Re: Volunteers (was: The Albany N.Y. Free Swap Meet & Show Is Rumored To Be No More)

["Eddie Stakes" <eddiestakes@xxxx>]

Doc, from what I understand, and someone correct me if wrong, Tim Tracy and
Tony Grimaldi were the guys behind this meet for many years in Albany, NY.
They would emphasize that it was a free meet, free vending, free showing,
everything so they were underwriting the costs of putting it on. I used to
do the same thing here in Houston with the AMC SW regional I founded, and it
got, uh, expensive to do year after year, could be anywhere between
$500-$1000, of which I would only hope to break even or make some profit
vending during the meet! But it was worth it when you would see all those
wonderful cars show up and people having a good time. However, it got to be
more of a pain in the ass, and hated to beg for sponsors and vendors to
donate money for prizes, goodie bag items and trophies. And speaking for
myself, burnout was a huge factor as while you usually had a dedicated core
group of people willing to chip in and assist and help out, most just would
show up and not. So hats off to those who would bag up trash, judge cars,
sell sodas and water to benefit the club till, help park vehicles, vend,
collect dues and monies for club, cook hot dogs, you folks are the real
forces behind these meets and whether they will be a success....or failure.

It is something many of you have seen me write about for many years. Being a
volunteer!
It does not take much of your time to get involved and help out, even with
small mundane chores to make the meet go off smoothly. For those of you in
NAMDRA, you can see poor Jock Jocewicz plead year after year for people to
not only show up, but please help out! Donate something for goodie bags or
door prizes. Help park vehicles and trailers, help judge (never enough
people to judge!) help pick up trash, just walk up to whoever is in charge
and simply say "Hi my name is Bart (or whatever your name is!) is there
anything I can volunteer to do to help out today?" and you will be surprised
it takes a fe minutes of your time, but the met will not only go smoother,
you will enjoy yourself knowing you helped out making it a wild success and
hopefully the meet will continue to grow instead of reading about it like
Albany! Good luck and have fun, please volunteer.
Eddie Stakes
www.planethoustonamx.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <AMC74HORNET@xxxx>
To: <BaadAssGremlins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2004 6:20 AM
Subject: [BaadAssGremlins] The Albany N.Y. Free Swap Meet & Show Is Rumored
To Be No More


I took the new Hornet out yesterday to run my tuesday errands and called
my AMC friend to go out to lunch. He is the one I am helping with the
Ardsley show next month on May 16. He says to me that he is glad I
talked him into haveing the spring show as he tells me that the owners
of the site the Albany show is held at dosen't want it there anymore.
The show was put on by my friends cousin and another friend. These guys
just bought new house's in north west N.Y. and are not actively looking
for a new spot for the show at this time. I have never been to the
Albany show but have been told it has been on a decline participation
wise the last couple of years. It's a shame to see it go if it does.
Anyhow hopefully the Ardsley show will fill the gap if the Albany show
is no more or become another good show. Anyone needing info on the
Ardsley show contact Steve at 914-423-7115 or me at 914-965-1397.
"Doc"