Updated Lake Dora Swim-in Notice

[SplitPersonality]

I apologize, but I hastened to get the information about the upcoming March
Lake Dora Swim-In to you as soon as I had been able to procure it.
Unfortunately, I learned only today that Dave Monier will no longer be participating
in the event due to other obligations and the lack of an Amphicar for several
years now. Consequently, PLEASE DISREGARD THE PRIOR E-MAIL SENT A DAY AGO.



UPDATED LAKE DORA SWIM-IN INFORMATION

I wrote to the Antique Boat Show Chairman last September, as our Amphicar
Swim-In is under the umbrella of the Antique Boat Club show. When I did not
receive answers to questions I had asked, I contacted him again this January
and finally had a lengthy telephone conversation with Terry Fiest, the show
Chairman. The principal matters I had raised with him concerned the use of the
ramp on Sunday, whether we Amphicar folks were to be part of their Friday
evening Captains’ Party and how registration was to be handled. Registration
had once been a problem area, but had been satisfactorily resolved at the
Mount Dora site. Now, however, the Boat Club has some agreements with the
Municipality of Tavares which is the show’s new location (which is still on the
same Lake Dora, but 6 miles west of Mount Dora). They had an excellent brand
new ramp put in last year and with the new arrangements have come some
changes. Last years’ show went excellently and our Amphicar location and ramp usage
( except for Sunday ) was great, but there were a few matters which needed to
be addressed. Registration will be handled directly with the sponsoring
Antique Boat Club and the fee will change from $ 25 to $40 which includes 2
adults and immediate family members under 18.
The show has a web site which is: _www.ACBS-Sunnyland.com_
(http://www.acbs-sunnyland.com/) Terry Fiest told me this is very user friendly. However, I
did not find it so great. After considerable difficulty, I was able to
extract the 2 page Registration Form. However, all the information and the entire
event schedule is on this site and easy to bring up. Terry told me that if
anyone has problems printing out the Registration Form, they can e-mail him at
_terry.fiest@cubic.com_ (mailto:terry.fiest@cubic.com) or call his cell
phone at (407) 493-6487 and they will mail you the Registration Form. The
Registration Fee includes the Captains' Party Friday night which if the weather
is in the 70s or above, which it usually is, this is a fun party with great
ambiance and like minded attendees along with a pretty good assortment of food
choices. Drinks are obtained from a CASH BAR.

The Summary of the pertinent information is that the show starts with a
reception hosted by Hagerty Insurance on Thursday afternoon March 26th from 6:00
to 8:00 PM and the show ends Sunday afternoon March 29th. The Chairman told
me that though he favored a reduced Registration fee and recognizes what a
significant role the Amphicars play in the event, he was outvoted by all but
one of the members of the Boat Show board. I believe personally that the
reason is partly because though we are not Antique Boats in the normal sense, the
Amphicars attract a disproportionate amount of attention and a fair number
of the antique boat owners are to some extent jealous of the attention we get.
Two different years, newspapers which featured articles on the show had
photos of the Amphicars. The Orlando Sentinel one year on the front page of
their Sunday edition featured a 3 picture display of my Amphicar in a Going -
Going - Gone sequence. I told Terry that other than out of staters, the
Amphicars will seldom arrive before Friday afternoon and usually depart on
Sunday. Our Amphicar parade and grand Splash-In will still be held on Saturday at
1 PM. As mentioned, this is all shown in the printed schedule at the web
site.
The complete Registration form along with a $ 40. check made out to the
Sunnyland ACBS should be sent to the address in Mount Dora shown on the Form.
When you arrive and check in, you will receive Name Badges, a "Goodie Bag," and
other items. The Inn On the Green will continue to be our de facto
headquarters though it now has had a change in its personnel. Both the Inn and our
Banquet site, however, are closer to the Tavares Swim-In location. Sadly,
Dave Monier who has not owned an Amphicar now for some time is bowing out as our
Swim-In leader and will no longer be participating. So at our Banquet, be
thinking about good candidates to take the reins and carry on with this
wonderful Lake Dora Swim-In as I, too, will be relinquishing any leadership role
though I will still be available in an advisory capacity. There is a very
nice RV park 3 miles away with full hookup sites costing $35 a night. Dry
Camping will be available at the event site with the cost being $100 for the
whole event, regardless of the number of days utilized, but electric power or
other amenities will not be available.
So, assuming that you Northerners have had your fill of winter and the
fluffy white stuff, mark your calendars and plan to get together here in central
Florida. If you are staying in a motel, call immediately to make
reservations. No special room rates have been arranged, but mentioning the annual
Amphicar contingent may create a reduction. 11 years in a row, we have had
exceptional weather and we have again requested more of the same. The Camaraderie
is unbeatable and weather and temperature are definitely a lot different than
up north. If you have questions or want more information contact me at
_nelson625@aol.com_ (mailto:nelson625@aol.com) or call (386)228-2118.
The Inn On the Green phone number is: (800) 935-2935
Fisherman's Cove Lake Harris RV Park: (800) 254-9993
Vic (Capt. Splash) Nelson with the 1967 Split Personality

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[Canadian four amphs]

I like to show my Amphicar at every show I can.
In Fl. there is a Mag.that notes all the shows and cruise ins.
If there is a fee I do not go to them.If anything I think these show people should pay us,We restored them, we put lots of $$$$ in them
then they charge us to display them.Oh but they give us all these goody bags,Full of Trinkets that we don't need and throw out a year later, and they give us food(Last year I found nothing I could eat but Cigar man loved it)Id rather go to MY favorite rest.
Of all the Amphicar meets out there I do not think there is any that have a Reg. fee..Also I know the club helps out by sending $$$ to help in show costs.
This is going to be a hard year for people to make Amphicar meets and many are cutting out some to make the other, a $40 reg. with a tough form to get and fill out is going to hurt the Fl. meet.Plus some just show up on Sat. out of the blue.what do you do with them?
I would like to hear from all of you out there on your feelings toward this issue..... pro or against fees,
there is alternatives with so many lakes and ramps(FREE) in this area,
I plan to meet with you in the next week or so Victor and can suggest a few ideas,I know there are some that like the joint meet as they have boats in the same show etc.Others enjoy the masive crowds, but those that have been to the smaller sub meets know there can be massive fun in just hanging out with other Amphicars cruising down a river.
Gord Souter Winter Snowbird.

 

[chasgould]

Re: Fees for events!

Well Gord,
You asked for opinions, so here is mine. I can see it from both angles, but having organized and run a meet for several years now, I can tell you this. It is expensive to put on a NICE meet, and someone has to bear those costs. I have been to free events and expensive ones. I have had some of my best times at free events, and I have felt that my money was wasted at some expensive ones, but a registration fee allows the organizers to offer so much more in the way of activities, quality food, and drink, and events or additional tours and destinations.
Unfortunately sometimes, those funds are spent on mediocre (or even bad) food and cheap trinkets, often to increase the organizers profit, and that is unfortunate. Other times, the organizers spend the money well, and the event is one to remember, and one that you want to keep returning to year after year.
It also depends on the audience. The Microcar guys are not afraid to spend a little money to have a good time, while the Metropolitan people are reluctant to spend more than $3.00 for a decent breakfast! I suspect that the Amphicar guys fall somewhere in between, but most are willing to spend a little money for a good time.
At our microcar event, we provide three days of entertainment, tours, meals (including an huge amazing barbecue and eclectic array of international foods), bottled water, and soft drinks and juices, coffee, bagels and pastries, and even beer, wine, and margaritas, all included in the registration fee, and people come back year after year, and I can tell you that even with a $40.00 registration fee, we put in a substantial amount of our own money to host this event.
The microcar guys love it and return year after year, and not one person has ever complained about not getting their money's worth.
We tried the same format with the Amphicar people, and while it was a 90% success, we had three of four people who complained about the fee, and a couple who successfully avoided paying it. They were upset because they did not drink liquor and thought that they should not have to pay the full fee because others had free drinks and they weren't drinking, or that they didn't eat as much, or as fancy, as others who attended, or that they only attended for two days instead of three days.
One of our local members DONATED a sunset Duck Tour on the Charles River for the entire group, which is valued at $45.00 per person, and these few people complained when I suggested that if people had a good time, that they might want to consider providing a tip to the driver who donated the tour! They also complained when I found a local parking garage and negotiated with the attendant to allow us to leave all of our Amphicars safe and sound within his view for three hours at $5.00 per car, instead of having to park them scattered on the streets of Boston.
Curiously, I later learned that these same individuals were actually charging MY guests and spectators for rides in their Amphicars, which the rest of us were providing free of charge as a gesture of good will, and simply because it was fun! Aside from changing the tone of our event by charging this fee, they actually exposed me to additional liability exposure as my insurance coverages specifically excluded activities which were provided for a fee (aside from the registration fee which was disclosed to the insurer), and even if it was called a "tip", it exposed us under a strict legal liability interpretation. They did this discretely, and often did not inform the passengers until they were captive out on the lake, and then "advised" the people that it was "customary" to tip the Amphicar owners $10.00 to $20.00 per person for the rides. I had observed many people who left immedately after their first ride, and later learned why they were abandoning the party so soon. I later learned that these individuals were bragging about how much money they made from charging MY guests and spectators, and how it paid for their cost to travel to, and attend the event, all while resisting paying our registration fee!
I have had people come to our meet and neglect to pay, or grumble about the fees, and then try to sell their cars or wares to our captive audience of guests and spectators. So they are handed a captive audiance of over 1,000 interested prospective purchasers, and they complain about a registration fee of $40.00, while they eat, drink and participate throughout the weekend.
There would be no incentive to host a quality meet if you could not offset at least some of the costs, and many of these organizers do organize these events to generate a profit.
I think that it is great that so many of the Amphicar events are free, and that is due pimarily to the commraderie of the Amphicar owners. But don't kid yourself, if you attend a free event like Celina, you are spending more than $40.00 on food and drinks and other stuff that might be included at another event where those things are provided by the organizer, so there is little difference, unless you are really frugal with your meals and drinks.
My gripe is where someone charges $40.00 registration fee and then provides little or nothing for that fee.
I have a great deal of respect for those who are able (both financially and otherwise) to subsidize the entire cost of an event. Gerry and Lori O'Bara come to mind. They host an amazing event entirely at their own expense, and the contributions of a few who help them organize this event, and I really do admire that, but you can only do that for so long, and if all events were free, their would be a lot fewer to attend. The insurance alone is quite expensive, and those who are hosting events without insurance are taking a huge risk, especially with Amphibious vehicle and alcohol at the party.
The bottom line is that there should be no "entitlement attitude". If anyone does not wish to pay a fee, they are welcome not to attend an event, but I feel that it is wrong to presume or expect that a complete stranger should provide a free venue, and food and entertainment, and a captive audience, simply because our individual car is part of the draw for that event, especially if the attendant is deriving income (or tips) from the audience provided by that organizer!
Just my two cents worth.
Chas

I like to show my Amphicar at every show I can.
In Fl. there is a Mag.that notes all the shows and cruise ins.
If there is a fee I do not go to them.If anything I think these show people should pay us,We restored them, we put lots of $$$$ in them
then they charge us to display them.Oh but they give us all these goody bags,Full of Trinkets that we don't need and throw out a year later, and they give us food(Last year I found nothing I could eat but Cigar man loved it)Id rather go to MY favorite rest.
Of all the Amphicar meets out there I do not think there is any that have a Reg. fee..Also I know the club helps out by sending $$$ to help in show costs.
This is going to be a hard year for people to make Amphicar meets and many are cutting out some to make the other, a $40 reg. with a tough form to get and fill out is going to hurt the Fl. meet.Plus some just show up on Sat. out of the blue.what do you do with them?
I would like to hear from all of you out there on your feelings toward this issue..... pro or against fees,
there is alternatives with so many lakes and ramps(FREE) in this area,
I plan to meet with you in the next week or so Victor and can suggest a few ideas,I know there are some that like the joint meet as they have boats in the same show etc.Others enjoy the masive crowds, but those that have been to the smaller sub meets know there can be massive fun in just hanging out with other Amphicars cruising down a river.
Gord Souter Winter Snowbird.

 

[Midwest Amphicar]

This really got Me thinking. Swim with Dave the Wave got big. When things get big , You need porta potties and hand stations, larger private stops that charge ramp fees. If a on site meal is planned, all add up and none are free. Trying to get people to pay up, what a pain in the prop shaft. I got to learn a lot about people, which I never wanted to learn! Luckily for Me Cigar Guy jumped in to help collect. Also Doug Parsons helped. I used to figure I would spend about 500 out of pocket. I had people complain about more stuff, WOW!! Sunnyland Boat CLUB as I remember does this as a FUND RAISER. So for three days at less than $7 per person, You have unlimited use of ramp. You have a clean porta pottie nearby, You have large crowds all visiting, You have easy access to fantastic wooden (and fiberglass) boats. I think price is about what it costs just to VISIT.
If I had a Amphicar in Florida, I would pay My $40, go visit the show, and head back out to open waters and head straight for the Hide Away!! Then spend more than $40 on a round of drinks with all of My similiar minded amphibians.
Later Dave I should have moved last year Wave

 

[chasgould]

Re: Cost of hosting an event!

You're not kidding, Dave! We spend over $900.00 on tent and table/chair rental alone, another $300.00 on Porta-potties, and over $2,000.00 on catered food! Our liquor bill for beer and wine and tequila is almost $700.00.
Then we have to pay for Coffee/pastries ($250.00). At $40.00 per person, the first 110 registered guests just cover those expenses listed above. And that is before we get to the other expenses like award plaques, refridgerated foods, and soda/juices, liability insurance and shared fees with the Museum of Transportation which provides the venue for our public display.
Chas

This really got Me thinking. Swim with Dave the Wave got big. When things get big , You need porta potties and hand stations, larger private stops that charge ramp fees. If a on site meal is planned, all add up and none are free. Trying to get people to pay up, what a pain in the prop shaft. I got to learn a lot about people, which I never wanted to learn! Luckily for Me Cigar Guy jumped in to help collect. Also Doug Parsons helped. I used to figure I would spend about 500 out of pocket. I had people complain about more stuff, WOW!! Sunnyland Boat CLUB as I remember does this as a FUND RAISER. So for three days at less than $7 per person, You have unlimited use of ramp. You have a clean porta pottie nearby, You have large crowds all visiting, You have easy access to fantastic wooden (and fiberglass) boats. I think price is about what it costs just to VISIT.
If I had a Amphicar in Florida, I would pay My $40, go visit the show, and head back out to open waters and head straight for the Hide Away!! Then spend more than $40 on a round of drinks with all of My similiar minded amphibians.
Later Dave I should have moved last year Wave

 

[Canadian four amphs]

Remember folks, that I have been putting on the ORILLIA swim in(Last weekend in June) for 9 years now,I know all about expenses,But Also about the rewards.Best friendships in the world!I also know how expensive it is to Bring your Amphicar from all over the country to get to events.
well, at least I got the chat page talking again..
Off to a air show today,(pay the public entrance fee,they
pay the air show planes to come)
Crash GORDON.

 

[Larry DePasquale]

Re: Cost of hosting an event!

I agree with all that stuff, it does cost alot to put one of these*shows on, but the Indian Lake Ohio car show is held at the beach, right at the point we all drove into the water off the beach last year at Celina.* This years car show I am going to crash the party and drive in from the lake! Ha Ha* Do you think they will catch me?
Larry
White 66 in Ohio




________________________________
From: chasgould <>
To: larrydepasquale@yahoo.com
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 2:43:59 PM
Subject: RE: [General Amphicar Discussion-t-20303] Re: Cost of hosting an event!


You're not kidding, Dave! We spend over $900.00 on tent and table/chair rental alone, another $300.00 on Porta-potties, and over $2,000.00 on catered food! Our liquor bill for beer and wine and tequila is almost $700.00.
Then we have to pay for Coffee/pastries ($250.00). At $40.00 per person, the first 110 registered guests just cover those expenses listed above. And that is before we get to the other expenses like award plaques, refridgerated foods, and soda/juices, liability insurance and shared fees with the Museum of Transportation which provides the venue for our public display.
Chas



Quote:
Originally Posted by Midwest Amphicar
This really got Me thinking. Swim with Dave the Wave got big. When things get big , You need porta potties and hand stations, larger private stops that charge ramp fees. If a on site meal is planned, all add up and none are free. Trying to get people to pay up, what a pain in the prop shaft. I got to learn a lot about people, which I never wanted to learn! Luckily for Me Cigar Guy jumped in to help collect. Also Doug Parsons helped. I used to figure I would spend about 500 out of pocket. I had people complain about more stuff, WOW!! Sunnyland Boat CLUB as I remember does this as a FUND RAISER. So for three days at less than $7 per person, You have unlimited use of ramp. You have a clean porta pottie nearby, You have large crowds all visiting, You have easy access to fantastic wooden (and fiberglass) boats. I think price is about what it costs just to VISIT.
If I had a Amphicar in Florida, I would pay My $40, go visit the show, and head back out to open waters and head straight for the Hide Away!! Then spend more than $40 on a round of drinks with all of My similiar minded amphibians.
Later Dave I should have moved last year Wave

 

[tazman]

Gord ,I have no problem with reg fees if they help to offset food, ramp
fees, insurance etc.. But if you get little in return then a large fee
would tend to make me want to avoid the event. In the case of an Amphi
event, it is always worth the fee just to be with the other Amphi
folks. The Dora fee helps to offset the drinks and so-so snacks so I
feel it is not worth the entrance fee since I do not drink and the food
is not really a substantail meal. I have been asking after the first
year I attended Dora that we have a separate meet on an off weekend ,
pay no fee and have the usual
meet dinner at the Golden Corral that we pay for on our own. It would
be much more enjoyable.
Chuck



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