The future of NAFO

[Fred W]

With all of the recent discussion around organizing regional ride events, and now that NAFO 2010 is in the bag, being a rabble rouser and always looking to stir the pot, I am going to open up Pandora's box and ask the obvious question:

Why do we even have a NAFO?

This is definitely not a knock on anything that was done by either of the previous two NAFO organizing groups,, but in both cases the events end up being primarily local folks. I think there was only one rider this year from west of the Mississippi river, and only 100 attendees total. When I signed up and paid the fees for NAFO I was under the delusion that I would be hooking up with folks from all across the country. Putting faces to names I've talked with here for the past few years. But clearly, that was not the case.

There is nothing to stop anyone from riding cross country to attend one of the other regional meetings, so why bother having a supposed National meeting, with all the baggage that entails? I know that I definitely had a good time this year, but was it any better than if it had been an EOM, like we've had in the past?

Discuss...

 

[GalaxyBlue]

being a rabble rouser and always looking to stir the pot, I am going to open up Pandora's box and ask the obvious question:

Gee Fred... I would have never made that connection with you!

I have nothing to add here, Other than i hate seeing the tension with all of this. Can we all just have fun? :dntknw:

 

[Bustanut joker]

Time and Money are the big issues for me.. This apply's to all Rally's though.

I used to have three weeks vacation till the new owners group came in, now it's only a week an' I can't take more than two days at a time.

Add in laid off four months a year now..

I think once things turn around you may see more folks willing to take the time to attend NAFO.. Maybe not???

:jester:

 

[Fred W]

Say what you mean, and mean what you say, Adam.

There is no tension coming from me.

I'm just very disappointed that other FJR riders stayed away in droves.

So why didn't you attend? (that was rhetorical)

 

[cota95]

I would tend to agree Fred. My son and I had a great time at NAFO but we have had the same great time at EOM. I really enjoy the parking lot strolling (and beer drinking/lying) that you get from a smaller (?) venue. I understand why the organizers had to move the event to the city but you just don't get the same feel walking around a 3 story parking garage looking at the bikes. Many thanks to the folks that worked hard at putting this together but I think I'm sticking to the regional events in the future.

 

[SouthernCruizer]

Say what you mean, and mean what you say, Adam.

There is no tension coming from me.

I'm just very disappointed that other FJR riders stayed away in droves.

So why didn't you attend? (that was rhetorical)

*******************************************************

Maybe it's all the love being shown, and knowing that you or anyone else on this forum wouldn't judge him on his choice of Gen I or II, or choice of gear, or how he splits lanes, or how many miles a year he logs that kept him away. <_<

Discuss.

 

[NMRoadRunner]

At the firs NAFO in 08 Several of us sat down with Two Wheel Nut (God rest his soul) and discussed this very same subject. I have experience orginizing events and we talked about it possibly becomming something like the Honda Hoot, with venders, exibitions, dealers, and even music at night, you know like the BMW guys do at alot of thier events. Something other then a big group ride where you stay at the same hotel, and eat banquet food. Anyway, as this years event started to take shape, it was clear that was not going to happen. I offered my services and advise that they were starting the planning way too late to get anything like this done. Long story short, they didn't want my help or cared to do anything other then stay at the same hotel and ride together. It was too late for me to even attend this years event and broke my string of NAFOs at one. I was even scolded for commenting or for being too critical about the slow pace of the planning. I apologized for trying to make this event something other then a big motorcycle ride and stepped away. I think it could be a big event, and would be willing to help, but we need to start now. Who is the host for the next one? Was it even discussed?

 

[Fred W]

I believe that I heard it erroneously reported that MEM was hosting NAFO '12 in New Brunswick (she had already beat feet North to avoid the weather).

I believe the actual plug that MEM wanted to make was for CFR '11 in New Brunswick.

So, no. There was no announcement or discussion of future NAFOs or what that means.

PS - Thanks for the constructive commentary Jay.

 

[GalaxyBlue]

Say what you mean, and mean what you say, Adam.

There is no tension coming from me.

I'm just very disappointed that other FJR riders stayed away in droves.

So why didn't you attend? (that was rhetorical)

Me not being there was purely financial. ****. I had to scrape to make SW-FOG and put most of it on Credit!

 

[dcarver]

I would have loved to attend an event in an area I've not been before and visit with peeps I've not met before.

But time and dollars were short, and Ms dCarver had only 5 days off - so it WFO Eureka, on roads I've already ridden (mostly) and folks I've already met (mostly).

A Honda Hoot perspective would be cool - but critical mass, dollars, energy, and volunteers would be needed.

 

[Fred W]

The reason I said the question was rhetorical is my question was intentionally rhetoric. i.e. I did not really expect an answer.

I think that we all understand why folks don't just drop everything and dash across the country for a weekend of riding with other FJR riders. Maybe if the NAFO was a week long hoopty doo with vendor support and other seminars and stuff like the Honda Hoot, or BMW nationals (as NMRR mentioned) the cost benefit calculations would be different and folks would be willing to come from further away?

 

[Joe2Lmaker]

Why do we even bother to have a NAFO?

Good question.

Like all assemblies of faithful, ours seems to be getting more splintered.

I was late to the party with my GenII. Seems like the Western GenI owners had all the fun.

 

[FJRay]

Same here on the money thing.I have tons of time but got caught in the economy trap with the rest of the country. I had planned WFO,SWFOG and WCR but only was able to squeak out WFO. I hate to see the NAFO idea die but until things get better I don't see it happening. :angry2:

 

[Bounce]

What politician used to have the sign in the campaign HQ: "It's the economy, Stupid".

All discretionary spending is down across the board. People with limited resources have to pick and choose what they do.

In my case nearly ALL pleasure trips have been on hold for years as I near retirement and want all my ducks in a row.

Once people (and not politicians or networks) are confident of their financial futures, spending will increase; not just for events but also for new bike sales.

In the end, for NAFO to thrive it has to set itself apart from regional rallies in some positive way. Maybe offering a free entry fee as door prizes for regional rallies to give away. (I know that's a borrowed idea, but it's *something*.)

 

[FastJoyRide]

I'm one of the many northwesterners who couldn't attend this NAFO (and broke my streak at one). The economy is no doubt a big part of the issue, but people also need time to plan a trip as major as this one would have been (for me). By the time I got the dates I was unfortunately already committed to other events that were non-cancellable. None of this is said to be critical of the 2010 organizers - it's just the way it happened.

At Golden in 2008 I was part of a group of regional rally organizers who were invited to meet with Tim* and Matt and Dale to talk about the possibility of the next NAFO. The EOM crew (successful organizers of the (then) second largest regional rallies - after WFO), submitted an enthusiastic "bid" for NAFO 2010, and as none of the rest of us had any experience in putting anything of this magnitude together, they were "awarded" NAFO for 2010. The economy at that point was just starting to show some cracks but frankly none of us saw how bad things might be by the time the next NAFO rolled around.

I understand a similar meeting may have been held in Knoxville (and electronically) and at some point there probably will be a preliminary announcement about NAFO 2012 - we'll all have to wait and see. Undoubtedly the organizers of that rally will look at all the plusses and minuses of the first two NAFO's and all of the regional rallies, in determining what they think will be attractive to the Forum faithful two years from now.

All of these rallies are about the people. The Sturgis crowd and giant Goldwing rally crowds are looking for a different experience IMO. FJR folks just like to get together and have fun and ogle each others farkles...

Just my $.02 - provocative thread idea Fred!

(* This was my first meeting with TWN, and his opening line to me was "who the **** are you and what are you doing in this meeting?" - a classic!)

 

[luvtoride]

I offered my services and advise that they were starting the planning way too late to get anything like this done.

Really? I seem to be able to recall your bellyaching but no recog of an offer to help. Maybe I just missed something? Maybe... wouldn't be the first time. But... I do very clearly remember your bellyaching. Maybe your offer to help was cleverly hidden in the lines between bellyaching?

I see that you are not finished, yet.

 

[Burnspot]

Yea, I think it all boils down to the current economic issues happening across North America...everyone's tightening their belts a bit to ride out the storm. Personally, if it wasn't for being able to share a room at a cheap hotel (thanks Patriot and Mvette), I probably would not have made it.

I don't think a Honda Hoot-type affair would work unless it was open to all Yamaha models and heavily promoted at dealerships, suppliers, and magazines. Not sure we'd want such a thing anyway.

I think one of the shortcomings of NAFO (presumably the 2008 one as well) is the promotion; I could be wrong, but it seems like advertising only takes place in this and the other forums...with some fragmented information gleaned from a few websites. We've heard the story many times about one of us coming across another FJR rider who's never heard of the forums...I would imagine that if there were some way to more effectively "get the word out" to these folks, we'd see far higher numbers in attendance. We have things like Twitter and Facebook at our disposal; could they be better utilized? I know the FJR Facebook page, while having 527 members, at last count, just isn't all that active for whatever reason. Twitter is a bit more nebulous and rather hit or miss, but it's an available tool. If the organizers (future) were to fully take advantage of all tools in the toolbox, we might see attendance spike.

As has been mentioned here already, scheduling is another issue...the sooner it's known about and set in concrete, the better.

I should make it VERY clear that I'm not picking on NAFO 2010 organizers in any way...I think they did a wonderful job and made the event enjoyable...I met many fantastic folks and enjoyed some great rides!

 

[wheatonFJR]

I think Fred asked a good question to ponder.

Being a "regional meet" does not prohibit any from attending...quite frankly, I prefer the "regional meets" as the emphasis is on riding and parking lot making fun of each other.

I have had fun at the all the regional events I've gone to and distance has never been the issue...only $$...whether EOM, CFO, CFR, Hooterville, MO/AR, or the SE Ohio Ramble. I will attend a WFO one of these years...and don't consider it being a "regional event" any hindrance to me wanting to be there.

I enjoy meeting new friends and riding the great roads...anything else is superfluous to me and therefore unimportant in my considerations.

SO why NAFO again??? If it costs more $$, why???

 

[luvtoride]

A Honda Hoot perspective would be cool - but critical mass, dollars, energy, and volunteers would be needed.

Agreed, it would be cool... but ther was major frikkin' balking about a $150 registration fee. Now, what would something like that kind of meet cost? Or maybe the mass amount of attendees would cover it?