Wheeling, Get Togethers, Rant, and Request

[Kendrik]

i'd love to do more with you guys and realize that im the distant one in this ordeal. Last year i drove over 5 hours to wheel in hot springs with you-and i'd do gilmer if the date hadnt changed to something that didnt fit my schedule.
I'm a member on to be involved...local clubs dont have the tech requirements or the class that has and quite frankly its scary to go out with them. I've never seen the guys around my area post anything (is there a way to see if they are still active?)
For me id love to see club events that are not always centrally located. Maybe three locations spread out throughout the year-especially since we have such a geographically large chapter. There seems to be several guys in arkansas, as well as several guys in south texas and louisiana. Quite honestly a club in Kansas city has had 3 events closer than gilmer to me in the past 5 months and im considering joining them because of that. I have no great solution to all of this-other than splitting the red river chapter into more geographically oriented regions if thats our biggest problem.

Here's the thing. We do NOT need to split the chapter to have local events. Thats what this rant is all about. If you want an event, then get off your ass and put one together! It's that simple. The BOD will happily help organize the event, but we need someone in that region to take the lead on deciding dates / times and wrangling some head-count.

The whole idea of our annual ride is that we want EVERYONE to attend that one. It's the one time we should be encouraging full participation from all regions. That means it makes good sense to try and host it in a central location to keep it as convenient as possible, though we're trying to get some diversity to keep it from getting old.

Note that this rant is not directed at you in particular, Styler, but I keep seeing people say "we don't do enough. We need to spread out more." when they mean "YOU Need to do more. YOU need to set things up for us." The bottom line is that the BOD is only 3 guys who do this part time and if you want a run in your neck of the woods then find a location to host it, pick a date for it, and tell me about it. I'll get it posted and do my best to build participation.

 

[MischiefMan]

Yeah, what Chris said.

Heck, if anyone needs/wants an event set up in there location, again, let the BoD know and they'll do what they can. If the problem is that someone doesn't want to make the decisions, that's cool too. The BoD just needs to know IMHO.

The best way to encourage participation is to start something that others can follow.

 

[Kendrik]

Yeah, what Chris said.

Heck, if anyone needs/wants an event set up in there location, again, let the BoD know and they'll do what they can. If the problem is that someone doesn't want to make the decisions, that's cool too. The BoD just needs to know IMHO.

The best way to encourage participation is to start something that others can follow.

How about I lay down the "How to Host your own Wheeling Event" steps below. Maybe that'll help someone get the ball rolling. I'd even be happy to start planning an event up OK way if someone can get me a time-frame to work in.

Setting up a Wheeling Event the Easy Way
This is a simple set of rules that I used to create a sample event in OK. I'll happily make it a real event if anyone is interested.

1) Pull up the Google Map that shows member locations
2) Take a look at the member density in the area you'd like to host
3) Pull up the Google Map that lists potential Wheeling Locations and pick a spot thats within a reasonable distance.
4) Find 2 or 3 guys who are up for some wheeling and pick a date amongst that small group
5) Once you've settled on a location and a date and have a couple of folks committed, put up a post with information and tell everyone to join you!
6) It's also not a bad idea to let the local wheeling clubs know about it. The RRC is NOT an exclusionary club. We're bound by our love of the XJ, but we love wheeling with everyone. Even Hummers.

From this point forward I'm making this all up, so I apologize for taking some names in vain.

So, I took a look and found about 15 or so folks that are within 3 hours of Hogan's Offroad Park in Disney, OK. StylerG has expressed an interest in the trip as has OSUBauer. We're all available on the 2nd weekend in May so we decide thats a good time to roll. I check the website and see that I need to call for reservations. Russ is happy to have us that weekend so I set it up. Now I throw up an official post titled "Wheeling Time - May 8-10 - Hogans Offroad" and put in the details. I might even shoot a couple of PM's to those guys that are in the area to let them know whats going on. Wala. You just set up a wheeling event in 6 easy steps!

FYI: I think step 4 is vital. I'm of the opinion that one of our biggest issues is trying to get EVERYONE to agree to something before we commit. That's like herding cats and is totally non-productive. You're never going to make everyone happy, so stop trying. What you do is get a few guys who want to do something to pick a time and place and THEN invite everyone else to join you. That way you KNOW you're going because you've got a core group thats scheduled and if things turn out well you'll end up with a big old group of fun.

Now, in case anyone says that the BOD should simply do this for each of the areas, bear in mind that the BOD most likely won't be ATTENDING these events. That means that you're stuck with whatever arbitrary schedule we pick. If everyone is actually okay with that then I can easily start scheduling a rotating monthly event thats "attend as you see fit". Just don't expect any major planning / organization for an event of that nature.

 

[MischiefMan]

Is that like "How to Host a Murder"??

Yeah, I think that would make a great post.

 

[xxmidianxx]

This is an OLD subject that Ian and I started a long time ago. He are not like other chapters say like that So-Cal Chapter.. Hell we could fit 100 of their areas in Texas alone. We have 4 pages of people saying that they are "in our chapter" but never hear anything from them. I don't even see half the ppl on here that were here this time last year when we were planning the Hot Springs Run. We as the BoD are trying everything we can to build our numbers. Jay (magimerlin) is one of our biggest spokesmen. He hands cards out to EVERY XJ owner that goes to his O'Riellys. And I have handed out alot at our local offroad hole (yeah I am not too happy with the ppl at Spring Creek Offroad right now). Like I said about the 2WD to 4WD conversion... its the biggest member turn out outside of an event. I wish more of those "I am in the RRC" ppl would attend more of our "meet and greets" or just get them to our yearly events. I know in my case I have been more active in this club/chapter in the past year than I have in the past 4 years of being in COR (my local club). I guess the way I look at it is that I have found "brothers in arms" with this club. But YES people let anyone of us BoD members know about a run that YOU would like to host and we will add it here: http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=965245... Our OFFICAL EVENTS THREAD that is located in the Stickys (for those that never read anything but what they want to). I mean this can't all fall on the backs of the BoDs. Our chapter is so BIG that we (the BoD) need particapation from ALL RRC members and forum users.


Ok I am done.... for now!

 

[eflores]

i tried man....now we dont know if our usual wheeling spot is legal and we all have to wear helmets....

 

[imwally]

Well I do not drive the XJ it is my daughters but I do have a yj. How can I find out how many people are in my area....lets say within 25-40 miles from me? I just moved back here from Utah and would like to meet others in my area. I would be for at least a meet and great somewhere. Take Sonic for example. I know they are running a special right now with half price burgers on Tue. If Tue is not good I am for the weekends if that is better. I know another club has done one at the one near my house. I would be go check with the mgr if they could block off an area so we could all be in the same area. I know it is not a wheeling trip but it would at least get people together. Pleae dont flame me for this post. Oh on a side not it does seem like the same people post all the time. So I would also like to know how many active people that are on this.

 

[MischiefMan]

Hey Wally, there are several of us in the greater DFW metroplex.

 

[StylerG]

i appreciate the responses, especially kendrik. Let me say this again so it wasnt taken wrong-I'm a part of to be involved in whatever way that means. I totally support a yearly club run that is centrally located and once again would be in Gilmer this year if it werent for a scheduling conflict. I wasnt advocating splitting the club up into regions, just the best suggestion to facilitate non-annual get togethers.
Honestly as a member there were things that i wasn't aware of that have been mentioned in the last couple of days. First i never even knew we had business cards to hand out; could we post some information on where and how to get those? Second, i assumed (wrongly) that one of the purposes of the BOD was to setup events and that would be overstepping my role in the club. I realize this was a wrong assumption but wonder how many others have thought the same thing???
Personally im at a place i've never been before, id like to see my personal involvement in the club rise where as before ive been a member that wheeled once or twice a year with you guys. Now im able to wheel more, and have a desire to get others involved hence engaging in this conversation.
Kendrik thanks for setting out the steps to get an event together-its common sense but something that is easier to have laid out than to try and figure out on your own. I hope to be able to organize things in the future for my area. I feel like i have some steps to take as a member instead of the conversation ending with "why arent you doing more" so thanks guys!

 

[MischiefMan]

Hey Styler, OKC is only 3 hours from me, so coming up there isn't out of the question. Also, you're welcome to come down to Wichita Falls this weekend and play with us.

 

[StylerG]

ian sounds great! had a blast with you in hot springs with your stock rig making all the trails look too easy ha. Any more info on wichita falls? Whats out there, im open friday and saturday this weekend to do something.
Im also looking at some dates april 17th (somewhere around there) to maybe do clayton or disney oklahoma. i know of some other guys going there soon which would probably be as close of a drive for the dallas metro guys as it would me.

either way i feel like this thread has produced some positive things for myself-so thanks ian for starting it and the guys that have contributed positively

 

[eflores]

i wll call the TPWD again today about the local parks here in wichita falls, but i have called the city and gotten their permission...so.....

 

[MischiefMan]

Yep, Hot Springs was a blast! My poor, tired, worn-out old '86 isn't so stock anymore.

As far as contacting the TPWD, I received a response to my email to the law enforcement division.

You would need to call the water body authority to find out what the
regulations are.

Suzette Duesterheft
Law Enforcement Division
512-389-4846

As always, governmental employees are ever so helpful!

 

[eflores]

Just got off with the state
as it sets now lake buffalo is legal for use

lake arrowhead is NOT!

 

[MischiefMan]

You do realize that we're trying to find out about Buffalo Creek not Lake Buffalo right? Lake Buffalo is in Umbarger, TX.....Buffalo Creek is in Iowa Park.

 

[eflores]

lol buffalo creek reservoir to be exact and yes thats what i asked about

 

[MischiefMan]

I don't believe you. I want to see something in writing. The TPWD's website says that the state regs apply to the Buffalo Creek. The fact that you didn't have the right name all along seems suspect to me!

I'm sure the people in the Amarillo area are happy to know about Buffalo Lake though.

 

[eflores]

lol

 

[Kendrik]

i appreciate the responses, especially kendrik.

Glad you didn't take it personal. It certainly wasn't meant to be mean-spirited.

Oh, Clayton, OK scares me, BTW. I had a blast running it with the Lone Star Jeep Club, but the stories I've heard make me nervous about attempting a run there without a "guide" to help us get acquainted. The trails are basically un-marked and the property is essentially un-managed. There's also some question about land ownership in certain areas and apparently those questions get answered with firearms in that region. So, unless I can wrangle up someone to lead a trek there I'll NEVER schedule anything in that area.

 

[ExTankerGuy]

I know some of the trails in Clayton...