justajeep
Moderator
Valley - VP
Bear River, NS
Posts: 7,214
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Post by justajeep on Jun 15, 2011 13:09:07 GMT -4
Jam isn't any different than any other event you have to pay for, it costs money and if you go you have to pay. If you can't afford it, you don't go, same as anything else. Do any of you complaining send emails to organizers of other events requesting them to change their event so you can go?
When Jam was a Chrysler event it cost more and you didn't get any accommodations and fewer prizes! There were plenty of people that couldn't afford it then either, but I don't recall any complaints about it.
I don't have a problem with things being looked at, and if there is a way to make it more affordable then that would be great. But I wouldn't want to see the quality, safety, or atmosphere of the event to change because of it.
Enos brought up a good point about other low cost events that there are to attend. The Bear River Night Run Weekend has had very poor turnout the last few years, it will be interesting to see how it and the Wonderful Weekend of Wheeling do this year. Neither are Jam, but I know my event is still a hell of a good time!
The WWW is low cost, and the BRNRW is pretty much free (including camping and sat night BBQ!).
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MFR
Jeeper
annoying 'cause i'm right
My beater has vinyl
Posts: 1,219
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Post by MFR on Jun 15, 2011 13:30:05 GMT -4
I don't think anyone was meant to take heat on their shoulders. The initial post basically says don't take offense, these are simply suggestions. Many other posts have congratulated the committee on their efforts and the success of Jam. Yet some of the committee members seem to be on the defense and have their arguments rehearsed instead of listening with open ears to suggestions that may allow more people to enjoy Jeep Jam. This was the first year Ali and I missed Jam since our first in 2004 and it had nothing to do with price. The timing was simply off for us this year. I do agree the price seems steep. But I will also say Jeep Jam has improved every year since we've attend and the price hasn't changed much. Obviously the next post will be by a committee member telling me they have looked into every possible option and there is no room to reduce costs. Same as the gov't would do, hahaha. BTW, this post is not meant to be insulting or give anyone heat; just calling it like I see it. About the drinking and driving... MAN UP Jam committee! Call the person out and tell them they are banned or kicked out for the year. It's silly that this happens every year and nothing is ever done; when someone gets run over it will be too late. Bringing a Breathalyzer or the cops in shows lack of trust and I think a lot of people will be insulted. Why not have a big BBQ on Saturday night at the mud pit? Lots of locals show up just to see some mud fling; maybe there's money to be made there? Happy times See everyone next year.
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Missbehavin
Jeeper
Membership Coord/Secretary - Halifax
ladies run in a few days, hopefully the weather stays as currently predicted!
Posts: 1,187
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Post by Missbehavin on Jun 15, 2011 14:02:56 GMT -4
I planned to say nothing in this thread, but i feel Luc is taking a lot of heat on his own shoulders. To keep it simple, and from what i've seen. The best is being done to accommodate everyone. Plain and simple. The old saying goes you can't please everyone all of the time. Imagine trying to make 184 people happy. There has to be a middle ground, and so far this is what has worked for the past number of years. That is my understanding. There is always room for growth and change, and the Co Chairs and committee members will make sure it's done in such a way that can accommodate almost 200 people. Some wont like it, some will love it and some will be indifferent. It's the way the world works, no one can be happy 100% of the time but they can be happy and that's what the Jam strives for. TOTALLY AGREED!!! I don't think anyone should take this thread personal though...i think that is what the problem is that is happening in this thread....people are only making suggestions....but then others take it personal and feel attacked....think of it as if we did anonymous ideas....maybe people wouldn't feel attacked Anyhow as stated above you can never please everyone....and nothing can change with the snap of fingers.... SMILE EVERYONE ;D
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Enos
Hardcore
Founding Member
Posts: 8,513
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Post by Enos on Jun 15, 2011 14:26:14 GMT -4
Ok, ok...just stop yelling at me
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Post by roclmbr on Jun 15, 2011 14:28:04 GMT -4
- Mud pit / games during daylight hours. - More info on trails. I still don't know anything about the 2 harder trails. - Big bonfire and get together one evening.
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Post by crazyfrog on Jun 15, 2011 17:00:22 GMT -4
- Mud pit / games during daylight hours. - More info on trails. I still don't know anything about the 2 harder trails. - Big bonfire and get together one evening. Those are suggestions
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Post by crazyfrog on Jun 15, 2011 17:06:19 GMT -4
I will not let Glen be on the committee due to our time constraints. Our daughter is the light of our lives and we already have limited time to watch her grow. Any spare time we have in between working full time and our other life committments are spent with our family and I will not have it any other way. As I stated before, I believe that this thread was started to have a brainstorming session for those who may not be able to participate for whatever reason but who have ideas to share. No one is belittling all the hard work it takes to put this event on and as was mentioned many times, the committee does an amazing job. Unfortunately, I feel that calling people out hinders any desire to participate rahter than encourages it. We were not calling Glen out just poking him the position is being filled by North Nova.
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Post by crazyfrog on Jun 15, 2011 17:08:50 GMT -4
John Cranfield didn't give his "Gentlemen, start your engines" speach at the 1st drivers meeting. We missed hearing it. Very good point.
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Post by crazyfrog on Jun 15, 2011 17:11:55 GMT -4
There a lot of good ideas out there and we will investigate them all, the first change that we are putting forward is the committee will start in September, it will give us time to get to more of the meat of it all. Now to all of you who are posting it show your interest. I want you to understand that some of the changes you are proposing may affect our Major sponsors and the way they reward their customers we have to consult them also. I will bring the committee findings and format for the 2012 Jam at the AGM in November, judging by this thread there should be a high attendance this years. Deepest regards Luc Brisson Jam Cochair PS: Leigh I believe Glenn volunteered to replace you on the committee. 18.10 to late position filled by North Nova A lot of people miss this one
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Post by crazyfrog on Jun 15, 2011 17:14:17 GMT -4
In conversations I heard that the camping and getting the location is somehow tied up into the food. This is not a dig on food quality, but on cost. I use my camper, and don't want to pay what seems a premium price for low cost food, that I don't eat. I recognize the need to provide meals, and simply wish to be able to decline a meal package. I heard this isn't possible with the current structure of how the campground gets paid. I'm more than willing to pay full cost for camper services to offset the difference. I guess i'm suggesting seperate billing packages. 1.Jam 2.Camping 3.Food If you need to choose your package during registration, then the organizers will have their $#'s to go forward just like it is now. But I also heard the entire food thing was totally inflexable and a bunch of people stayed home out of frustration from trying to make changes, of the type I'd like to see. Which I found dissapointing and makes me think nothing will change next year, pretty much making a price increase inevitable. i think this will make for a much lower turnout. Love the Jam, had a great time......hope y'all find those suggestions helpful. Very good post good comment to the point
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Post by crazyfrog on Jun 15, 2011 17:19:16 GMT -4
id say we hit that $10 000 easy in prizes very positive comment
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shadow
Hardcore
Age and Experience will trump Youth and Exuberance anyday...;)
Posts: 6,997
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Post by shadow on Jun 15, 2011 17:54:09 GMT -4
It is hard for the organizers not to take comments personally after spending time trying to put an event this size on. I know as I was in their shoes for a couple years after the NSJC took it over when Chrysler pulled out. I attended my first Jam when AVP put it on and I can say for a fact that the one's since that time have been far superior and as Alan said they are still cheaper (if memory serves me I think it was $240 no accomodations and not many prizes compared to today). Look back at the 2007 Jam thread and you can see the price was $190 and if you paid early this year it was what $195...that's 4 years ago....and you can be sure everything that needs to be paid out has gone up substantially more. Someone said they figured we hit $10000 dollars in prizes....most of which are donated from our own little Jeep community which is friggin amazing and hats off to those sponsors. To me though Jam isn't about the cost, what prizes are available, what food is served, what trails we run, the RTI ramp or the mudpit. To me it is about Jeepers from the maritimes (and some years further) getting together to have some fun and enjoy our sport for 3, 4, or in some cases 5 days. It is that fact that makes it Jam as far as I am concerned, and if you don't stay for the whole weekend then you are missing out on Jam from my perspective. Ala Forrest Gump...that's all I have to say about that....GO BRUINS !!!!!!!!!!....
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Jiggles
Jeeper
not jonniejinglebells
Posts: 225
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Post by Jiggles on Jun 15, 2011 18:45:27 GMT -4
Third Jam in a row this year, and had a great time. This is the second year our oldest son has come along and hope that all four of us can come starting maybe next year. For that reason I think a family/Jeep load rate would be a great way to improve Jam. I say improve because it might increase attendace, and in this case I think bigger is definetly better.
As far as Jam itself the only area I see needing serious attention is the mud pit. Not only was there a suspected drunk driver but also people crowding the pit entrance. I am disappointed in myself for not doing anything about the driver in question, I wouldn't have put up with that anywhere else and shouldn't have at Jam either. Some baracades and general safety would go to making the mud pit a much safer event.
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Post by SocialWheeler on Jun 15, 2011 21:13:00 GMT -4
That's a few mentions now of someone driving drunk in the mud pit. One of the things that this Club was founded on all those years ago was the zero tolerance for drinking and driving. It is the responsibility of everyone to keep their eyes open and look out for this type of thing. IF it is indeed happening. If it is, the person(s) in question needs to be called out and tossed. If they don't want to leave, then call the cops. Like Ken says, it's time for someone to man up and let it be known that this is not acceptable. Be sure of what you are saying, but like the man says, if someone gets run over it will be too late. If nothing was said then one of two things happened: 1) Those who saw it happen and have first hand knowledge that it happened stood by and said nothing. You should be ashamed of yourselves and are part of the problem. 2) Nothing of the sort happened and people are just poking the hornets net for no reason. You too should be ashamed of yourselves and are part of the problem.
This is BY FAR the most serious issue. Kudos to the Committee for standing up and taking on the responsibility. You have done what appears to have been an excellent job and are being congratulated for same. There is lots of credit to go around and there is also a lot of responsibility if something tragic happens.
I think that if there was someone in the mudpit drunk then it is nothing but a magnificent stroke of fortune that nothing horrific happened. I think that the mudpit should be cancelled for all future events and if people wonder why, tell them that as with a lot of fun things, it was ruined by two things, the drunk that did not have enough sense to stay out of the drivers seat and the apathy shown by those that knew what was happening and chose to say nothing. I can guarantee that if a loved one of theirs got hurt or killed they would speak up.
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Post by Nightpath on Jun 15, 2011 23:14:17 GMT -4
It looked like a tonne of fun, I saw Jonathan come out of the woods with a load of people on Saturday...just before my Jeep died lol. My wife and kids were looking at all the jeeps ooohing and aahhhhing and saying to me how much fun would that be! I know I haven't ever been on a Jamboree, but as a father of 2 little boys there's LOTS of distractions for kids. Kids love smores and roasting marshmallows, glowstick tag, ghost stories, kids dance (open up the back hatch of a jeep and let the good times roll). Dollar store Pinata, check kid's birthdays to see if any are over the weekend and have them celebrate it with all the others. Foam swords from the Dollar Store lets little boys beat on eachother for hours ;D I take it for campgrounds you pick cheap and Jeep friendly, but has the idea ever been carried out of asking someone for access to their land out near a lake? I knew a guy near Yarmouth years ago that let a group of my friends who went 4 wheeling clear a nice spot out to camp at and let them clear out some roads to the lake. Lots of lakes around, and who owns the land on them isn't hard to find as a trip to the Lawrencetown land office is a quick run, a few bucks to get in and you can find out the current owner in a jiffy. Just tossing ideas out there, as I said I have yet to go on a Jamboree (or officially join the club) but an idea is an idea I was wondering if the Jamboree has any official sponsors (I think I've seen the word rolled around in here a few times). Maybe have a few people that are decent at filming and camera work do their magic and have a DVD made (if this isn't already done), order copies of it from someone who has the ability to make it. When the trails are being cleared set up a few trail cams at choice spots then pick them up as the last person goes by.
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