TDIFest 2009 coming to Washington, DC

[tomo366]

I'm sure someone will chime in about the transmission fluid change.

I am sure it won't happen.........Major work is not done at the Fest........That is reserved for working GTG's

 

[VeeDubTDI]

See, I told you someone would chime in.

 

[tomo366]

See, I told you someone would chime in.

ROTFLMFAO..........You could have told them that!!
People just need to do more reading........

 

[donDavide]

I am sure it won't happen.........Major work is not done at the Fest........That is reserved for working GTG's

That is what I was thinking. Clementback come to Impex fest in a few weeks. May 2 in Cockeysville, Md. (aka Hunt Valley or Timonium) Lots of motels in area the are reasonable. It's well worth it.

 

[peace_of_soul]

We are in DC/NoVA and would be happy to help, Lawson. Please let us know what you need.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Thanks for the offer! We'll definitely need help over the weekend. I'll be in touch with you to let you know what's up.

 

[donDavide]

Tomo. What happened to the HHR avatar??

 

[no-blue-screen]

BTW can anyone change the tranny fluid on a 2005 auto jetta wagon?

Impex Fest is a good working GTG. If you plan on going, check out the rules for lift use. In previous years I think it is first come, first serve ie gotta get there early.

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=240354

Also, check out your local forum for the South Eastern USA and hook up with some TDI locals.

http://forums.tdiclub.com/forumdisplay.php?f=70

 

[darkscout]

8-9 people in one of the Hyatt rooms would be absolutely miserable. 6 is do-able, and that's with two people in each of the double beds, and two people on the sofa.

And the floor? We fit 9 into a super 8 last weekend. Then again I was in fetal position under the desk and some stray girl lost her way to her room and passed out in one of the beds across the bottom.

Toss down a sleeping bag and 8 in a large room is more than adequate.

Ron, you're driving a B4V. What do you need a tent for? The backseats go down and voila, twin bed!

You don't even need a B4V. My Mk3 jetta is plenty big. Plus it has a built in sunshade (trunk). I've probably slept in my car almost 50 times all across the country.

*very* as in free massages?

Dee did say she was coming, right

 

[airwolf]

And the floor? We fit 9 into a super 8 last weekend. Then again I was in fetal position under the desk and some stray girl lost her way to her room and passed out in one of the beds across the bottom.

Toss down a sleeping bag and 8 in a large room is more than adequate.

As a planner and volunteer for this years fest, I need to comment on this.

The planners really put their neck on the line when planning events such as this. We are required to sign contracts with the hotels to receive good room pricing, good meal pricing, good additional benefits that are sometimes charged for (wireless, conference rooms, tables, etc.). These contracts are guaranteeing the hotel that we will have a minimum number of room nights at the hotel, minimum charge of food cost. If we fail to hit these minimums that can potentially cost us, the planners, thousands of dollars.

So in order to save a few dollars members will cram as many people in a room, find ways to get into meals w/o paying, sleep in cars, ultimately being uncomfortable, and potentially hurting the VOLUNTEERS and PLANNERS financially.

Anyone that thinks that planning a event like this, is not difficult task, I invite you to put a proposal for future years fests and see if you still are suggesting that people cram in rooms and sleep in cars.

Everyone needs to keep in mind the what the main purpose of fest is. It is meant as a fund raiser for Fred so that he has the funds available to keep this site running. Keep this in the back of your head as you are making the decision to save a few dollars and go against the system.

I normally agree that everyone ultimately needs to look out for themselves but this is one case in which they need to think about others and the club when making decisions like this.

 

[paramedick]

We just moved to North Carolina. I guarantee we will be there. BTW can anyone change the tranny fluid on a 2005 auto jetta wagon?

Come to the GTG in Asheville in June. Eric or I will do it for you. Bring your parts with you.

 

[bhtooefr]

Not to be argumentative, and you do bring up a very good point. However...

These people that are cramming multiple people to a room (guilty last year,) or sleeping in cars are still paying the registration fee. As long as they're not sneaking into meals (which is its own separate issue,) TDIClub is getting money that it may not have otherwise gotten, at no additional cost. $50 is better than $0, right?

(Although, I'm about 95% sure I'm not coming this year, for the record.)

 

[GeekDrew]

Not to be argumentative, and you do bring up a very good point. However...

These people that are cramming multiple people to a room (guilty last year,) or sleeping in cars are still paying the registration fee. As long as they're not sneaking into meals (which is its own separate issue,) TDIClub is getting money that it may not have otherwise gotten, at no additional cost. $50 is better than $0, right?

(Although, I'm about 95% sure I'm not coming this year, for the record.)

I believe that meals are at-cost, so TDIClub makes $0 on them. The only fee going toward TDIClub is the registration fee, and a significant portion of that is allocated toward the t-shirt, name tag/lanyard, office supplies, etc., required to conduct the event. TDIClub makes little on each registration. If the hotel rooms were not sufficiently booked, then TDIClub (actually, the planner that signed the contract, but I'm assuming that TDIClub would cover the cost) would be liable for fees/penalties incurred for failing to meet the room block quota. I don't have all of the numbers, but I've seen room attrition cause an otherwise profitable event to go significantly in debt (by thousands of dollars, and in one case I've seen, tens of thousands).

Do any of you remember the reports on TV in the recent past, how Wells Fargo and other banks and large institutions that have been recently bailed out by the federal government were continuing to spend enormous amounts of money by having parties and conferences at hotels? I don't know the details in each one of them, but for some of them, the events had already been scheduled, and it would have cost the event managers *more* money to cancel the event than it cost to conduct it.

The only way for your "they're paying the registration fee, get over it" argument to work is if the event 1) raised the registration fee for every attendee, significantly, so that the club could cover the penalties imposed by the hotel due to failing to meet room quotas, or 2) charged a penalty to those registrants which did not reserve a room in the room block, or who are sleeping more than X people in one room in the room block, where X is a formula providing the estimated loss incurred by each N registrants for not reserving rooms in the manner targeted by the event planners.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Well said!

I believe that meals are at-cost, so TDIClub makes $0 on them. The only fee going toward TDIClub is the registration fee, and a significant portion of that is allocated toward the t-shirt, name tag/lanyard, office supplies, etc., required to conduct the event. TDIClub makes little on each registration. If the hotel rooms were not sufficiently booked, then TDIClub (actually, the planner that signed the contract, but I'm assuming that TDIClub would cover the cost) would be liable for fees/penalties incurred for failing to meet the room block quota. I don't have all of the numbers, but I've seen room attrition cause an otherwise profitable event to go significantly in debt (by thousands of dollars, and in one case I've seen, tens of thousands).

Do any of you remember the reports on TV in the recent past, how Wells Fargo and other banks and large institutions that have been recently bailed out by the federal government were continuing to spend enormous amounts of money by having parties and conferences at hotels? I don't know the details in each one of them, but for some of them, the events had already been scheduled, and it would have cost the event managers *more* money to cancel the event than it cost to conduct it.

The only way for your "they're paying the registration fee, get over it" argument to work is if the event 1) raised the registration fee for every attendee, significantly, so that the club could cover the penalties imposed by the hotel due to failing to meet room quotas, or 2) charged a penalty to those registrants which did not reserve a room in the room block, or who are sleeping more than X people in one room in the room block, where X is a formula providing the estimated loss incurred by each N registrants for not reserving rooms in the manner targeted by the event planners.

Thanks for summarizing that so clearly.

 

[va_reman]

I on the other hand am already here, where is everyone. Ok not exactly there but at Lindsay VW yesterday trying to trade up and the guy could not sell me a car, what da hell. I want a 2.0 tdi Jetta in Shadow blue with cream interior and the thunder bunny front end. The guy tells me...ohh well we dont get the TDIs in shadow blue and huuhuhh no more beige interior. What. I am was ready, able and willing and now I am put off. I dont care if they need to paint the car and the beige is in the gasser, swap it out. I am a paying pain in the @$$. Ok see ya in Dulles.

 

[BlueCTTDi]

The only way for your "they're paying the registration fee, get over it" argument to work is if the event 1) raised the registration fee for every attendee, significantly, so that the club could cover the penalties imposed by the hotel due to failing to meet room quotas, or 2) charged a penalty to those registrants which did not reserve a room in the room block, or who are sleeping more than X people in one room in the room block, where X is a formula providing the estimated loss incurred by each N registrants for not reserving rooms in the manner targeted by the event planners.

I agree, very well said... to further that point, if my registration fee were to significantly increase because people are trying to be cheap and jam 10 in one room when they're not supposed to while I'm paying and following the hotel regulations, suffice to say I wouldn't be very pleased... at all.
(Nor would a majority of attendees to an event that has historically proven to be extremely price-sensitive).

 

[spleecho]

Does this EVER happen on this side of the country

 

[airwolf]

Does this EVER happen on this side of the country

I can happen in any part of the country. You just need to get a group of people together than can commit the time it needs in organizing it and submit a proposal to Fred.

 

[Blue_Hen_TDI]

Does this EVER happen on this side of the country

Park City, UT was the closest one to you, but that was 8 years ago.

 

[darkscout]

Park City, UT was the closest one to you, but that was 8 years ago.

How many people submitted packets for 2009?

Get a group of NV guys together and submit a 2010 package. I know I sure as heck wouldn't miss a Vegas TDIFest. With the economy sucking like it is, it may be a time to get some great deals on hotels and such.

 

[tomo366]

I am sure you already know the answer to that.......

 

[spleecho]

Park City, UT was the closest one to you, but that was 8 years ago.

I was trying to get my drivers license then! LOL

 

[spleecho]

How many people submitted packets for 2009?

Get a group of NV guys together and submit a 2010 package. I know I sure as heck wouldn't miss a Vegas TDIFest. With the economy sucking like it is, it may be a time to get some great deals on hotels and such.

Hotels are REALLY cheap now, I've been seeing billboards all over town for $24.99 for Station Casinos and you could stay at MGM for like 60-75 bucks!

For the last 3 years I've been wanting to go to one of these G2Gs but driving 1500-2000 miles for one you gotta agree is a little much

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Hotels are REALLY cheap now, I've been seeing billboards all over town for $24.99 for Station Casinos and you could stay at MGM for like 60-75 bucks!

For the last 3 years I've been wanting to go to one of these G2Gs but driving 1500-2000 miles for one you gotta agree is a little much

I drove over 2,000 miles to attend the Utah TDI Fest back in 2001. It was a great road trip, and I'd certainly do it again if you were to submit a proposal for a Las Vegas Fest in 2010.

A word of caution: Planning a TDI Fest is a LOT of work. Definitely not a good idea for someone who has trouble staying on task, focused, or has a lot of other commitments (full time school + work, for example).

 

[schipperke]

Cool

I can make this one, even if I have to push the Passat..

 

[ssnapier]

I am totally in... I live in Frederick, MD and will prolly just drive back and forth rather than dealing with a hotel.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

I am totally in... I live in Frederick, MD and will prolly just drive back and forth rather than dealing with a hotel.

Cool! Keep an eye out for the registration page to open soon.

 

[Zippy_car]

Does this EVER happen on this side of the country

no because this side of the country isn't as active or organized. I've been working hard with the San Fran Bay area people to try to get them to come out of their shells for this reason. If you build it, they will come.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

If you build it, they will come.

Yes they will! I would drive out there for a San Fran Fest!

 

[spleecho]

I'd be pretty interested in organizing it here, I have a place too with a pool house so we could gather up here. If people show interest I'd be game