COM banquet

[tommac]

Any interest in moving the date from January (or whenever it is) to right after our last event of the year? My thought is to catch the enthusiasm(sic) of that last event and get it in before the holiday season sets in. There are at least 5 (6 to be exact)weekends before Thanksgiving. Can we throw it out to the membership for a vote? I heard the number of participants are down and perhaps this is a way of boosting it back up. I'm not talking about this year but try it next year. Thanks,

[brucesallen]

no. Bylaws require it to be in the new year-- for voting.

[dinoracer]

I like the idea of having it sooner, for the reasons Tom's presented. We all know who the winners are right after the last event, and it would be nice to wrap up the season in November with awards. The name plates for the trophies might not get done in time, but maybe they would if we can get them back from this years' holders in time?

From the bylaws:
Ballots showing nominated individuals shall be mailed out to the active members prior to the COM
annual meeting in January. Voting shall take place at the regular COM annual meeting each January. Voting
may be accomplished in person, by U.S. Mail, by electronic mail, or any other appropriate technology authorized
by the Board.

Wouldn't this allow a "virtual election" of sorts? Nominations still made and filed at December meeting, ballots sent out, and voting period in January during which members are to electronically cast their ballots. Ballots would be tallied and results announced as part of January meeting - which instead of a banquet could be the usual board meeting.

[breakaway500]

Why not earlier? Makes sense for the right reasons; more would attend. (I believe)

Even a potential solution to elections; " Nominations still made and filed at December meeting, ballots sent out, and voting period in January during which members are to electronically cast their ballots. Ballots would be tallied and results announced as part of January meeting - which instead of a banquet could be the usual board meeting."
I'll even bet more would vote..(although it should be a more secure setup than the past "Questions" we voted on..

[DanDarcy]

The bylaws call for the banquet to be in January and election results at the same time. There are two reasons why a banquet in Oct. or Nov. is not the best idea. 1) the bylaws would have to be changed. 2) in the past we have had events as late as Nov. 21st, with this late of an event our banquet would be between Thanksgiving and New Years, too much going on for most people at that time of the year.

Last year our banquet was right after New Years, I think too close to that holiday. Maybe this year instead of January 7th we should have it January 28th. Jan 14th is the SCCA banquet and I can't make it Jan 21st as I have to do a motorcycle show that week end. With it later in the month ,it gives people a little while to recover from the holiday season. Maybe we could even do something like a drivers and/or instructors seminar before the banquet. We are trying to see about having an I-Racing demo also.

Please give as much imput as possible, this is your club and those of us on the board of directors want to do the best for the members . Also location is not fixed yet , so any ideas on that will be greatly appriciated.We will probably make a decicion at the BOD meeting Oct. 19th. You are all welcome to attend, we will also be starting on rules changes.

[boltonite]

The bylaws call for the banquet to be in January

Not true, no mention of the banquet in the bylaws.

Last year our banquet was right after New Years, I think too close to that holiday. Maybe this year instead of January 7th we should have it January 28th. Jan 14th is the SCCA banquet and I can't make it Jan 21st as I have to do a motorcycle show that week end.

Well, in that case January 21st is definitely out.

Please give as much imput as possible... We will probably make a decicion at the BOD meeting Oct. 19th.

Pretty funny Dan, reminds me of another club's canned response: "Thank you for your input" [i.e., now go FO].

He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help. ~Abraham Lincoln

[nateh]

He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help. ~Abraham Lincoln

So Fred, that means you're offering to help organize the banquet?

[boltonite]

I was planning to help register banquet attendees and help process the electronic ballots, does that count?

[nateh]

Absolutely, as far as I'm concerned! Note the total absence of criticism from me about any of these items. Carry on everyone, you're doing great!

[SEISAN]

Dan,

I will have the information on the other facility shortly. Do you have a count on approx how many people actually rented rooms and stayed overnight at the hotel last year. If there were only a few, them it might behoove us to go with a banquet facility that specializes in food rather than have warmed up plated stuff to eat.

Bob B

[TroyV]

Given my wife's nearly comatose like state at the last banquet, I think I'll be flying solo to this one.....so I'll probably stay the night. I'll probably also be bringing a case of Tres Puntos Negros Sangria......hence the need to stay.

[Chrispy]

It's not quite Southern NH but the Radisson in Chelmsford has a nice smaller ballroom and I've seen them do nice catering spreads with carving stations of roast beef and roast turkeys. Room rates are reasonable, about $90 on the weekend before any group discount.

[6PAK72]

Tres Puntos will VERY PUNT you...be careful with that F1 fuel!

[DanDarcy]

Bob; last year we only had a few people rent rooms, the club had to pay for the hospitality room. They use to give us the hospitality room for free when more people rented rooms.

Chris: the club is not tied to Southern New Hampshire. The board of directors should be setting the date this Wednesday at the meeting in Littleton, Ma. ---All are welcome. Thanks for your suggestion.

Troy: with that much booze you don't need a room--- a park bench will do--than you can have more booze with the money you save o n the room

Do members think the location, that we have had for several years, is wrong ? Would we get a better turn out a different venue ? A different format ? Ideas appreciated.

[breakaway500]

Mohegan Sun! Easy highway access. Yes..I know..how...wasteful!....( )....I haven't been there in many moons....but I do remember..even a bad night was...memorable! Double down!

Hey,,they have race cars in the lobby..