Driver Dinner?

[John Straub]

Bring a proposal to the board meeting with several dates. There are many good ideas from all of you...get together on those ideas, someone needs to step up and be the chair...pizza/no pizza, nice place/out in a park...how do we pay for it, do we charge/how much?... you get the idea. One thing we don't need a five hour discussion with no resolution.

Just for the record, I don't believe anyone on the board is against a DD, we all drive.

The board meeting is at my house, if more are coming, that normally don't show, please let me know so we can have enough beer.

[harnishclan]

There's beer at the meeting??!!! This just gets better and better! Jackie-I live in La Mesa, so I nominate me to attend.

[Gary Burch]

This is exactly what I hoped would happen. We need to discuss this and work out a plan.

The last and only event we had for the drivers was in February. I think that is the perfect time, the driving season is over, holidays are done and the installation dinner is history. Enough time for trophies and awards. I know it's a long time to wait, but it will be worth it.

I will be glad to help anyway I can.

[Jackie C]

So, Brian will spear head the board meeting proposal? with the input of anyone who pm/s,posts or emails. Come up with suggestions. Katina, Sheila,myself and many more have volunteered to help. I will also attend the meeting if possible. We need a plan as John and Gary have emphasized. It still remains to be seen who is in charge of the trophies this year. ANYONE? Does anyone want to take charge of the trophies... Is Feb agreeable to the masses? Please continue to express your views. We all should have jumped on the bandwagon years ago, but it's never too late!

[Speedy]

Perhaps the SD Auto Museum. It's a great indoor venue, I'm not sure if it is big enough. Just an idea to throw out there!


Smiles,
Speedy

[ronaldtrotter]

AX chairs normally do the trophies for AX.

I've already said I'd put the budget before the board for next year for a drivers party. But, like Bill I am not a party planner. I attend parties well, but plan them no. Next week I will look for a place that might do for this year and next. Then present those idea's here. Maybe one will work out. I know Leigh is also looking. He suggested putting a tent up at the Q after the Dec. AX. Not a bad idea?

I will still present something for next year by Nov. and ask for a budget. Timing is the question. My thoughts would be for Feb. of 2009 for the 2008 year DD. Holiday's are over and it is after all the other stuff. As to this year that might be a problem. Nov. probably not, Dec. impossible unless we do as Leigh has suggested. Gary's idea of Feb. is right on. Might be a down time for local venues. Therefore space and lower cost.

Ron

[Gary Burch]

Another picture to keep us going. Get it now before it's gone

[mrondeau]

Gary, Is there no end to your amazing talent? Keep the artwork coming.

I agree that February would be a great time to do this. It's usually a slow month for the hospitality industry in San Diego with the exception of Valentine's day. Katina has already voluteered to plan the party. I volunteer to help out with whatever she tells me to do. Let's do what we can for this years drivers and plan to step it up for following year(s). This should be something to look forward to every year.

[harnishclan]

So can we get together as a small group this weekend and throw ideas at at each other? That way we can devise an outline to a proposal to the board on the 5th.

I am clobbered Sunday with my other weekend hobby, bicycle racing. Anybody that wants to drive to Ontario at 5:15 AM can go, we will have about 4 hours of talk time!

[John Straub]

When you guys come up with a date, contact Ted, as he is the one that will set the Calendar(Feb. is probably the best time at this point). Budget forms are on the Region Website.

And those of you that just can't wait to party until Feb., there is the 50th Installtion dinner, with a GREAT band! It's also a great time to say "thank you" to all the Chairs that have worked for you all year!!!

Oh, just a note the map in the Witness to the board meeting at Monique and my house is not correct, however the directions are.

[Bill Behun]

My 2 cents: I've attended a couple of installation banquests and the one drivers dinner at the harbor boat. While I like the installation banquests, I had more "fun" at the drivers dinner. Something about wearing tuxes and suits and dresses that change the type of fun. Dang, I was raised to "act proper" when dressed up and I can't seem to break it!

At the drivers dinner I noticed alot more ribbing, teasing and general relaxed vibes. I thought it was great. I'd like to see a drivers dinner again and can help if needed. Porta-potties?? (oh no!)

I'd prefer to see it NOT at the auto museum - I'd probably spill something on a car!

[lrayner]

Jackie Corwin, Brian Harnish and I are in the process of putting together several specific proposals for a drivers dinner and plan on presenting them to the AX chairs, and then to the Board on Sept.5. If any of you have specific proposals with budgets we would be happy to include them in our presentation.
Use the Budget Request Form that John mentioned. Specify the date you are proposing and confirm that the venue is available. Specify what the menu is. What are all the costs? Include the room charge, service charge and cost per person for the meal. Is a full bar available and what are the costs? The facility should be able to handle 150 people with adequate parking.

Contact me, Jackie or Brian with your info! If you want to present your proposal in person to the Board lets still touch base so we can coordinate our efforts.

[Kim Crosser]

I like the idea of a separate drivers' dinner, and I think that going forward we should properly plan and budget for such a dinner as part of the annual club activities.

Some things to think about for this year (Jackie C and I have been bouncing some PMs back and forth on this topic):

1. To allow for trophies, it probably can't be sooner than early December (Nov AX, and what is the latest TT points event this year?).
2. Most venues (and entertainment) between early December and early January are probably booked already for Holiday parties.
3. We don't want to do it too close to the Installation dinner or the Zone 8 awards dinner.

That seems to put it in February as the target month.

Since this wasn't budgeted in any of this year's expenses, expecting a club investment close to the Installation dinner doesn't seem realistic. (Yes, I know we contribute a lot of $$$, but budgets are budgets, and a $10-20K hit 2/3rds of the way through the year seems a bit optimistic.)

Plan B might be to do this as an expanded version of the Last Tuesday Social - i.e., find a suitable venue with music, food, entertainment and just book for a party of 200.

For an interesting/alternative venue, what about the William D. Evans on Mission Bay? A 3-4 hour cruise, dinner, awards party? They do a 3-hour dinner mystery cruise at $60/person - maybe we could get a better rate for a dinner cruise and awards party (without the mystery party). Or similar with Hornblower in SD Bay?

Another possibility would be Mission Bay Yacht Club - we could get that for $25-$35 per person (including meals, tax, tips), but it only holds 180-200 people, or up to 230 if we seat some on the outside deck area. (Food is very good and drink prices are very good!)

Just throwing out thoughts for consideration here...

[Gary Burch]

Great ideas and great enthusiasm, I don't think the DD should be part of anything except the Driver's Dinner. And I also agree it should be an annual event. If it could be the evening before or the evening after an autocross that would be perfect. That was the plan last time, but the ax got rained out.

My neighbor lined up the caterer and the venue last time so I will check with him. As I recall the budget was $4,000 and we charged $10 per person.

Like Bill says it was fun

[Gary Burch]

One other thing, The club should provide the funds for the dinner and there should be a nominal charge to attend.

I think we pay enough the way it is.