Mentone 2015

[GyrOZprey]

Mentone - so MUCH more than the flying!

Mentone - so MUCH more than the flying!

I totally agree with Steve ..... IT'S THE AWESOME PEOPLE .... that make the event so special ... even when one's much anticipated flying hopes/plans get foiled! :sad:!!! ... & you sir are one of those whose kindness & " big-brotherly" help/support/coaching ... made the 2014 convention experience extra special for me! :wave:

THANK YOU :first:

No I didn't fly as much as the years past, Nor Did I make enuff money to pay for the Gas that I used going and coming to the event.

HOWEVER

I Did Exactly , what I set out to do,

I Spent Time with FRIENDS/ FAMILY that has Watched over Me for well over 20 years,

YES the attendance of gyros was down, well below the 100 or more that's been there in the past.

As far as Volunteers,,,, Ya DONT HAVE ANY IDEA,,,the time and Personal Money and what's done to help out, without ever wanting a ThankYou..

The PRA has NO YOUNG MEMBERS.. The AVERAGE AGE is 40 year old.

The days of AFFORDABLE GYROS are Over... 70-100K $ is nothing unusual for many of the European style
The Old Style Machines and Members are SLOWLY DISAPPEARING..


And if you weren't there,, YOU MISSED THE MOST AWSUMMM fireworks display I've ever seen.

It AINT ABOUT THE MONEY........IT IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE..

Atleast that's the way I feel about it ..

 

[Brent Drake]

Thanks Steve for you comments. Your always a blast to be around.

Chris I love your enthusiasm and all you do. Please keep it up

 

[Brent Drake]

Please no negative comments on the Mentone 2015 thread. I welcome positive thinking idea's

Here is a September update on the 2015 convention.

1. Were going to ask for donations for the people attending the fireworks. Were putting out flyers in Mentone, Rochester, and Warsaw to attract more people. The Mentone fire dept will assist us.

2. There is an ad coming out in the next Kit Planes magazine for the convention next year. IF a new person, pays $84 for a two year membership to the PRA. They will get a free introductory flight lesson at the 2015 convention. A $50 value.

3. When a person registers for the convention he or she can purchase an introductory flight lesson in the office. The ticket is then given to the CFI they want the lesson from. In turn, the CFI turns in the ticket at the front desk to receive his payment for the service performed.

4. There will be a few people standing to escort a newbie that might want to be showed around and introduced to the the CFI's, buildings, and museum.

5. The electrical for the camping is being upgraded. Hopefully it will be done in a few weeks.

6. Since Mentone is in the same county as Warsaw. Kevin O'kane is checking into what the Chamber of Commerce can help us with. IF you go to the Mentone Indiana town web site, they have a gyro on the home page.

This is what has been done in the last few weeks. Much more to come. Less talk more action. This is what the PRA needs.

 

[All_In]

No I didn't fly as much as the years past, Nor Did I make enuff money to pay for the Gas that I used going and coming to the event.

HOWEVER

I Did Exactly , what I set out to do,

I Spent Time with FRIENDS/ FAMILY that has Watched over Me for well over 20 years,

YES the attendance of gyros was down, well below the 100 or more that's been there in the past.

As far as Volunteers,,,, Ya DONT HAVE ANY IDEA,,,the time and Personal Money and what's done to help out, without ever wanting a ThankYou..

The PRA has NO YOUNG MEMBERS.. The AVERAGE AGE is 40 year old.

The days of AFFORDABLE GYROS are Over... 70-100K $ is nothing unusual for many of the European style
The Old Style Machines and Members are SLOWLY DISAPPEARING..


And if you weren't there,, YOU MISSED THE MOST AWSUMMM fireworks display I've ever seen.

It AINT ABOUT THE MONEY........IT IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE..

Atleast that's the way I feel about it ..

Yaw Mon!!! It's a party!

 

[Brent Drake]

For my Number #4 above. Chris GyrOZprey on here has stepped of to help with the reception and showing newbies around the convention. Such as introducing them to the CFI's, manufacturers, forums, and the museum.

This is only a start. With her pleasant and cheery smile, were guaranteed the newbies will feel welcomed to our organization and convention.

Thanks Chris for you work. Kudo's to you.:angel:

 

[All_In]

Please Join our new Facebook group page! https://www.facebook.com/groups/777487312308253/
Please add pictures or videos of our conventions there
Please share this with other groups.

 

[gyroplanes]

Brent, You did not mention the dreaded "C" word...... Chairman. I assume you have accepted that role? If so, congratulations and thank you. i stand read to help.

I have a guest speaker possibly lined up, e-mail me please.

 

[Brent Drake]

Yes Tom, I'm going to do it. Also I have Kevin and Chris so far with a big part in helping me pull this off.

 

[Dean_Dolph]

For my Number #4 above. Chris GyrOZprey on here has stepped of to help with the reception and showing newbies around the convention. Such as introducing them to the CFI's, manufacturers, forums, and the museum.

This is only a start. With her pleasant and cheery smile, were guaranteed the newbies will feel welcomed to our organization and convention.

Thanks Chris for you work. Kudo's to you.:angel:

Brent, I can't say I have as pleasant and cheery smile as Chris but I would be willing to help with this task.

And in saying this, I believe a task list is needed so others know what work happens to put on the convention and what tasks they feel they can help with. I know that Chapter 62 volunteered to handle trash collection one year. If nothing else then people with specific skills could volunteer this info so they could be called on in an emergency situation such as electrical/air conditioning and etc. Also, I think a timeline for task completion would help drive the activity.

 

[Brent Drake]

Dean, Thanks I will call one you for some help when the time comes.
Thanks for being a long time PRA supporter.

 

[Dean_Dolph]

n my opinion, attendance is down simply because people just aren't as interested in this stuff now as they used to be. There are more people leaving the sport than new people entering it.

Agreed...changing demographics and culture. It will never rebound IMO and the best thing to do is group with other AC types.

Chuck, I believe the attendance and attendees enthusiasm (people left early!) was down because the convention wasn't promoted as heavily as in the past. Last years convention was special since it was the 50th one so it was easy to promote and be enthused about attending.

I am happy to see that Chairman Drake is bringing some enthusiasm to the convention planning and starting planning/promotion earlier than what it has looked like happened in the past.

 

[All_In]

Brent, You did not mention the dreaded "C" word...... Chairman. I assume you have accepted that role? If so, congratulations and thank you. i stand read to help.

I have a guest speaker possibly lined up, e-mail me please.

Thank you... Tim Chick already pointed that out on facebook = spelling of Cantina. But now I've changed them to Concession Stand = better thank you.

I was tasked to promote the airport a few months ago. Only had a budget of $250.00 so no joy with advertizing. I joined facebook and will now be promoting us as much as I can for free.

I also created a database of email addresses that will last long after I'm dead and gone... to most of the In. motorcycle and car clubs and just started gathering churches.
I have batch emailed them all twice now, once a month, and hope some of them are the folks who just show up to camp now, but do not know.

I'm posting two slightly different ads see below. I'll replace the one that get the fewer # of hits with another one and try and out compete myself.

When I started looking for magazines to advertize in turns out Sam's Club publishes 2 of the most popular. So contacted them...Once the electrical is uprated I will inform Sam's Club and they then will give us a favorable listing and we can be listed for free in their camping directory. They will also them provide us with a advertizing rates and I hope to start advertizing for real.

I too have volunteered to help Brent and can batch email press releases to the media with video clips of rotorcraft that might entice them to come see these odd flying machines. We should start sending these to them letting them know more and more about 3 months before the event?

So when the team finds a new media email address to send press releases to please send them to me so next year it's automated.

 

[gyroplanes]

Mentone airport would be a great place for a car show. You could actually do burn outs without angering the neighbors.
There are companies that promote and run car shows. A local one (100 miles west) is Thunder Road productions, if 100 miles is out of their realm, they probably can help find the closest.

 

[groundhog]

It would be a perfect location for a large horse show . They travel with campers and would appreciate the built in sound system. you would have to somehow include the restoration of the show ring(in the fee charged ) but would probably be a recurring annual event . Start at american quarterhorse association. Or Indiana hunter jumper association.
They carry their own insurance once you get to this level.

 

[Brent Drake]

Brent, You did not mention the dreaded "C" word...... Chairman. I assume you have accepted that role? If so, congratulations and thank you. i stand read to help.

I have a guest speaker possibly lined up, e-mail me please.

Thanks Tom, I will take you up on it. I really appreciate it.

 

[Brent Drake]

Mentone airport would be a great place for a car show. You could actually do burn outs without angering the neighbors.
There are companies that promote and run car shows. A local one (100 miles west) is Thunder Road productions, if 100 miles is out of their realm, they probably can help find the closest.

Tom, since your up north and ready to help. Please, get in touch with these car clubs and try to get something lined up at the airport.

 

[Brent Drake]

The 2015 convention will not be held in a tent.
Ive had complaints about wind, rain, and sun in 1/2 the tables eyes.

The banquet will be held in the church in Mentone where it was held in the past.

 

[cgmg]

Great news, Brent!

Thanks for making this happen.

 

[Brent Drake]

Thanks Mark for your reply. whatever the members feel we need at the convention. We will do our best to address the issue and make it happen.

 

[Brent Drake]

This will be out in the next Kit Planes.

You can take advantage of it now if you like.