John,

The Velocity Owner's Group doesn't charge any annual membership fee or currently have any sponsorship to offset costs. In Carolina I believe your members pay $150 a year which funds your events. With regard to Carolina sponsors - I saw Velocity was listed as a "co-sponsor" on last year's (June 6th) registration form. There's different event cost structures at play here but please read on.

For the VOG I didn't feel it was right to collect an annual fee from members since we're located all around the country and many probably won't be able to attend any events. There's just no value in that for many. If I did collect even $50 per VOG member I'd have a substantial budget to work with to lower the costs as you do in Carolina with a club budget. Unfortunately there is no VOG club budget - it's my checking account. I can only say that the costs are what they are and indeed they're much more expensive when you're going to new places each time as opposed to staying in one's home location (NJ for me). I had a similar idea to your suggestion with regard to if we get enough boats to generate a surplus - perhaps gas money going to the Longest Tow Awardee! I really wish the event was for free but without any other way to underwrite it - it just can't be. I've been working on getting sponsorship but it just hasn't panned out yet. I will try harder!

That being said I truly hope you and Mike can see the value of having an exclusive Velocity event in Florida and that you expect to have a good enough time there to justify the $225 investment.

Respectfully,

Rick Engstrom

Wow...Rick you better hire a lawyer.

I have a great Idea for all the NC boys....Next year step up and plan all the events.

For 06 rick moved the northern run south in hopes to include you guys.

Where I come from all the math works. At every level this is a pay to play sport. Nothings Free.

I give Rick all the thanks I can because he spends hundreds of hours so I can pay some $$$ and have a great time.

Rick thanks again for all you do

NC boys step up or clam up.

Rick I for one see that the math works out just fine,as well as I know for a fact that you and your wife spend countless hours organizing all of these events and it is appreciated.I can not understand why these people do not understand where the money goes,it is very clear to me.Please do not get discouraged,and I hope to see you in Philly on the 18th of March at Dave & Busters.
Bill

my questions were to Rick not you it takes a big man to tell someone to step up or clam up, on a web site the last time i checked i was allowed to ask, as far as the money if i am thinking about going i have a right to ask what the money is for. how many Velocity runs do you go on a year i try to make a few and we also have one here and for 100.00 out of you pocket we paid out 1200 to win and down to fifth place and no we do not have paying sponsors yes Velocity did through in some very nice prizes and we all pitched in and made it happen because we enjoy boating and friendship with folks of like interest i am sure Rick has done a good job on this so everyone have fun

Rick,

My comments were in no way a personal attack against you. I was merely pointing out that we did similar out of town runs with our members for free, & I was simply wondering where the entry fee was going.

Yes our club does charge $150.00 for membership, but with only 15 member boats, the money does not go as far as you think. We pay over $300.00 year for web site hosting. We pay more than $700.00 per year for club t-shirts. The rest of the money goes to a end-of-year party.

Melody makes all of our fun run arrangements, and coordinates all of our events. Like you she does this in her spare time with no compensation other than the thanks of our members.

All of our runs have a coordinated agenda, but the members pay all of their own expenses. Last years fun run made no money for the club. We had 20 boats with 32 paid participants. All of that money was paid back out to the top 5 places. There were no monetary donations made to fund this run from any outside source. VELOCITY donated prizes to raffle off, as did our club and some of our club members. The total cost of the run for the club was approx $50.00. Steve and Melody made all of the arrangements with the hotel, and restaurants.

Melody and I spend a lot of money every year doing runs all over. Powerboating is not a cheap sport, but it is something that we both love. I want to make sure each run is worth the investment. That is the only reason that I was questioning the fun run registration fee, while personally I may not agree with the price, I do understand where you are coming from.

I am looking forward to another good year of boating and meeting some of you on the water.

Vicious22, I see how you got your screen name. Just to set the recond straight, I can and will set up any fun run that you would like to attend (for free). I want to first say though that Rick does a great job of promoting Velocity and the Velocity name, so in no way do I believe that any owner would question that. I also do not believe that anyone is attacking him for what he has done or is doing. So do not take it personal. I talked to Rick and his wife in Miami and we have the same interest in common. Velocity. I do not think that there is a question of brand loyalty when it comes to the velocity owners. So I would hope that everyone can enjoy the Velocity events that are put on by any and all parties. I hope to be able to attend most of the events if they are not scheduled on a booked weekend regardless of where they are.
Out of curiosity how many velocity owners are there where you boat?

Another proud Velocity Owner
Steve Teeter
Carolina Powerboat Club

My view point.... FWIW.... since I have never organized an event and don't fully understand all that is involved, I look at not the cost of the event but instead what it is worth to me.

I am spending $600 + 2 nights hotel room ($300?) at the end of this month for the PRA Sarasota event. Granted, there is a chance that I could see some winnings from the poker hand, but unless I opt to purchase extra hands, my chances are VERY slim of seeing any return on my investment. I know that I will have a good time, and I will get a few meals included, but I doubt I will enjoy the weekend nearly as much as I will for the $300 two-day event that Rick has planned.

Additionally, I have no idea how insurance enters into these runs, but I suspect that the Carolina events have none or very little and I suspect that Steve Stepp either encourages or insists that a "Velocity" event have at least some level of protection. Obviously the exposure for a non-profit club would be much less than that of a multi-million dollar a year private company.

All told, we are all literally in the "same boat" (Velocity!!) in that we have a good time going new places while meeting and interacting with people with like interests. The value of that is different for each individual, but for me it is well worth $300.

[QUOTE=mikes280]my questions were to Rick not you it takes a big man to tell someone to step up or clam up,

Mike sorry if ruffled your feathers...Not.
I am on the board of several volunteer run oganizations and over the years I've heard my share of complaints. It's not the complaint that bugs me it's the tone of the complaint.

Step up or clam up is my way of saying if you have a comment or complaint, let's here it, but bring it up with a solution, resolution or what ever else you think would better the event.

I'm not a vicious person but the tone of posts was wrong and I'd be more than happy to discuss in person, over a beer, with any of my fellow Velocity owners.

sincerely

Steven Foulk

PS let's not muddy up rick's thread, feel fre to pm me.

All comments above well taken and I too agree with CA's observation. We all want to have a good time and I can assure you that when the Velocity Boys get together we do just that. Also, the comment made by CA about insurance is a big issue. I can assure you that you will not buy insurance for a poker run covering particpants without deep pockets. They only insurance obtainable last year was for the organizer and his libility only and not for the particpants who were suppose to have insurance. I am sure each state is different. But having a get together with all the Velocity owners from different areas is priceless. Without the Velocity connections, we would have never met you guys.
Sincerely, A proud velocity owner

Steve

Viscious22 , I will take you up on that offer of a beer, or 3
Hope to see you guys soon

Mike sorry if ruffled your feathers...Not.
I am on the board of several volunteer run oganizations and over the years I've heard my share of complaints. It's not the complaint that bugs me it's the tone of the complaint[/QUOTE]to start with it was not a complaint it was a question apology accepted....Not