what type of gathering do you have?

[Roly Nelson]

Slow, It seems that teardroppers in So Calif have given up about putting gatherings together. We have a group called So Cal Tearjerkers, but there has been no action for many years. I'm too damned old to get involved, so I guess camping in my tear is about finished, except heading out to a local campground once in a while and touching bases with a bunch of strangers, who want to chat, show and tell. I truely have loved the many gatherings that I have attended, and will miss the local campouts, here in So Calif, where there are probably more teardrop and vintage folks, than anywhere in the nation. Press on my friend and enjoy.
Roly

[doug hodder]

Times and interests change. Just like there were plenty of really active members on this forum over the years, many have dropped off. A large gathering like the Redwoods did great to have the 6 large events it did have + the 2 pre-event camp outs prior to the first one. Now, the registration method for the spot has changed and made it much more difficult to coordinate a large event. Grant ran a great event for 20 years, Lydia now has taken over the reigns and had a successful first year of it. There is an incredible amount of work that goes into coordinating a large event, and many times it involves cash up front. Many of us get together with our trailer friends early in the year and just plan on some camp outs, make reservations and just go.

Lots of people are also getting more interested in the vintage standie type trailers as well. Some of the events for the vintage trailers have manufacturing date restrictions, which would cut out the newer home built tears. The events are still out there, but they've all kind of morphed over the years. This weekend, there is a large event up in Roslyn Wa. I just got back from one last weekend up in Tahoe, 50+ vintage trailers, tears, and a modified bread truck. It's not restrictive to what you bring, and is more of a camp out type of thing. That's what I prefer. I host a small gathering with maybe 20 max, and it's a "do whatcha want camp out". A group site, away from the general public. No organized events, much of the time spent just goofing around, relaxing and talking, bike trails, swimming. Everyone knows each other and their trailers so there's no need to give tours of trailers. For me, I also don't care for long hauls for a couple of days of camping when I've got fantastic camping less than 50 miles from home.

Anyone can set up a gathering, but like building a trailer it takes dedication, time and effort to do it. Doug

[Vedette]

I agree with everything Doug said!
So far we have been to 3 Gatherings this year.
1. The 2nd Annual "On Our Way" Gathering in Union Gap Wa. ..that tripled in size from last year! Sponsored by PNW Tear Jerkers.
2. The 1st Annual "Shasta Lake Gathering" which had 80 trailers registered (only 4 "Standies" in attendance) Sponsored by the Jefferson State Tear Jerkers. This event has replaced the Dam Gathering.
3. The 6th Annual "Gorge Gathering" which has grown to 70+ trailers (good mix) Sponsored by T.O.W.

And we are currently looking forward to hosting the 3rd Annual "Farm Gathering" sponsored by the B.C. Tear Jerkers.
Ours is a laid back, fun event, much like what Doug described his as. Last year we had 28 Teardrops and 2 Standies in attendance. There is talk of a tubing trip down the Cannel in nearby Penticton, much like the bicycle trip up to the Kettle Valley Trestles last year.

Our upcoming "Fall Crawl" will take in "Two" official Gatherings along the way, and could be considered a Gathering in its self.

Smaller Gatherings, like the "Last Chance Gathering" in October sponsored by the PNW Tear Jerkers are also a lot of fun! We hope to add more of these to our camping season as our Tear Jerker Chapter continues to grow!

But, the bottom line is "That Gatherings are only as successful as the people who make the effort to attend, make them"
So, if you don't bother to attend......Yes, they will disappear!
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[Vedette]

What part do you not understand??????
When you ask for imput......be prepared to accept it!

[Woodbutcher]

:?
What part do you not understand??????
When you ask for imput......be prepared to accept it!

Please read the OP's original question. It's more about activities ETC then how to organize a large gathering, and or why some disappear over time.


Our gatherings generally have no more then 30 trailers. Most often around 20. In or around Illinois our group has about 6 gatherings a year. We always use the second full weekend of the months we camp in. This allows people to request vacation before the end of the year knowing which weekends we are using. The park gets picked later. If we can and have a large enough crowd at our last gathering of the year in October we also choose the next years preferred parks.
Our gatherings are always 3 nights, Thursday-Friday- Saturday nights. For those coming on Thursday night we do "Cooks night out" . We find a local Restaurant and those that want to go out to dinner. Friday night we do "Meet and Greet". Everyone brings some sort of finger food to share and their favorite beverage and we just eat, drink and shoot the breeze around the fire. Saturday AM we do a group breakfast, and a group dinner. You sign up to cook a dish for one or the other. We try to get half the group to cook for each meal.
During the day everyone does whatever they want. We have an awesome Social Director that has done research of the area and she posts things to do and see in the area. Some couples go off on their own others go in small groups to locals shops or brewery/Winery's. We have some Geocachers and Kayakers. Others just sit around the CG and visit. The May gathering we discovered several members played or wanted to play the Ukulele. Two girls ordered Ukulele's while they were sitting around the fire. We have big hopes they will be able to play a song that we will recognize before the end of the season.
One thing we always do, is have a group fire everyday. Usually one site is where we all gather. Day or night. We also try to use the same fire and site for group meals. This keeps the group tight and makes it much easier for new people to be involved. Our new members, become regulars very fast. Anyone can get up early in the morning and find someone stoking last nights fire back up and soon there is a group back at the fire. We do not have the largest Chapter but we are all very good friends, and it all came from Teardrop Gatherings. Many of our members get together in the off season because they are friends. Last year we had 6 Teardrops caravan out to Walk the Winds and then around WY. Great fun and we all still were friends at the end. Here's a picture of us all in the Tetons.

[Woodbutcher]

Mike when you do this Brian wins, Just ignore him. You know how he operates. These are the kind of things that destroy a forum. This could have been a very interesting thread. To see how people in different parts of the country run a gathering. It would help those that have never organized a gathering and give people ideas they to share for their own gatherings.

Mike, don't reply to this post. Just come back with some thicker skin and ignore anyone that bothers you and keep the conversation going.

[Vedette]

Hi Steve
Sounds like you have a Great Format for your Chapter Gatherings.
The PNW Chapter is growing into a very large Chapter (Roster Wise) but we have a distinct "Core Group" developing.
Continuity is very helpful when planning reoccurring type events. Participants know roughly what to expect and what to bring.
I like the consistent weekend per month concept for your Gathering Schedule.....it will definitely be a topic of discussion at our next Gathering.
Has your Chapter ever done a "Crawl"......somewhat similar to your excursion west to "Walk in the Winds" but with pre planned (and/or booked) destinations that you may stay at for more than one night as you would normally do if only traveling to one specific event.
Thanks for sharing!
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[Vedette]

Mike when you do this Brian wins, Just ignore him. You know how he operates. These are the kind of things that destroy a forum. This could have been a very interesting thread. To see how people in different parts of the country run a gathering. It would help those that have never organized a gathering and give people ideas they to share for their own gatherings.

Mike, don't reply to this post. Just come back with some thicker skin and ignore anyone that bothers you and keep the conversation going.

Hi Steve
Once again, I did not get to read your above post as I was busy typing a "positive" response to a subject that is of great interest to me.
I have tried not to respond to Mike's posts since he was kicked off of the Forum for his "negativity" and I have bit my lip since he was allowed back.
I have no hidden agenda here, nor am I trying to "Win" anything! I just offered up a response to a question the same as others do.
My outline of what we do at the Farm Gathering was no different than Doug's or yours??
Just don't understand the confusion????
And there was no attack intended in my posts....and non should have been taken.
Am I to be offended by your implications in the above post?
Good Roads
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[Woodbutcher]

It's simple Brian, you and Mike do not get along. Just don't respond directly to anything he says and there will be no problem. Pretend he is invisible. How hard is that? There are plenty of people who can find each of your posts interesting. Why mess it up.

[Vedette]

It's simple Brian, you and Mike do not get along. Just don't respond directly to anything he says and there will be no problem. Pretend he is invisible. How hard is that? There are plenty of people who can find each of your posts interesting. Why mess it up.

My wife says the same thing!
And if you not noticed I have not responded to a single one of Mike's threads since he was allowed back on the Forum.
Thought I would participate in this discussion, only because I had something positive to add to the discussion. But, apparently it was to complex ??
Never any intention of messing anything up?
I have tried my best to help Mike in the past (even to the point of sending him money to help with his Gathering!) but at this point I think it is beyond hope!
Trust me this is the last time I will get sucked down this bottomless rabbit hole! Will not post to his threads again........and hope he does the same, as he has been confusing discussion on my threads lately!
Hope you and I can still communicate with each other in the future.
I am so in favor of the importance of this Forum as a tool to share serious Teardrop information.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[Woodbutcher]

Thank you Brian. The further you two stay away from each other the better. Hopefully Mike will read this and not post in your threads and the problem should go away.

[doug hodder]

It's now removed, however, Mike had mentioned that someone needs to jump in and make gatherings happen, and that's kinda what I was responding to. Sorry if it was mistaken for something it wasn't intended to be.

[Woodbutcher]

Your reply was fine Doug. No worries. There was an underlying issue, that is all worked out. Hopefully people will still respond to this thread as it had great potential.

[dguff]

Although I have only hosted two informal gatherings of about 6 trailers on my property I have been to about 40 gatherings of all sizes and types since 2004. These have ranged from 250 people to about 10. They have included highly scripted, tightly scheduled gatherings with an extensive list of activities to those with no scheduled activities other than to "hang out" with fellow campers and do whatever you want.

My personal preference is for smaller gatherings of about 15 to 20 trailers and few scheduled activities. A few group meals over about three days are always welcome but I think potluck dinners become unwieldy with more than about 30 people. There should be at least one or two events such as a themed social, lantern lightoff, games and the like but they should be casual and with flexible timing. Just sitting around a campfire is always a highlight. I also like to just sit at my own trailer and read or nap as I feel.

Just my opinion.

Jerome