Convention: was LD

["Nancy Mitts" <mitts_n@hotmail.com>]

Sorry you had such a bad time at the convention. Unfortunately, that is 
the only place there is a large gathering of the membership, and it is 
where the voting on rule changes is done. It is the only chance AERC has 
to be "political". Time is precious, and there is serious business to be 
taken care of. IMHO that is the main purpose of a national convention. 
It can be dirty work but sometimes it just has to be done.  The concept 
and administration of Endurance as a legitimate sport doesn't run 
itself. The convention is the proper place to discuss issues! I went to 
the one in Kentucky & found listening to the directors meetings 
facinating. Not many people showed up to listen though. 
People are not this way at local rides, & that's the place to get into 
things and to know people. That's where we reap the rewards of the work 
done at conventions. There's a lot more time to kick back and visit. 
Even the regional conventions are more laid back. 
Hopefully, most people ride for the "pleasure & beauty of the sport". 
That's why they're so adamant about protecting it.
Nancy Mitts

>From: Bluebirdpr@aol.com
>My wife and myself went to our first AERC convention recently in Reno.  
We
>went with great anticipation of meeting a lot of new people and getting 
exited
>about the up and coming season in which my wife was looking to riding a 
few
>50s and then really concentrate on the 100s.  We left Reno with a 
completely
>different attitude about AERC and "endurance riding."  We both were 
surprised
>at the "Closed" clicky groups and how political AERC and most people 
were.  I
>mean even at the Ridecamp breakfast no introductions were ever made and 
it
>wasn't until the very end when most people had left that someone 
suggested
>passing out name tags.  I could never figure out why there was so much 
hoopla
>about LD riders, but after going to the convention and seeing the 
attitude of
>the "serious endurance riders," I now understand.  Since life is 
too.....short
>we have decided to ride for the pure pleasure and beauty of the sport 
and
>leave the "serious endurance riders" to continue their bickering and
>complaining and brown nosing to themselves.
>
>Friendly LDs from the SE
>
>
>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
>Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>
>

Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=