November 17, 2012
I`m sorry, I can`t get over this no one "organized events" BS.
When Mo took over as Chapter President, one of the first things he did was invite people to his home in Orange for a day on the beach he`s built in his backyard. All people had to do was show up. He and Mona even had the event catered...again, all people had to do was show up. We had a decent turnout for that one. He extended his home and the surroundings to the FTW family. Trails for ATVs, horseshoes, pool..and the food was CATERED. The Maryland chapter showed up in force for that one, and it was HOURS away from home...yet the South East Virginians no-showed.
He`s extended the same courtesy 3 times since then, and the turnout is always the same 6-7 trucks from Richmond and NOVA.
We had something like 40 people show up to Shula`s II in Richmond for a Christmas Party.
James and Marty set up a meeting at Pocahontas State Park outside of Richmond, and about 10 people showed up. Lew drove all the way down from Delaware, yet people that lived an hour or two down 64 griped about distance and stayed at home.
The next year, Mo put the Christmas party at an Applebee`s in Charlottesville because of the whining. 3 people showed up, and it was myself, JT and Mo. No joke, we live 20 minutes from each other in the Fredericksburg area, but NO one from Richmond or the remainder of the state showed up. Two members lived in Charlottesville and didn`t show up to the event held in their backyard.
Marty invited anyone from FTW to his block party in Richmond. James, Mo and I showed up.
I set up two different GTG`s at Hooter`s in Woodbridge, and the first one had 4 people show, the second time it was me and Slick.
Mo set up another GTG at Glory Days in Massaponax/Fredericksburg. Bennie, Marty, Kevin, Slick, Matt, Mo, Ben, JT and I showed up.
Mo set up a GTG for Toys for Tots at a new Giant Food location in Harrison Crossing. Besides himself, I showed and Kristen & Dave showed their badass Toyota truck.
Kevin set up a show at NTB in Fredericksburg, and Mo, Slick, JT and I showed up. Mo even got harassed by local PD because his truck was too tall.
We talked about going to All Ford Nationals at Carlisle. I made my first trip there, and the only other VA chapter truck there was Mo, who one 1st place. I ended up parking with friends from another truck club, who showed up 40-trucks strong from New England.
Kristen extended an invite to King`s Dominion amusement park, and 4 people showed up.
I set up a trip to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg and 1 person showed up. I even had half-price discounted tickets.
JT organized a show with his company in Fredericksburg, and Matt, Kristen and I showed up. I extended the invite to my Lightning/Harley truck owners group, and they showed up with 5 trucks. Thankfully the local community supported that show, and I think I counted 60-something classics there.
Kristen extended an invite from a local cruisers organization that comes together every Friday and Saturday night over the summer at Brewster`s ice cream in Stafford and Fredericksburg, and it was just her, Dave and I.
Point being, there have been many opportunities to get together as a group, yet it`s the same group from Richmond, Fredericksburg, Matt and Ben that always show. Everyone East of Richmond made a stink but never actually got in the truck and showed up. I lived in Reston for quite awhile, which meant I had to drive two hours in NOVA traffic just to get to Frederickburg or Richmond, but I always showed, yet the I64 crowd couldn`t roll. Sorry, that`s just BS.
"Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?"
George Carlin