[xj-s] The Sixth Annual Jag-Lovers Picnic, Part 2

XJ-S
1

Everyone who came had a great time, and is enthusiastically looking
forward to next year’s picnic. Unfortunately, attendance was down
this year to the extent that we may not be able to justify ever
holding a picnic again. This year there were only about half as
many attendees as there were last year. I don’t know what the
reason was, since the there was no threat of rain, but the out-of-
state attendees seemed to outnumber the locals. Contrary to what
many people think, I couldn’t possibly organize this event alone.
For example, it takes a large number of people many man-hours
simply to plan, purchase and prepare the food. Everything is made
fresh by volunteers. They spent several days cooking chicken for
the wraps, boiling macaroni, chopping vegetables, and making the
variety of different foods for the Jag-Lovers to enjoy. And the
food is just one part of the preparation. Someone has to lay out
and document the tour, collect door prizes, man the sign-in table,
man the friers and the grilles, prepare the grounds, clean up
afterwards, etc. It takes a lot of planning and coordination by
many people to pull off an event like this and at the same time
make it look easy. Unfortunately, when attendance drops below a
certain point it is no longer economically justifiable for these
people to do all that work, so the future of the event is now in
jeopardy. This is disheartening for those of us who look forward
to the event each year.

It reminds me that sometimes we take our vendors for granted. We
expect them to always be there ready to help us out when we need
them. Unfortunately they serve a niche market and it’s difficult
for them to provide the vast array of parts that we expect when so
few people need those parts. The demise of Special Interest Car
Parts should have demonstrated that we need to support the vendors
and events that we enjoy so they will continue to be available when
we want them.

I want to thank all the people who supported and enjoyed the picnic
in the past. I will never forget the frendships that were
initiated on these lists and cemented on the picnic grounds.

Mike Eck
New Jersey, USA
www.jaguarclock.com
'51 XK120 OTS, '62 3.8 MK2 MOD, '72 SIII E-Type 2+2–
Michael Eck
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

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2

In reply to a message from Michael Eck sent Tue 5 Jul 2005:

This is the first I’ve heard about it. I’d have changed my schedule
and attended had I known, but I don’t remember seeing any mention
of it. Maybe getting the word out earlier and more often would
generate more attendance.

Lee Murray '95 4.0–
The original message included these comments:

Everyone who came had a great time, and is enthusiastically looking
forward to next year’s picnic. Unfortunately, attendance was down
this year to the extent that we may not be able to justify ever
holding a picnic again. This year there were only about half as
many attendees as there were last year. I don’t know what the
reason was, since the there was no threat of rain, but the out-of-
state attendees seemed to outnumber the locals. Contrary to what
make it look easy. Unfortunately, when attendance drops below a
certain point it is no longer economically justifiable for these
people to do all that work, so the future of the event is now in
jeopardy. This is disheartening for those of us who look forward

–
LeRoy Murray
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

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3

At 23:11 2005-07-08 +0200, LeRoy Murray wrote:

This is the first I’ve heard about it. I’d have changed my schedule
and attended had I known, but I don’t remember seeing any mention
of it. Maybe getting the word out earlier and more often would
generate more attendance.

Well, as in past years, I’ve advised that this event should be publicised
on the Jag-Lovers International Events Diary (which is linked from the J-L
homepage).

It is also important to note that despite the use of the Jag-Lovers name in
the title of the event, this event IS_NOT in any way sponsored by
Jag-Lovers. It is an informal gathering of enthusiasts organized by an
individual.

Further discussion abvout the social gathering should be held on PUB,
rather than individual model lists.—
Sean Straw Admin of the Jag-Lovers XJ-S list
Sonoma County, California

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