Locating and scheduling EOM is a lot like arranging a family reunion. There's usually one or two houses that work best for the group and the event usually gets held there when it's best for the core group. Some years those that have a very hard time attending make special arrangements and show up. Most years they don't. There's frequent complaining and some minor bad feelings about always having it at Aunt Mary's house the week after Thanksgiving.
A very important issue for those of us that are typically involved in organizing the thing, is for US to remember to sit and listen, ask often, listen again, and make everyone comfortable expressing their wishes/preferences. I suffer from a listening deficiency as much as anyone.
As a frequent EOM
participant, I would appreciate the event moving around in both location and timing, so that I can have the opportunity to explore other areas and meet new people. IMO it's nice to give those "relatives" that usually cannot make the event their fair shake at making it at least once every three years or so. I like to see how much hair they've lost too.
And both financially and work vacation wise, it's difficult to make more than one big event each year.
I'm not saying that holding EOM in a different time slot is how it should always be. I'm not saying that's how it should typically be. I'm saying it might be nice to every once in a while, nudge things to the minority side in an effort to give everyone a fair shake. It could very well mean that I could not attend. That would suck for me and I will whine away if that happens.
If the decision is made to keep it the same weekend because that's what proves out to be the majority vote each year, then maybe I WILL help organize an "education and parents friendly" scheduled similar event every few years. I hope everyone will remember this thread when somebody says "That Ashehole is trying to run his own EOM and leave everybody else out!" Because just like any good ole family feud, somebody will just have to drink a little too much and say it.
Overall, I can't help but feel that with the expanding demographics of FJR riders, we might be leaving more and more people out because of the typical time slot for EOM. But I sure as hell could be ALL WRONG. It wouldn't be the first time.
Now I'm going to shut up and practice listening again.