OSO Poker Run ??
 

OK guys. It’s time for a Poker Run organized by the members. I’m sure you noticed that the runs and the quality have declined in the years. I think we have it in ourselves to do the best one yet. Where else can you get so many boaters with so many good input, info. and friendliness.
I’m interested hearing what some of you liked and disliked about any particular event.
I been in a bunch of runs. Some I liked some I didn’t. Since the early 90’s the runs has changed.
Its use to be boat lovers oriented and for the fun of sport. I think it became too commercialized, and many boaters are left out. For example. Florida Power Boat club... It’s a business, Stu’s,.. and it’s about the $’s. Poker Runs of America, a publication and again it’s a business. Now... I don’t have anything against Poker Run related ventures, on the contrary, I think it’s great, organizing events. However, some of the runs are less then for the average boaters. OK, fine, but like in the Destin run... you can buy additional cards, so here we go, $ driven. The more $ you got the more chances you got to win. I don’t think anyone attends the runs for the price money anyways. Some of the runs have shot gun starts some starts all the same time. Some boaters would love to attend but they are shy away due to the boats they own will not keep up with the 100+ MPH boats. They won’t attend. Some of the slower boats, (including yours truly :) ) have no chance getting photo ops. So.. I think OSO should plan and sponsor an event but not for OSO member only. You want to attend? Get on OSO. Let’s face it its pretty cheap for all the good stuff we get on the forum.
Next.. let’s get a consensus of what are the best things about the run. Keep the entry fee to a level that most boaters would flip the entry fee.
Here a few of my opinion. Two groups, slower group and the faster group, two choppers. One for each group. Low entry fee and not crazy prices. The run has to be organized so the boats stay together as much as they can, especially at the stops. You miss a stop, you don’t get extra cars. You play what you got. Good maps, info. etc. and above all, make ALL boater have fun. Sponsors are fine but we need to run the event for the boaters not for the sponsors. May be a few celebs. (I met Reggie and Eddy K. at the Michigan run in 1993 and they were great for the event.). I have a lot of other ideas and I don’t want to waste space here, but I do wonder who’s in?
I know there are a bunch of company owners, execs. etc that can spare a few dollars and a few hours to get this done. I would chip in for sure. I wish to do a run that’s the best of the best and what the boaters want and not what the sponsors want. It’s should be for US not the advertisers, and all boaters should be welcomed. No matter how fast, how big, or how much did it cost. A Poker Run should be to meet other boaters, participate in stories, brag about your boat, help others with theirs, show off yours if you want, and admire the guy with an old john boat who wish to attend. Remember what we all started with.
So who’s in? who’s up for this? And who would want to help me.? I welcome any input. (even once that tell me to go ***?)
:circle:

Keep in mind the insurance for these events has gotten expensive.

Very good point, thank you. I have some contacts and thought on that.

:food-smiley-007: this is going to be good

I can't speak for others but here are a couple of big cost for us...

Insurance-permits-A.P.R.A. dues = $175 per boat

Prize money = $225 per boat
Based on the number of boats we have.

Our entry fee is $650 and it cost us more then that per boat.
Our profit comes from the sponsors.

Thanks JB4
The 650 entry fee is not unreasonable. Due the market
or actually the lack of tourism market in Fla, I know several hotels, resorts, marinas and restaurants who would be glad to participate. This may reduce the overall costs and of course profit is not really an issue in this case.
Well may be, I might able to pay for my own fuel. :)
This would take some time anyway, and I would do this in mid to late fall, not to interfere with the KW run, but before any winterisation needs. May be even arrange for winter storage in FLA after the run, and then ready for the 09 spring run in Sarasota.

About the New Jersey Performance Powerboat Club
The New Jersey Performance Powerboat Club (NJPPC) was founded in 1999 and has over 200 members. The NJPPC is a members-run club that’s charter is to provide its members with top quality Poker Runs and other exciting events. It enthusiastically welcomes a broad cross-section of performance powerboaters to join the club. Its schedule is planned considering both smaller and larger boats. Consequently, its membership spans from owners of 18’ to 50’ boats!

Distinct from other Poker Run organizations, the club chooses to limit the number of event participants to assure safety, promote camaraderie and to facilitate a well-run, enjoyable day for all involved. The limited number also affords access to the highest quality marine facilities such as Trump Marina Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. The club has no profit motivation prompting it to host the biggest events – but it is strongly motivated to run the best events and in that way, everybody profits! NJPPC membership is required to participate in the club Poker Runs.

For further information please visit the club’s website at: http://www.njppc.com. NJPPC can be contacted via telephone at 732 674-2946, via email at [email protected] or via mail at: Dave Patnaude – President, NJPPC, 604 North End Ave, Toms River, NJ 08753.
__________________
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_4QcLhVy-0
Note we are a Member run club it is not a business to us. it is for the fun of the sport. All we keep hearing at our events is how can we top this but we keep hearing it. We must be doing something rite so take a trip to NJ and have a great time.

Joe Nasso
Committee Member

<quote> >>> Note we are a Member run club it is not a business to us. it is for the fun of the sport. All we keep hearing at our events is how can we top this but we keep hearing it. We must be doing something rite so take a trip to NJ and have a great time.

Joe Nasso
Committee Member

Sounds good. I might have to get up there one day. And glad to hear your comments, that's what is all about. I see nothng wrong with the profit issu, however I do see at times hinder the event. And for the record I have nothing against any PR clubs, or mags. I belong to some. :) and subscribe to several mags.

Looking forward to joining the NJPPC and joining in on the FUN !!!

Good Luck Paradox , i would love to come to your event in the Sunshine State !!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_4QcLhVy-0
To join go to NJPPC.com print out a application. Join us for our Atlantic City overnight run it is our flagsip event as featured in PRA Magizine and Powerboat Magizine as there top 10 PR in the US.
Most of our members atend events run by PRA, FPC, NPRA, Rock the Bay and many others.
Joe Nasso
Committee Member

Thanks X.. but it's not really "my event" .. I'm just trying to get a feel of all the OSO and do somethng as a group effort.

Our run is different then most.
It is a event for the whole community, not just the poker run boats.
We are located in one of the most beautiful parts of the world and have a lot of tourist, so we try and offer things for everyone. You don't have to own a boat to come to town and have a awesome time.
Although the boats and the run are the center of attraction it is not the only thing we have for people to do.
We try to change things each year. Try and make it better every year and keep things fresh.
Besides the run, one of the things that has aways been a big hit is the champlain cruise, we have a fleet of yachts that take people out for a cruise and then raft up and watch all the poker run boats come in and pick up there last card and then speed away.
We limit the number of boats so we can keep it safe and it is easier to manage. This year we are having 2 groups, 1 for the slower boats and 1 for the faster ones.
Also this year we will be blocking off the streets in downtown and having things on display, boats, trucks, motorcycles ect... A giant street party.
But the thing that the poker runners love the most is the beautiful area, lakes so clean you can drink the water. We give them the best food possible and we try and create a gentlemanly atmosphere.

I wish you luck in putting together a OSO Poker Run.
Keep in mind it takes us over 100 dedicated volunteers.
We have a Board Of Directors and it is very seldom that all 10 of us can agree on something. And most of us board members work year around to make it a success.

Thanks JB4. Good things you got going. I know it takes a lot of time and planning but if yo have the passion for boating like I do, I guess you will dedicate the time to it when you want something.

I like what I read . When where where do you sign up?????????

I have found the insurance to be relatively inexpensive. However compliance with the warranty provisions of the policies to be a large hurdle and expensive.


BESAFE provides a free guide to aide in the establishment of a safety management system to mitigate risk and compliance with provisions of the insurance policies.

www.BOATINGSAFE.org

ask Otis about a non $ event... he's had is part... of blame... I would not organize something like that officially and don't get paid... I would, before I read Otis tread. He did his best, voluntary, and gets :hitfan:

So, non $ event = simple get together run
$ event = be ready to take on :hitfan:

Just go to the link down below, www.boynethunder.com
It has has the form and all the info you will need.

I would as suggest that if you really want to make it a real OSO event, you should not have it in Florida. There are to many of them there now.
You should do a poll and see where the OSO members would want it. Some place in the USA where there isn't one now. You would have to also look at where the majority of the members lived and have it somewhere in the middle. That would be a true OSO Poker Run.

We sponsored one here on Lake Lanier in '05 and the insurance for the day was $800 and when we tried again in '06 it jumped to 6k for less than 50 boats

Entry fees can cover cost and allow for some sort of a pot to divide for the winners BUT the real prize money usually comes from having a calcutta and bidding on the boats. Divide the pot into whatever number of winners BUT the the captain of the winning boats get 25% of the payout. These type of calcutta pots can become extremely large. Of course you try and buy your own boat and whoever else's.

Well.. I'm lost on that one. :confused:
I would not have the run without entry fee, but just a reasonable one. I think most boaters would rather have a smaller entry fee than a larger winning price. It's not the price. it's the participation. My 0.02

You don't understand..the calcutta is like the ones in a fishing tournament. The person who bought(out bid) the boat with the winning hand would when that part of the calcutta. The winning boat captain gets 25% of the pot. He gets all of it if he bought his own boat in the calcutta.
e making side wagers on all the boats to have the winning hand or hands depending on how many places you want to have for winning.

OK got it. (I think) But for all that, I just go to Vegas for a while. It's less confusing.
I have a good old phylosophy.. KISS..

You might look at Kentucky Lake, Dale Hollow Lake, or Smith Mountian Lake in Alabama. I like the run in any order that Emerald Coast does. I hate running in a large pack with a pace boat.

I really enjoy meeting OSO members, but IMHO the country is to large for an OSO sponsored run. What seems to work really well is the regional type stuff, that's why we should visit those forums more often. With so many well established Poker Runs, like Boyne Thunder, I guess I don't see the need to add more. And with the high cost of boating who wants to add to the cost with more fees. To me fun runs are where it's at. There have been many started here, look at the Ft Myer group, they have done a lot of cruising and almost every run costs nothing, except your own food, lodging, and fuel. That's how the Chicago group started as well, in upper MI a group puts on a fun run and we have done them on Lake St Clair. In fact on the Great Lakes forum here we are putting together an international run where us Americans are meeting up with our OSO friends from Canada for a Georgian Bay trip.

Bring on more fun runs:boat:

Insurance costs arent that bad.. I have a person who can write a real policy for your run

AMEN. The work load is tremendous and you would be far far ahead of the game if you just wrote a $5000.00 check to a charity out of your own pocket and then sat on the couch and watched TV rather than giving your time trying to organize a sucsessful event that raises money for charity.

The when its over you have to listen to some a$$wipe rip you up and question your honesty and integrity over how much money was raised.

You got that right.
If people really knew how much time and money we spend out of our own pockets, to raise money for the kids and to see the boaters have fun, they would have a shrink by our side 24/7

I can see how you guys that put on the charity runs would feel like that. In comparison the for profit runs by the FPBC and Poker Runs of America cost about the same and sometimes even more. They have a ton of full time staff to help with the planning, you guys have to rely on volunteers. And when it is all said in done they keep the profits and you have to give it away. I am not saying that for profit runs are bad, just different. People should be a lot easier on you promoters that give of your time freely to raise money for a great cause. Good job to all of you that have been so generous of your time.

I agree Ms PatriYacht.
I am not really nterested in the $ issues. I wanted to see if the OSO guys and gals are interested in a special fun event, not driven by the $. May be some charity, may be just for the fun loving boaters sake. It realy depands on the interest and how we can actually organize everything. I now it's a lot of work, but there's got to be a Poker RUn event that is somewhat "fun run" somewhat Poker Run and everyone has a great time, without worring about the $ sign and the sponsers or Pros special interests. May be it can't be done, but I willl give it a try. So anyone can help.. !! ?/ It would be greatly appreciated.

Parodox, Ill give you alot of credit for trying, but i dont think it will work. Location is a major key to sucsess. You are in Florida right ?? The FPC and PRA already are in that area and put on great events. It takes years to grow an event. People just wont spend there hard earned money on an unproven event. The amount of money you need to charge the participants to make an event sucsessful is in the same area of what these other promoters are already charging. Poeple will go to known events before they will go to a new venture because they know what to expect. I have worked my ass off for 7 years to make our events grow to where they are today. I always tried to give the people a big bang for there buck..but it came at our/ my expence in the long run. Alot...and I mean alot... of work/time goes into making an event happen to the standards people expect for there money.

I will be happy to answer any of your questions and stear you in the right direction

Call me

Bob

518 361-6521

Thanks Bob.. I appreciate the offer and your comments.
The location is somewhat open. I was thinking Florida, Tamp/St peter area. Ft Myers. East coast, and I know what FPC and PRofA is doing. MAy be in the Midwest. I'm not sure yet. I really wanted to see the interest in the OSO members, but it seem to be lacking. Got comments but I don't see the "OK let's dit" .. We just have to see. I have a few aces with big names that are interested. IT will take some time and I'm in no particular hurry.

Combination fishing/Poker Run? Get the CC guys involved? May be an Ace for the biggest fish, King for the second?
Allow a few hours for fishing after or before the run? Just a thought.