AUG 12-18 2018 - Goshen, Indiana - FROG International

[doc73]

Hoping to get into the rally this year... Planning on making the journey!

[Tbonz]

How do I know for sure you have my email address?

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by Tbonz

How do I know for sure you have my email address?

To whom are you speaking?

Forest River Forums folks don't run the Goshen International Rally. That's done by the Forest River Owner's Group which is not the same. You have to sign up here ===> Forest River Owners Group - The official owner's group of Forest River RV, manufacturer of world-class recreational vehicles.. They send notices by email although you will see some information posts about the rally here at ForestRiverForums.

[Tbonz]

I have been to this site and have a FROG membership number..The site seems sorta generic..No place to log in...I have since conversed with Bob and hope I am on the email list..

[Pipcoo15]

Originally Posted by BandJCarm

I have heard a few Forest River folks comment that they sort of wish that new folks would get a chance to come and experience it and not just the same folks every year. I can see that point.

If I go next year, I may just go to Shipse South and stay in the area to visit everyone, and let someone else have our place. We've been twice now.

Where is shipse south? Having warranty paint work done, need a spot or a backup plan.

[Pipcoo15]

Originally Posted by F.R.O.G.

Thanks to everyone for your ideas and suggestions. I've been following them and will be considering them, since every year we try to make the FROG International Rally a little better than the previous year's version.



Regarding the mix of first-timers vs returning attendees, we wrestled with this for a while this year as we changed the registration process. My sense is that we had about 25% first-timers this year, although that's from a quick look around the dining room when I asked the question the first night. We talked about setting aside the phantom "X" number of first-timer sites, but that immediately brings up the question of how one administers that. Going back and compiling lists of prior years' attendees, and then checking registrations against that list, would be a daunting and nearly impossible task. You can ask people to self-identify as first-timers vs returning members, but what do you do if someone simply doesn't tell the truth? Cancel the registration? I'm not at all sure that there's a lot to be gained by imposing a limit on returning members, compared to the mountain of paperwork involved in monitoring. I'm open to suggestions, though.



Regarding tours, there were about 850 seats available on the Amish area tours this year, with twelve tours encompassing 16 buses. Each of those 16 bus trips included either a dinner or a lunch in along with the destinations and attractions. There were also 24 factory tours, so over the course of the week we had 40 buses going out on trips.



We try to balance that against the need to have some people on the grounds attending seminars, dealing with service techs working on their units, shopping the vendor area to make the vendors want to keep returning for our event, eating ice cream (not that we've ever had a problem with giving away ice cream!), and other events. Again, we're open to suggestions on how much is enough and how much is too much.



Volunteers, as you know, are the life blood of the operation. On our parking and registration teams this year we had about 30% of the teams who were first-time volunteers, and about half of those were first-time attendees. Approximately the same was true of our shuttle drivers, office volunteers, hydration (intended to be water, but hot coffee and cocoa on a couple of the crazy-weather parking days), dining room setup and dessert servers, and more. We try to have a mix of experience and new members of our volunteer teams. We rely on experience, but also highly value new input and ideas. In addition, we never want to give the impression that there is an "inside" group or a clique and that new attendees and volunteers are not welcome or valued. Nothing could be further from the truth.



In the end, the decisions will be made by what I sometimes refer to as "benign dictatorship," simply meaning that someone eventually has to make and implement the decision and stand behind it.



One of the other topics that we're kicking around is the number of meals. From the first year (2012, as Oakman correctly stated, when we had 208 units) we've had four dinners and six breakfasts included in the package. Is that the right number? Should we do away with a couple of the group meals and look at replacing them with "fair food," providing vouchers for individual meals? Should we simply not include as many meals in the package, but make food trucks or other types of vendors available? Or should we simply stick with what seems to be working?



This year we put a few additional limits on how far back we would go on the age of units eligible for free service and on the number of repairs allowed. I know as well as you do that there were some instances where those guidelines were bent, particularly if there was a recall or a safety issue involved. As many of you know, the original intent of the FROG Rally was never to be a "service rally."



I sometimes cringe when I hear someone say he or she isn't going to attend because nothing needs to be fixed. Come and enjoy the fun, the friendship, the entertainment, the seminars, the vendors. Come and see that you're appreciated, that we value you not only as FROGs and Forest River owners, but also as friends.



So please continue to give us your ideas and suggestions. Will we implement all of them? No. But there are a lot of great ideas that we've not thought of, or that we're considering and that you can influence. We don't necessarily want the FROG Rally to be the biggest, but we certainly want it to be the best.

The only problem I see is dealing with factory(cardinal) trying to get warranty work done at the rally. Serious work like repainting. They say it’s the best option but you need to go thru FROG. So I have to sit by the computer an hope for the best. Not trying to sound selfish, but it seems that sections should be set aside for serious problems, understanding that my 5er will probably need to eventually be brought off site anyway. Here’s hoping for the best. Maybe someone with knowledge of the area can direct me to a backup site

Thanks Peg & Don

[spock123]

We have stayed at Shipshewana South in Shipshewana IN and there is a flea market too that has a campground. We have stayed at both places. We have a apps on my iPhone that's rvparksandcampgrounds that shows all the campgrounds in that area

[RVChick]

Originally Posted by F.R.O.G.

We expect to open registration in early April, as has been the case for several years. We'll post the exact date on the FROG website, on the Facebook page, on the Forest River Forums, and in an e-mail blast in advance of the opening.

I am so excited about going to this Rally!!!

[SYE]

Originally Posted by Pipcoo15

The only problem I see is dealing with factory(cardinal) trying to get warranty work done at the rally. Serious work like repainting. They say it’s the best option but you need to go thru FROG. So I have to sit by the computer an hope for the best. Not trying to sound selfish, but it seems that sections should be set aside for serious problems, understanding that my 5er will probably need to eventually be brought off site anyway. Here’s hoping for the best. Maybe someone with knowledge of the area can direct me to a backup site

Thanks Peg & Don

Just so you know, the environmental regs do not allow them to do any painting at the fairgrounds, so It will probably have to go back to the factory to do that.

[SYE]

Originally Posted by RVChick

I am so excited about going to this Rally!!!

Me too, if we get in!!

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by SYE

Me too, if we get in!!

If you don't get in you didn't stay up all night waiting for reservations to open...We will need to have a party on-line that night to keep everyone awake...

[youroo]

Originally Posted by Witch Doctor

If you don't get in you didn't stay up all night waiting for reservations to open...We will need to have a party on-line that night to keep everyone awake...

Will this be a "Pajama Party or Party"? Youroo!!

[SYE]

Originally Posted by Witch Doctor

If you don't get in you didn't stay up all night waiting for reservations to open...We will need to have a party on-line that night to keep everyone awake...

That,s my problem, I am up all night, and they do it fair to everyone by opening it up at noon, that is my sleep hours

[SYE]

Originally Posted by youroo

Will this be a "Pajama Party or Party"? Youroo!!

Party

[CAT-RN]

Originally Posted by Pipcoo15

Where is shipse south? Having warranty paint work done, need a spot or a backup plan.

Shipshewana South Campground is 1/2 mile North of HWY 20 on HWY 5. It is about a mile south of downtown.

Russell

[RVChick]

Originally Posted by SYE

That,s my problem, I am up all night, and they do it fair to everyone by opening it up at noon, that is my sleep hours

You’ll have to set your alarm, cause we all want to see your new beauty next to the Tiki Bar!

[youroo]

I think Sye could get in under the "Entertainment Heading"! He and Vickie give away Lots of stuff and you don't even have to look at your Ticket #! And they put on a Very Entertaining Show every night! Youroo!!

[Pipcoo15]

Originally Posted by SYE

Just so you know, the environmental regs do not allow them to do any painting at the fairgrounds, so It will probably have to go back to the factory to do that.

Thank you. As I mentioned, cardinal reps thought this would be our best option , knowing eventually the unit would be taken to plant. Just the get together , the knowledge we gain, still a newbie (2 years) would be helpful.

[spock123]

I was thinking of setting up another account so DW could try and if we both get in we could always cancel one. Keeping my fingers crossed, we had a good time. We hope to go with Daisy Boykin. We plan on getting to the fairgrounds early

[W5CI]

I will be anxiously watching and waiting for the registration to open, but since we have gone the last two years it wont break our hearts if we miss out. They can leave off all of the meals and it would not bother us. but we do hope to make it again.