Some of the additional charges are probably justified, while others are excessive, like the $5 driving fee or $10 for the ice cream social or $20 for trailer parking. Also, why are other clubs able to keep fees down ? The Plymouth Club, for example, only charges $15 to register for the national meet and $10 for trailer parking.

To answer your first question: Yes, I do have a problem with $20 car show fees. I max out at $10. I won't attend if the price exceeds my limit. Fortunately, there are many cruise nights in this area that I can attend for free.

Ron

Ron:

Even if the local club members were to print the information on their own printers there is cost for ink and paper. So should the local members eat this cost? They as a group are hosting the event. Yes the $40 get you into the door and I do not have any issue with this cost. Also in the greater Baltimore Washington DC area things are more expensive. When I was the chairman for the 13th Convention back in 1998 the cost for hotel rooms were going up in prices. The old board members and the members at large all wanted room to be under $60 a night, But as time goes on prices increase for everything. That is the way that things are going. I can not comment on why Tom and the 2016 convention organizers are setting certain costs and fee structures. Also I do not know if Tom will reply to these postings. So to get a better handle on your questions then call him directly so he can explain the cost structure to you. If the cost is too much then you option is not to attend, but I can only attest to what I know from my past experiences. If you local clubs are offer $10 day of registrations then that is a great cost to you but in the eastern Us states most regular advance registrations are $15 and day of show are $20. I also do not like to pay that amount but that is the costs. If you belong to al local club that hosts a local car show then I would suggest that you sit down with the chair person and go over the cost just to put on a local show. This might help you to understand the cost and amount of time that goes into just putting on a single day event. All comments are welcomed and all input is welcomed.

Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com

Richard -

I'll respond to two of your points:

>So should the local members eat this cost?
It would be great if they did, but even if they got reimbursed, it would still be a cost reduction over what a professional printer charges. Another idea is to get underwriting support in exchange for some kind of promotional announcement or whatever.

> in the eastern Us states most regular advance registrations are $15 and day of show are $20.
My favorite show of the year is Das Awkscht Fescht, near Allentown, PA. Advance registration for this mega show is $12 per day. And, yes, I do live in the eastern part of the US.

Ron

Ron: I am glad that you attend the Das August fest in Macungie,PA and so Do I and I also register for both days, And in some years I can not make both days so I eat and lose some funds.

But All I hear from you is that you are having an issue with the costs. So when are you going to contact the convention organizers and talk to them directly about your concerns. You portray that each member should eat the cost or donate the cost to do some of the printing. But when you have a mass quantity to do and when it has to be done just before the convention is held that is time the the local club and the members do not have the time to devote that that task. They are very busy trying to get all the last minute items in place.

Again have you ever hosted a convention and or organized a local car show? So when you have talked to Tom and have received a reply to your concern and have the answer then you can post your answers. Or just not attend the convention. So I now pass the ball back into your court.

Do some leg work and you might get some of your questions answered. I live near Valley Forge so call me if you want to talk about this topic and I will explain more indetail how much work goes into setting up the convention because I have first hand experience and have dealt with the financial end of running a convention.

Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.com