2017 AUK Reunion

[jsabine]

'Booking soon via the Auknet website', but when?

Now.

Reunion booking (or go to AUKweb and follow the link at top right).

[hellymedic]

Thanks!

I have booked and paid but I still want to sort out a wheelchair friendly twin room (I'm planning to share with a non-partner) and extending stay another night.

See you all there!

[hellymedic]

Have just phoned the hotel to sort out third night and accessible room. They couldn't find AUK booking!
Hope they find it soon...

[hellymedic]

Found it now;

All booked and sorted!

[LeFlic]

I need to book two rooms for this but I am currently in France and cannot do the bank transfer process.
Does anyone know how I can 'reserve' two rooms until I am back in the UK on 20th October?
Thanks

[jsabine]

I need to book two rooms for this but I am currently in France and cannot do the bank transfer process.
Does anyone know how I can 'reserve' two rooms until I am back in the UK on 20th October?
Thanks

I *think* reunion@audax.uk should get to the organiser

[LeFlic]

Thanks,
I have sent an email to that address and will see if I get a response.

[madgibbo]

Thanks,
I have sent an email to that address and will see if I get a response.

Hi there simply fill in the form to reserve a room and pay when you’re back that will be fine

Kind regards

Markg ACB assisting reunion organisation

PS rooms filling in nicely

[madgibbo]

Thanks!

I have booked and paid but I still want to sort out a wheelchair friendly twin room (I'm planning to share with a non-partner) and extending stay another night.

See you all there!

hi Helen we met last year at Taunton ..... I’ll b going to hotel in next couple weeks ..... you’re on my radar and I’ll make sure you’re room is fine ..... they definitely do have our booking have no fears .... it’s looking good!

[hellymedic]

Thanks!
I've sorted things out with the hotel anyway.

[madgibbo]

Bookings coming along nicely

Slight changes as in guest speaker is now Kajsa Tylen http://www.ayearinthesaddle.com/

[Wobbly]

Dinner Darts have appeared in the calendar by the way: http://www.aukweb.net/events/?From=30%2F10%2F2017&To=1

[hillbilly]

  Should the Prize Dinner be renamed the Surprise Dinner, given it seems to have come out of the blue for the Board?

[BlackSheep]

  Should the Prize Dinner be renamed the Surprise Dinner, given it seems to have come out of the blue for the Board?

  

[Arry-R]

  Should the Prize Dinner be renamed the Surprise Dinner, given it seems to have come out of the blue for the Board?

=          =          =          =          =          =          =

 

[jsabine]

  Should the Prize Dinner be renamed the Surprise Dinner, given it seems to have come out of the blue for the Board?

You are, sir, a Very Bad Man.

Anyway, it's not blue, more of a teal, I fancy.

[bikey-mikey]

I understand that hotel bookings are going very well. 

Looking forward to hearing from Kajsa, now that I know who she is.....  I probably should have known, but as she doesn’t apppear to ride Audaxes, I’ve just not come across her...  Maybe if I only rode a few audaxes each year, I’d have enough time to watch the world more thoroughly......   

I’ve sent off all the trophy proofs to the suppliers to turn into template documents for their engraving processes.  My thanks  and apologies  to all the many folks I have chased, badgered, bullied and barnstormed with, to get this far, this early...

I empathise with all the organisers who have had their events potentially blighted by the sudden and somewhat random and last minute reunion date choice. I believe that it was most likely dictated by the availability of the only hotel large enough in the location, though I stand to be corrected. Hotel and location choice is an issue we need to understand and plan way ahead for, to avoid the conflict of ‘events versus reunion’ we’ve got this year.  Maybe at the AGM next year we can agree the date for the following reunion, and block out that weekend completely so nobody can run Audaxes at the same time? Also perhaps we should initially select more than one location so we cannot be held to ransom by virtue of choosing ‘the’ one before hotel availability and cost has been researched?

Oh yes, I’m also attempting to make this season a relaxed and gentle non points chasing affair..... though I’ve said that before and failed.....

[Arry-R]

You are, sir, a Very Bad Man.

=          =          =          =          =          =       =

No he's a very wise and well spoken Man

[Arry-R]

I empathise with all the organisers who have had their events potentially blighted by the sudden and somewhat random and last minute reunion date choice. I believe that it was most likely dictated by the availability of the only hotel large enough in the location, though I stand to be corrected. Hotel and location choice is an issue we need to understand and plan way ahead for, to avoid the conflict of ‘events versus reunion’ we’ve got this year.  Maybe at the AGM next year we can agree the date for the following reunion, and block out that weekend completely so nobody can run Audaxes at the same time? Also perhaps we should initially select more than one location so we cannot be held to ransom by virtue of choosing ‘the’ one before hotel availability and cost has been researched?
=          =          =          =          =          =          =          =

You MUST sort and stick to agreed date.  Events should not be prevented from taking place at the same time but organisers who want to attend will make sure they avoid that date for their event.
Why wait until the AGM to agree the date DO IT PROMPTLY and make it fixed as 3rd /4th weekend of November then organisers can plan their year. In the days of old the date was fixed far sooner.  You SHOULD do this by reunion weekend, why wait unnecessarily there is no need.

[Manotea]

When the world and his wife have finished getting on their high horse....

My understanding is that the hotel was booked for mid November around May but somewhere along the line the hotel mislaid the booking and by the time this was discovered the only option was that which we have before us.

My further understanding is that the event organisers impacted by this were contacted to explain the situation and assistence offered to reschedule their events if they so chose, but they understandably preferred to retain their planned schedule.

Having organised two reunions myself I KNOW just how much work - and how STRESSFUL - it can be, so whilst the situation aint great I think we should give those concerned a break. In a volunteer led organisation, it ain't how well the bear dances but the fact that it dances at all that is the wonder. Having organised two reunions I wasnt going to organise a third. If the new reunion organisers had'nt stepped up there likely simply would not have been a Reunion last year. So if you want there to be a reunion next year the thing to do is get behind them not beat them up.

For my money, the major learning point from this is the importance of making a clear statement of what and why asap, if only to shut the whingers and barrack-room lawyers up. 

Gosh, did I say that out loud?

[jsabine]

Oh, it's been a cock-up this year, no doubt about that, with a number of factors involved (hotel cocking up the booking, last minute change of dates, poor communication about this, change of payment systems/details contributing to delay in getting the booking info live) - but even if we'd gone with the original dates, I think end July/beginning of August is really a bit later than we should have been telling people about a November function.

We will do better (or at least earlier) for next year.

[bikey-mikey]

IMHO, the reunion has always worked better when the AGM was being held at the same time..  Maybe it would be better to hold it in January, or February when there are less events to conflict with anyway..

I know there has been some comment about bad weather, darkness, ice and cold, but we are the self sufficient creme de la creme, who worship the god RRTY and we laugh at the cold.

Riding 200 or more kms in snow or ice is nothing I haven’t done week in week out for the last six winters.... I seem to recall a big group of us on the cover of arrivee in two foot of snow at the top of Park Rash on one of Andy Corless’s events....  can anybody find that picture??

Dinner Darts are good fun, and run as calendar events, possibly for historical reasons, and the date commonality, though if you described one without mentioning the Reunion, you’d be told it was a Perm/DIY. 

Imagine:-  “I’m going to plan a route from one place to another, starting at a time of my choice, and I’m going to choose my own controls. “

If the weather deters you, there’s always a train or car...

[Manotea]

IMHO, the reunion has always worked better when the AGM was being held at the same time..  Maybe it would be better to hold it in January, or February when there are less events to conflict with anyway..

This statement is based on a sample of 1 such event and that event was deemed a great sucess, providing more opportunity for socialising and riding whilst those who wanted could meet to discuss issues arising and to be carried forward to the AGM in the spring. The lack of an AGM to attend had no impact on numbers attending the Reunion weekend and the informal meeting that took the place of the AGM was well attended.

[Martin]

I have to confess that apart from once I've never actually attended the AGM when it was part of the dinner as I was either doing a Dinner Dart or going for a longer than usual (anti) social ride.

I think the clash with other events is unfortunate but it's not the first time this has happened (2015) although none were 200s if that makes a difference

[BlackSheep]

When the world and his wife have finished getting on their high horse....

My understanding is that the hotel was booked for mid November around May but somewhere along the line the hotel mislaid the booking and by the time this was discovered the only option was that which we have before us.

My further understanding is that the event organisers impacted by this were contacted to explain the situation and assistence offered to reschedule their events if they so chose, but they understandably preferred to retain their planned schedule.

Having organised two reunions myself I KNOW just how much work - and how STRESSFUL - it can be, so whilst the situation aint great I think we should give those concerned a break. In a volunteer led organisation, it ain't how well the bear dances but the fact that it dances at all that is the wonder. I can tell you here and now that having organised two reunions I wasnt going to organise a third. If the new reunion organisers had'nt stepped up there likely simply would not have been a Reunion last year. So if you want there to be a reunion next year the thing to do is get behind them not beat them up.

For my money, the major learning point from this is the importance of making a clear statement of what and why asap, if only to shut the whingers and barrack-room lawyers up. 

Gosh, did I say that out loud?

Like whom Paul, please spill the beans.