food for thought regarding the future of this site.

[TheWraith]

now i know everyone here no doubt leads pretty busy lives as I do, but I think it's pretty insane that you're planning on huge 1 year anniversary events when you can't even get a date and time concrete for the second overall get-together for the site that's taking place in one week.

Do you really expect people to show up for events when they have no notice? And from there, do you really expect this site to take off and grow and still be around in a year if no one goes to the events because there is no notice?

I'm not saying this to be an *******, but I'm saying it because maybe it isn't the way some of the people in charge of this site are seeing it, but it's completely obvious to me.

I thought the first get together was well planned out for the most part, had great attendance and it seems like a pretty good group of people. but you will not retain that without some major efforts, excellent planning, and good communication.

[ShitOnWheels]

Your concerns are definately real, however, for an event of the size and nature that Tim is wants, planning takes over a year to do. Think about what he wants (as stated in the other thread), vendors, different bracket races, and a car show. If he waited until a month before to plan that....well it would never happen. Just securing a track needs to be done well in advance, especially if you want the event to happen on a weekend. It's just the nature of the project.

As for the upcoming gathering, things happen. From what I know, people have been attempting to get into contact with managers of specific stores and restaurants to secure a place for the event. This can take some time as well. The people who are attempting to contact others may be only to do so on certain days, when the people necessary to talk to about such an event may not be available. The first event was definately well planned, and although this one may seem as thought it won't be, I suspect a decent turnout will still be had...as much as last month? We won't know until the day of. But we still have meets every month in different parts of the state. Even if one meet doesn't turn out as well as a previous meet, I highly doubt people are going to leave because of that one less than expected turnout.

In fact, people are coming to this site and joining everyday. They see pictures and hear the high praises of the first meet, as well as the high praises by the members of the administration, and will most likley stick around to be a part of something similar in the future. IMO, if people leave because of one bad turnout, do we want them here? Think about it this way: the "other site" had low turnout often from what I've been told...yet people stuck around there well past its prime. In the end, it was an adminsitration issue that marked the downfall of said site, not the turnout at events.

[Tru2Chevy]

now i know everyone here no doubt leads pretty busy lives as I do, but I think it's pretty insane that you're planning on huge 1 year anniversary events when you can't even get a date and time concrete for the second overall get-together for the site that's taking place in one week.

Do you really expect people to show up for events when they have no notice? And from there, do you really expect this site to take off and grow and still be around in a year if no one goes to the events because there is no notice?

I'm not saying this to be an *******, but I'm saying it because maybe it isn't the way some of the people in charge of this site are seeing it, but it's completely obvious to me.

I thought the first get together was well planned out for the most part, had great attendance and it seems like a pretty good group of people. but you will not retain that without some major efforts, excellent planning, and good communication.

First, I want to thank you for caring enough to show your concerns.

I know it seems like things are a bit unorganized at the moment, and you're right - they are. Tim and I had the idea of these "Rotating Monthly Meets" in different parts of the state. Our goal was to have meets that were planned by people in the specific area of the state. We live in central Jersey, so we decided to plan the first meet. We never intended to plan all of these monthly meets, and we're sorry if that point wasn't made clear at the beginning.

One of our members had taken an interest in events in South Jersey, so I asked this member if they would be willing to help plan the October meet. They agreed to help out. We have been going back and forth discussing dates, times, and locations, and settled on a few possibilities. This person was supposed to speak with managers at these locations several days ago, and to my knowledge this hasn't happened yet. If I do not have word from this person tonight when I get home from work, I will look up the phone numbers myself and contact these places.

I take partial blame for this meet not being organized sooner, I think I just assumed that things would fall into place as well as they did for the first meet, and this was not the case. I hope that I will have a date, time, and location set for this meet tonight, but without knowing that I will be able to speak to those in charge at these locations, I can't make any promises.

I hope that we can still have a decent turnout at this meet, even with such short notice. If not, then I'll get over it, and we'll hope for a big showing at the November meet (which another member is almost finished planning).

- Justin

[TheWraith]

first off, i don't want anyone to get the wrong idea. I think it's great that you're planning a one year thing now. That takes a ton of initiative. I'm not saying that is a bad idea in the least, but it just seemed peculiar to me that a lot of stuff on this site is really well planned and thought out, and then you have stuff slipping through the cracks like the upcoming gathering, and even little stuff like the logo up top for the message board.

i also know that you're depending on other people to plan out some of the regional gatherings and that's cool, but some people just aren't capable of the responsibility. And I definitely wouldn't wait until it's too late to realize that, or it can affect the site as a whole, and Justin and Tim whose names are very much attached to the site.

I have a great example. I run poorformance.net and my name is all over it. I had a lot of demand for bumper stickers and t-shirts. So one of the members of the site volunteered to spearhead the t-shirts and another volunteered to do the bumper stickers. Both things became giant nightmares, and in the case of the t-shirts it was pushing a year until it was resolved fully, and in the case of the bumper stickers, no bumper stickers were every produced, and something like $50 magically disappeared at my expense and the expense of a few board members. Obviously both things reflected badly on the site and me, even though the only involvement I had at all was to put trust in someone else. again, just food for thought.

I really want to see this site take off. It really seems like there are a number of people here who really believe in the idea and care that it happens and I really respect that.

[ShitOnWheels]

first off, i don't want anyone to get the wrong idea. I think it's great that you're planning a one year thing now. That takes a ton of initiative. I'm not saying that is a bad idea in the least, but it just seemed peculiar to me that a lot of stuff on this site is really well planned and thought out, and then you have stuff slipping through the cracks like the upcoming gathering, and even little stuff like the logo up top for the message board.

i also know that you're depending on other people to plan out some of the regional gatherings and that's cool, but some people just aren't capable of the responsibility. And I definitely wouldn't wait until it's too late to realize that, or it can affect the site as a whole, and Justin and Tim whose names are very much attached to the site.

I have a great example. I run poorformance.net and my name is all over it. I had a lot of demand for bumper stickers and t-shirts. So one of the members of the site volunteered to spearhead the t-shirts and another volunteered to do the bumper stickers. Both things became giant nightmares, and in the case of the t-shirts it was pushing a year until it was resolved fully, and in the case of the bumper stickers, no bumper stickers were every produced, and something like $50 magically disappeared at my expense and the expense of a few board members. Obviously both things reflected badly on the site and me, even though the only involvement I had at all was to put trust in someone else. again, just food for thought.

I really want to see this site take off. It really seems like there are a number of people here who really believe in the idea and care that it happens and I really respect that.
My feeling is that **** happens. Not every meet is going to live up to a previous one. People volunteer for the right reasons but take on too much or forget...then others volunteer for the wrong reasons (which sounds like what happened in your case). Of course everyone involved tries to do better than the last time, tries to get decent turn out...but sometimes things just don't always work out. I honestly doubt that the occasional low turnout or ill-planned meet will drive people away.

Now, had you seen this go on for a couple months in a row, then I think your concerns hold more weight and should be addressed immediately. But once in a blue moon...eh.

Maybe I'm pessimistic in my thinking (in that **** happens), but in reality it happens everywhere.

[Untamed]

Justin,

Thank you for a rational response to criticism of the site. I can think of other sites that have... less rational responses to critcism.

[Tru2Chevy]

I really want to see this site take off. It really seems like there are a number of people here who really believe in the idea and care that it happens and I really respect that.

Thanks! :beams:

I understand where all of your comments are coming from. I am new to running a site like this (as is Tim), and I think a lot of people here know that. If they didn't, then they do now.

We are both people who like to be in control of things, so it's taking some effort from both of us not be crazy control freaks here. I guess I just let control drop too much with this meet, but I'll do what I can to patch it together so we can have a place to meet. It sounds like the same thing happened with your T-shirts and bumper stickers, and it sucks that some people had to lose out on that.

Thanks for pointing out concerns in a constructive manner - the administration appreciates it :)

- Justin

[Tru2Chevy]

Justin,

Thank you for a rational response to criticism of the site. I can think of other sites that have... less rational responses to critcism.

I will never lash out at criticism, as long as the person who is criticizing has a valid point, and brings it to my attention without flaming anyone....

- Justin

[foff667]

i was pretty heavily involved in the first big meet njspeeder was able to organize in the east coast fbody nats and with basically ONLY internet hype we had over 100 cars participate in drag racing as well as many others just showing up to watch and or participate in the car show...but your definitly right there has to be alot of teamwork to pull something big off but it can be done and weve shown that in the past. Maybe 1/4ly meetings should be the norm i dunno...but definitly getting this s. jersey meet off the ground has been difficult for all involved and when your depending on others you really dont know what will happen. Personally I can say If we can set a date for a 1 year anniversary meet next year I'll do everything in my power to set it off as good as possible. But its gonna take more than me to get this off the ground...it would have to be an all out post/flyer war...its about getting mods on other sites to sticky the date/time/location...its about flyering fbodies at your local shows & meets...its about talking to people you'll see around whether its at mvd or applebees or whatever...if you see an fbody flyer them & or try to spark up a conversation...I completely agree with you that this south jersey meet hasnt gone off well but look at the meet the owners of the site did put together...~50 cars and ~60 peeps to a car meet at a local pub on 1 month notice...give us collectively 10 months and what do you think we can pull together, thats my question to you.

[j0n]

first off, i don't want anyone to get the wrong idea. I think it's great that you're planning a one year thing now. That takes a ton of initiative. I'm not saying that is a bad idea in the least, but it just seemed peculiar to me that a lot of stuff on this site is really well planned and thought out, and then you have stuff slipping through the cracks like the upcoming gathering, and even little stuff like the logo up top for the message board.

i also know that you're depending on other people to plan out some of the regional gatherings and that's cool, but some people just aren't capable of the responsibility. And I definitely wouldn't wait until it's too late to realize that, or it can affect the site as a whole, and Justin and Tim whose names are very much attached to the site.

I have a great example. I run poorformance.net and my name is all over it. I had a lot of demand for bumper stickers and t-shirts. So one of the members of the site volunteered to spearhead the t-shirts and another volunteered to do the bumper stickers. Both things became giant nightmares, and in the case of the t-shirts it was pushing a year until it was resolved fully, and in the case of the bumper stickers, no bumper stickers were every produced, and something like $50 magically disappeared at my expense and the expense of a few board members. Obviously both things reflected badly on the site and me, even though the only involvement I had at all was to put trust in someone else. again, just food for thought.

I really want to see this site take off. It really seems like there are a number of people here who really believe in the idea and care that it happens and I really respect that.

My feeling is that **** happens.

so does **** on wheels! sorry i couldnt help it :lol:

[NJSPEEDER]

thanks for speaking up talking goat. we are definately still working on gettign the kinks out of the system.

one thing we all have to keep in mind about teh rotating meets is that most of our membership that will get involved on this level has likely never organized a meet before. everyoen knows how easy it is to get caught off gaurd by a question or response when you are new to doing something.

as you can see going forward we have an extremely proactive membership in the northern region who is basically ready to announce their meet. you can see it sort of goes both ways, sometimes you get the home run and sometimes you strike out. either way we will have fun :)

later
tim

[twiztidz28]

ive organized a couple meets that have been pretty sucsessful Alex (talking goat), Alex (bigal) and a couple other members on here can remmeber the 2 sucessful meets we had on chaos. even though it wasnt my bday for one of them :evil: but when you want something to happen it will happen. it doesnt need to be a 1 person job collective efforts can work as well jsut need to collect the right people.