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I've been thinking how to put this, how to not make it controversial, not be negative and possibly find a lighter side. I hear Mr Macy and have to somewhat agree. Actually more than somewhat.One of the great things about the national event is that it has always been consistently the same week of June. This has become an event to look forward to. Mistakes in the newsletter can be easily corrected with a simple notification to all members, previous attendees and on the forum and homepage of the Club website.
Being unwilling to change the date after a mistake has been pointed out, reminds me of me when I took my first management position many years ago. As then a young whipper snapper, it was always to be as I said, no other way would be acceptable and the ruling was carved in stone. I was king and that was all that had to be said about it.
Needless to say I did not last very long in that position. Some 40 + years later I must say my tune is a lot different. When mistakes are made, I try not to point the finger at the person or team that made it, but rather try to find a simple easy way to fix it, listen to all sides and make recommendations to resolve the issue. "Be part of the solution and not the problem" Not my words, but surely something to think about.
Then I started to think why is there resistance to revert back to the traditional week. If there is printed matter, apart from the Newsletter, then that might be a little costly, but no big deal. If the T Shirts are already printed, reprint the same shirts, crossing out the dates and high lighting the new date above or below it. I think we could all laugh at this one and laugh at ourselves for being so intensely focused on being perfect.
So now on to the subject of "This topic has been locked by a moderator, you can no longer reply" Seems like the Forum Police are trying to quell a riot! Oh my God, this sounds so much like China! Lets all drive our little Triumphs down main street in protest! Brrm, brrrm!
The topic in the other thread was most likely locked because the tone had become so caustic. To discuss an issue as important as a National Meet certainly should be within the purview of this forum.
The choice to change the dates was made mainly in the interest of reducing confusion. There could have been a mailing made, but the time it would have taken to get this done even if only a week or two might have put us in the position of having people book their dates and then having to change them - precisely where we ended up only on a potentially larger scale. There were only a few people that had to switch - unfortunately it caused a problem with some of them that was in no way intended. Hopefully they can sort it out - to miss any member at a Meet is regrettable.
Cost really wasn't much of a consideration. It really was a question of trying to move forward as smoothly and quickly as possible by solving the problem in the most simple and logical manner rather than to simply note it. The opportunity to change the dates was quickly confirmed by the hotel but the window to do so was only a day and a bit; to put the issue out to debate simply would not have been practical. Ironically, had we not had the opportunity to change the dates, a correction notification would have been our only option and the focus of this entire affair most likely different.
It wasn't seen as a crisis to have the event on one weekend or another given the circumstances - tradition is worth preserving but the Meet has been scheduled on dates other then the traditional one in the past without great controversy or complaint. The event is still something to look forward to whether it's on the earlier weekend or the latter; hopefully in a few months all of this will be but a memory and folks will have a good time in NC.
Whether the decision to change the date was the correct one from the standpoint of most potential attendees remains to be seen, but I suspect that most folks will simply note the dates and register as they have always done. In any event, the choice was made in good faith based upon the circumstances and not out of arrogance, laziness, or to save a few bucks on mailing costs. It seemed the right thing to do.
Thanks for the note John-
Although I am a life-long Triumph person, I am a relative newcomer to TRA - and I was not affiliated with my local club when they hosted a TRA national several years ago. The question I have is what role did the local chapter play in this? Were they a part of the decision to change dates? If so great, if not, I respectfully suggest that a decision like this needs the host chapter to be involved - my assumption is that they will be the ones doing the legwork to make it a good event so their preferences, if any, should be accomodated.
Regards,
Randy
Next year's meet is being hosted by a collection of national officers and vounteers. Had a local center been running the show it would have been their decision to change the date or send out a remedial notice as best suited their requirements or preferences.
" As then a young whipper snapper, it was always to be as I said, no other way would be acceptable and the ruling was carved in stone. I was king and that was all that had to be said about it."
Hey trthree, that was me as well. I would put it this way: "There is no such thing as a reversal of a Custer Decision " 
I still use that line from time to time when appropriate.
Cheers,
Darrell
Thanks John - that clarifies it for me.
Regards,
Randy
