Sunshine Chapter Meet at Silver Sands

[brian_groff]

I'm not on the Board, and not a Sunshine member, and not a VMA member. And I was unable to judge on Sunday because we had to hit the road, so I can't comment on that. However, my friends and I that attended the meet thought it was fine. We also visited Eustice, and thought it was fine too. It would have been good to have everyone in one spot, but there seems to be quite a number of people who simply won't play together. And it seemed pretty clear that Eustice may not be a long-term solution for this meet, so something was bound to change at some point. IMHO, the only thing that needs to change is the naysaying needs to stop, the finger pointing needs to quit, and folks need stop taking themselves so seriously and have some fun.

Our experience at the meet was similar to that described by bikerdds. We really did not hear a lot of bi*&%ing and moaning about the location. In fact, we really didn't hear a lot of bi*&%ing about any of the b*&#&it going on in the club. Why? Because it seemed folks were doing what we always do at swap meets; having a good time with our friends.

[rwm]

I'm not on the Board, and not a Sunshine member, and not a VMA member. And I was unable to judge on Sunday because we had to hit the road, so I can't comment on that. However, my friends and I that attended the meet thought it was fine. We also visited Eustice, and thought it was fine too. It would have been good to have everyone in one spot, but there seems to be quite a number of people who simply won't play together. And it seemed pretty clear that Eustice may not be a long-term solution for this meet, so something was bound to change at some point. IMHO, the only thing that needs to change is the naysaying needs to stop, the finger pointing needs to quit, and folks need stop taking themselves so seriously and have some fun.

Our experience at the meet was similar to that described by bikerdds. We really did not hear a lot of bi*&%ing and moaning about the location. In fact, we really didn't hear a lot of bi*&%ing about any of the b*&#&it going on in the club. Why? Because it seemed folks were doing what we always do at swap meets; having a good time with our friends.

this is the best post on the dual meet subject.

[c.o.]

IMHO, the only thing that needs to change is the naysaying needs to stop, the finger pointing needs to quit, and folks need stop taking themselves so seriously and have some fun.

I have to agree with Rob. I narrowed down the quote for the general gist of how things should be looked at in this club. You said it well Brian.

[Matthew N. Olse]

I had a great time at the new location. I talked to a lot of old friends and made some new ones. I asked every vendor that I talked to if they like the new location and no one had anything bad to say. I agree with Mr. Brian Groff a 100 percent-- people need to stop being so polorazed, we are all in this club because we like old motorcycles.

I had every intention of going to Eustis to spend some time hanging out with friends that were set up there, but ran short on time. I thought the new grounds were nice, they had lots of room for parking, vending and I was really impressed at how well the water cleared out so quickly after it rained. It sounds like the Eustis fairgrounds will not be around in the not so distant future, the meet would have had to move eventually.

[T. Cotten]

...judging on Sunday morning was treated as an after-thought; like the club's red-headed step child.

Because it IS the AMCA's "red-headed stepchild"!

(Actually, its more like a nagging spinster aunt, badly in need of a "make-over".)

....Cotten
AMCA#776

[Bill]

It seems like internal chapter politics has been a larger issue than the move itself. I am not sure that airing all the Sunshine Chapter's dirty laundry on this forum is in the best interest of AMCA members in general and it certainly isn't in the best interest of the chapter. Maybe many of the inner conflicts could have been solved in a different way that did not involve asking folks to pass judgement on matters that do not concern or affect them.
I have not been happy with some of the changes I have seen in my own chapter, but the members have the club they want so who am I to beat my chest and try to make it what I want it to be? I did not renew my membership and solved my problem without a lot of drama. Everybody's happy with no high blood pressure.

[Kris H]

Bill, just so you can be more informed, the ongoing problem with the Sunshine Chapter is the move itself! It is not internal but includes the club as a whole, that means every member. Are you a Sunshine Member? The conflict has to do with a handful of people who have their own interests at heart rather than the club. Maybe you should ask Joe Gimpel and Cal Sorenson why they lied to the National Board last year when said they had the full backing of all members to move the meet to the Silver Sands? Maybe the next thing Joe and Carl will do is have a closed board so no one, you and me and all the others, can just sit back and watch it all disappear. Then we can watch the Joe and Carl donkey show at the Silver Sands every year. I am posting here so all the members can see both sides of the story. The members can make up their own minds on this issue and vote! I know I will be there and so will a bunch of other people.
Matt, I really can't believe you thought this was a great place? I think you might want to talk to more than Joe, JoAnn and any other person that wanted the move. As far as seeing old friends I do that at every meet I go to. This event has three elements, friends/parts/motorcycles. The friend thing is automatic, the parts and motorcycles are the most important part because without those two you might as well go to your neighborhood bar and have a beer! Can you get your bike judged at the bar? Don't think so. As far as the Eustis Fairgrounds go if the move would not have happened our chapter had first rights of refusal on the brand new venue in the works, but because it moved we lost that right. Another huge mistake by the powers that be!

[exeric]

I agree with Kris 100%. Regardless of what side you're on, or how you feel about any of the contentious issues before the AMCA; this move was executed by short sighted officers in the Sunshine chapter with no regard for the consequences, and made for their benefit. Bikerdds will scream about transparency and voting on the National AMCA level but he is very quiet about this back-room deal (made by newbe's) that had a direct effect on the AMCA membership that patronized Eustis for 14 years.

I will not bemoan the loss of the best venue (Eustis) the Sunshine chapter ever had. I will say that the Florida meet in late winter is going to be crippled, but worse than that is the damage done to an already bloodied national AMCA. Add to that, the hard feelings, and deep divide that will now exist between many members that have been seperated by this stupid, ill conceived, pointless, selfish move.

Joe Gimple has never come to this forum to explain, or justify his personal reasons for moving the winter meet.

Richard Spagnoli has never come to this forum to give the national's position.

I know this is all moot now that it's a done deal, and I don't expect anything to change. It's now Silver Sands whether you love it or hate it.

[DanM]

At a membership meeting during the meet, Richard Spagnolli explained the meet venue is the Chapter's decision, not the AMCA board.

[MeanGene]

At a membership meeting during the meet, Richard Spagnolli explained the meet venue is the Chapter's decision, not the AMCA board.

I don't think that was ever the issue, the issue as I understand it that the decision was made by a couple officers without the input or vote of the general chapter membership- and no matter how you slice it, that just ain't right- period