Ron P - You are to be commended for being an excellent statesman here and trying to make the best of a tough situation that you have been thrust into the middle of. Stay cool and keep up the good work.

However...

The points raised by Shanghaid Again, DaveP, and Mike Merola (among others) do seem to point to some simmering political or personal issue that is "not quite right" lurking in the background.

If the OPB/SBI is sincere about their relationship with the local volunteers and clubs, all they had to do was pick up the phone and discuss it beforehand. That's true co-operation, and it seems to me missing here. Partnerships are a two-way street - the situation should have been handled differently BEFORE the decision was made.

Thank your C-Spray. I value your opinion greatly.

I think the problem was that the people who made the date change only looked at conflicts within thier own schedule and not outside. When Scott Blue and I saw the date change, we immediatly raised a red flag but the deed had already been done.

I think we will all need to set this one into the live and learn column. I can assure you that it won't happen again next year.

So Ron, Let me get this straight. New Jersey Offshore wasn't consulted either? The deed was already done? WOW! You really did have this thrown in your lap didn't you? I wish you the best, and I know you will get the race off without a hitch. Good Luck!

Race dates are scheduled between the Sanctioning Body and the sponsors. NJO is the club that makes the racers safe whenever the race date occurs. I am sure that checking the date of a local poker run never occured to these people.

I dont understand how or why people can take this personally, do you think OPA wanted schedules to conflict, they did not have a choice either...SBI had to change the schedule a bit to allow for more and different race sites, they are trying to expand the sport just a little...I am sure that SBI is not aware of the day to day daily quirks and disagreements between the local divisional groups, not to say that they wouldnt listen, but OPA/SBI and Ron P are doing the best they can to make this unfortunate situation work out...Ron P, as always you know that you can count on me, if there is anything I can help with, you know how to find me...Say hello to the Mrs. for me...and the puppy... :D

Hi Boatgirl. I was thinking about calling you but looked at the time a nd thought better of it. It was about 10:30pm adn I didn't think you'd appreciate a call that late. Talk to you soon.

How long does it take to run up to Point P. from A.C. considering "fair" conditions?

I'd say it's about 60 miles, so some boats can make it in an hour and if you come up the bay the whole way it could take 2 1/2 hours at most.

Hey Horse, Sorry, I've been a little out of the loop, 2230, thats early, no problem there...hope all is well with you, looks like fun was had by all at the get together...We just had a plane crash at KTEB on Saturday, one fatality, the pilot. Give me a shout sometime... ;)

Well, this is interesting. After naively posting that perhaps this was all simply a matter of poor coordination or bad management, my phone, email, and private message traffic took off. Without going into detail, I am changing my position to one of healthy distaste for the SBI/OPA's tactics on this and other matters. Ron - be careful of the crowd you swim with, buddy, and good luck.

God, could you even IMAGINE the wailing and hand-wringing hue and cry if the "evil-empire APBA" had done something like this? The board would be on fire with strident messages of wrongdoing from the oppressed.

Sad.

"Most people deserve each other." How true.

C Spray and others, I am confused. Please explain to me how a Boat Race on Sunday has any negative effect on a Poker Run on Saturday? Maybe it's me but I can't see the conflict.

The only issue I can see is were a Poker Runner wants to help as a sweep boat for the race. We have moved the race back an hour, made accomdations to get flags and paperwork into their hands without attending a meeting and the Police are going the extra mile to help with inspections at convienient times.

Are you upset because you would have to leave a little early to attend the race? If you don't care about helping with the race then what else could it possibly be?

What am I missing? Please explainwhat are you upset about?

Mike did you and Puder both skip spelling class and hang out in the play ground.Im only kidding guys I also am a bad speller but some times its hard to undestand what you are writing.I know beer kills brain cells but how much did it take?

Ron, I had to come back and answer the question with a straight answer.
In the boating world we all respect each other and what we do!
NJPPC doesn't plan anything to interfere with any other Sanctioned organazation. OPA/SBI, Billy Frenz, and Poker Runs America ,
Being part of the NJPPC Commitee we are very careful on placing our runs.
But here is the Problem.
Our Breakfast starts at 10:00AM in the morning and is usally not over till 12:00
Ok some of us can leave earlier but some of us can't.
And some don't want to after paying for the full blown breakfast in the Poker Run Fee.
I myself being a commitee member can not make the race in time.
I love helping out and I am a critical sweep boat 5-1 is a big area to operate, Marty Coyle was my side kick and he is racing so there goes 5-1 and 5-2
There are 10 more that I know would love to help out and they can't make it.
Thats were the problem sits and thats why I put Bad Planning!
I am not looking to start a war I have to many friends in the boating world and I would not start one with you because I think of you as a friend.
I hope this answers a few of the questions?

RON

I`M NOT A MEMBER OF NJPPC

Thank you Frank, that explained a lot in a sincere and effective way.

On behalf of OPA, NJO and our Sponsors, let me appologize for any incoinvienience this may have caused you and your club members. We are a club that thrives on volunteer support. Without volunteer boats on the water, we have no race. This was an oversight and was not intended to harm our membership. After all, look who really gets hurt in the long run, us.

Frank, maybe the RxR bridge will be down for a while (wink) and we can hold things up a bit beyond 1pm (You know we never get started on time). You know that I'll always do my best to accomadate my friends at NJPPC.

Remember we have two more races in Point and we are going to need a lot of help with the Seaside Ocean race.

And hopefully this will conclude this chapter of "The Prop Turns".


Ron

Frank, Its just a question, but if OPA/SBI is willing to move their schedule a bit, maybe you could start your breakfast at 0900 or even 0930 to maybe accomodate the people that would like to attend both, you stated that it is not fair to make people choose, well, OPA/SBI is trying to accomplish that by adjusting their schedule, why not do the same thing?...Its just a question, not an attack, but both groups would like the same thing and compromise is a 2 way street...

C_Spray you are right, Some people do deserve eachother and I have seen other organizations use these "so-called" tactics, when I first joined this board, people were sending me emails and things trying to suggest one group was better than the other and that since I am new to the sport they just wanted to pass along the information...I honestly feel that this schedule issue is not intentional, it happened lets make the best of it...

One person that did not do that is Ron P, I have never seen him bash any organization on this board, he just passes the popcorn...LOL ;)