Mr. Bruce ----

If you are serious I'm sure the person to contact would be Ed.

Suffice it to say I think we are all revolving back to the CF thing. I don't think anyone had a huge problem with that, despite how some peoples' comments have been taken out of context. Fine. CF. Let's rev 'er back up and do it again. I have no issue with that.

Let's focus this, gentlemen. Let's cut the crap. Let's cease the discussion of the charity. Let's cease the discussion of who is worthy of posting here. We all are.

Here are the unanswered questions/issues:

1 - Accountability. We NEED accountability. 300 adults will not sit around one more year, watching many tens of thousands of dollars change hands, some of these people having contributed significantly to that kitty, without knowing where every dollar went. I DO want to donate to CF (and/or others). I DO NOT want to line ANYONE'S POCKETS. I'm not making an accusation there before anyone gets defensive for no reason. I'd feel a LOT better about donating $1,000 and knowing that it is all ending up in the right hands than I would about donating $50.00 and not knowing anything. Just throwing numbers out, they're not significant, other than one is 20 times bigger than the other, and THAT is the one with which I'd be more comfortable.

2 - Whose ideas mold the party. Ed can swear up and down until he is blue in the face that this is HIS party to US. Whatever. Fact is, it is run his way without much further discussion. Maybe the name tags or the AutoX came about because of other peoples' ideas, but the only time my opinion mattered last year was during crunch time when I was asked to procure stop watches, cones, find a parking lot, find volunteers for a poker run, etc... I'm fine with all of that, but I wouldn't mind being asked a few months earlier perhaps what it is people are talking about this year, what they want to do this year. I can answer that already for this year. I played as active of a role in DVSF IV as I was allowed. I talked to Ed a dozen or so times on the phone, and was always willing to step up. Even took a day off work to meet with some officials at an airport so we could use it for AutoX. That meeting was canceled, unfortunately. People are willing, you just have to expand the circle and make people feel WELCOME.

That's it. 2 things. If anyone wants to add to that because I missed something big, go for it. But I don't think I did. I think those are the only two things out on the table that anyone is really questioning. Not too much to ask, now, is it? We're not asking to move the venue, change the charity, remove Ed from "office", execute a full takeover, get other makes of cars involved, steal Jay's tequila, or anything of the like.

Just those two things.

Can we please focus here, now that we've all had ample time to be whining b!tches? We've all had our chance to vent. Let's cut it out and get on track. With any luck, we can realize Mike Braatz's dream of the "best Fling yet" . . . I think it's realistic.

OK everyone, the soup is done, it doesn't need anymore stirring, DV whar are you???, YooHoo DV , someone call the fire department he musta fallen asleep up on the roof:)

Jay,

Quit posting in capital letters... It gives me a headache....:(

I think there has been enough whinning and crying on this thread..time to let DV take over and let us know what is going to happen. If there is a Fling, you all know you'll be there, no matter what the activity....this thread has been talked to death....now give DV time to answer

Bringing in the band the Rip Chords was great even though only one member of the band was with the original group; they were part of the Cobra family and fit in. At my age most of the other bands have been nothing more than just noise in the back ground and I vote for saving even more money and doing without a band at our picnic. The Rip Chords came on board for much less than their normal fees for a full weekend but unless they can donate there being with us for free I think any band is a waste. If we are still doing this and the tenth outing is being planned I will vote to get the Rip Chords back. Of course this is only my view and I’m waiting to hear from all the other family members, and is Ed off that roof yet? :LOL:
Dan

JP,

I think you have some great ideas. The feedback on this thread seems to agree. Go for it! I'm sure you'll have plenty of backing. The nice thing about life is that it is full of choices. Folks that want to go to Ed's party can go. The rest of us will find other events to sponsor and support.

I think it is important for everyone to recognize and appreciate that the DVSF is DV's party. He owns the name, puts in the most work, organizes the events - heck he even signs his name personally for all the expenses AND organized a legal entity for which he is the primary point of contact! HE is the man. Let him enjoy.

I say lets quit bickering about the money. We have no right to know the details. It is a business, it's Ed's business, and he doesn't owe us any explinations. Again, it comes back to choices - just like when you make a donation to any other cause - you have to make some 'leap of faith' that some portion of the money will get to the end recipient.

At the end of the day if you unhappy about the percentage of money that actually made it to the charity to which you have donated you have at least two choices:

1) Get more involved in the charity and help it become more streamlined and profitable. Clearly Ed wants the charity to become more profitable. That's what business is all about, the DVSF is his charity - so it's only natural that he want's it to improve. He is coming to us for ideas, but ultimately only HE determines what will be part of the event, how the money will be spent etc.

2) The alternative is to find an alternate event or charity to support.

Besides, I think if people REALLY want to know how the money was collected and distributed for any charity they can find out rather easily. I don't know all the details, but my limited understanding is that charities and fund raising have some IRS filing requirements. Ed is too smart to miss making these filings... I'm sure he doesn't want to change the name of the event to the BVSF (Bubba Venom Spring Fling :-) )so if people really want to know the scoop, they can find it. Perhaps one of our legal or accounting pundits can tell us more on that topic.

My vote goes to keeping it simple.

SET

Actually Jack this is how the very first DVSF started and I wound up coming 1,100 miles from Florida back to Ohio, and of course never having heard of London Ohio.
Dan

Good...folks are talking again.

Jay...glad you turned down my offer...man, you don't know how glad I am that you turned down my offer.

I've offered no ideas other than KISS...I just want folks to be able to talk. I hate kitchens.

CobraDan, I've got many of those same pictures of an old softy and a pretty young lass breaking our hearts...

Man-o-man...what a thread this has been. I personally have never been but Jay always fills us in on the happenings and sounds like what started out as a fun time for Cobra owners has turned into a nightmare. It's sad to read about all this........SO...just as an alternative to anyone that wants something different there is always an open invitation to attend the Texas Cobra Clubs spring meet in Texas. What started out as about 10 or 12 cars has progressed last year to over 85 with hopes of breaking that mark again this year. We firmly believe in the KISS idea and will never change it. We have hooked up with a hotel that loves us....have let us take over their parking lot where we cook...drink...visit all day and way into the night...on one day we drive through the hill country only to end up back in the parking lot for another night of fun. Fun cars and good people....that's all it is. Good luck with the fling.....but remember our doors are always open.

Gary

Gary, I just might take you up on that invite...............thanks!

This thread, well most of it, is exactly what has been asked for for IV years. Well, be carefull what you ask for! Insert huge smiley face here please.

I have no idea, but I'd bet this thread has hit 12 pages in record time.

My roof and the girders for the building have all been drilled with 3" holes. I can get on the floor, look straight up and see all the rain as it's pouring in.

I have read every post, AND I will answer every question, or commment where it warrants it. Some wont like it, some wont care.

As I've said so many times...who knew?

I am in a critical time with the building, and have so little time to post. Inspections are due, wiring needs completed and the damned cold weather is already here. So much to do, before final inspections.

It may not be until Sunday afternoon, but "YOU" will get an answer/opinion.

Ed "DV" Combs...Long distance dial-up is a real pain in the arse.

DV
I don't mean to side track this thread, but why in the world are you drilling your roof full of 3" holes?

Paul

Dave,

It's so he can look straight up and see the rain pouring in...Geez!!!:rolleyes:

Silly me !!:LOL: :LOL:

Ed,

I wouldn't worry too much about that, big guy!! I'm confident that if you have the right attitude about all of this, which I'm sure you do, then what you have to say should be well received.

Seems to me that if you come back on Sunday with an open mind, properly addressing the legitimate concerns, the fling activity questions (which to me, are of lesser importance than the other things), and don't take an "I'm the boss here!" attitude, then the reasonable group of people here will have NO problem with what you are saying.

I think the only way "some won't like it" is if we feel dismissed, trampled on, insignificant, or anything like that. I felt that way once here, already said I'm way over it, now. I don't think too many people in this thread have an "attitude" right now, as is pretty obvious by the direction of the posts. "Some won't care" well sure, that's obvious. Nature of the beast.

So, don't worry, my man. Just come on in here, open-minded, helpful, forthcoming, and your usual friendly self, and I think we have nothing but good things to look forward to here.

I did not go last year. What was the entry fee last year? How do we make it smaller? It is already 16-17 months or so and my memory sucks, what was the fee for a family for DVSFIII? I would have had the answers until my PC blew up 2 weeks ago.

Mike,
Actually you missed this year you attended last year with your Mustang because your Kirkham was not ready. The first two events had no fee and at the last two they collected $100.00 to help with expenses.
Dan

Why then the Flings where attendees paid a fee, raised less for charity? Doesn't this further prove that bigger is not necessarilly better?

MidOHasp, you may know some facts that I don't know, about past dealings etc, but I don't understand your attitude toward DV with statements like "" don't take an "I'm the boss" attitude"". I have been to all the flings, except the last one, because my cobra was out of commission at the time. In talking to DV on many occasions and reading most of his posts, I only see a willingness to do what "the family" wants to do. I may be blind or naive, but I have never once seen this "I am the boss" attitude you are talking about. I think that you have a very wrong impression of DV. I can see that you are trying to be diplomatic about the issue, but, until DV takes the "I am the boss" attitude (which I don't think he will, judging by past experience), I think you should keep such comments to yourself.

Paul