Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => Events => Topic started by: Rick007 on May 12, 2020, 09:14:59

Title: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: Rick007 on May 12, 2020, 09:14:59
On request so that we don't have to scroll down 5 pages.

Update

We are sorry to report that we have to call off the Euro event for 2020.

There are simply to many uncertainties to go on with our event. Covid-19 is still keeping us in grips and even if it would all calm down again this month
the Hotels , restaurants would still have a lot of restrictions .  Also it would not let us move freely among the sights that we wanted to visit and the roads
we wanted to tour. We really tried to give it our best if we could do it safely , but there's simply no way.
So regrettably we have to call it of , and we will look if we can postpone it to next year or call it off al togehter . At the moment we are talking with our hotel , which we payed the deposit, if we can postpone it or call it off and have a refund. But for those who already payed the second payment i will return this asap . And if we have an agreement with the hotel we will refund everyone who does not want to be part of next years event.

Now we don't know if our full team will be organizing next year , but if we don't we will refund everyone , providing we can get an agreement and refund from our hotel.
I hope for your understanding in this , and be assured we do our best to get our money back.

We will keep you posted .
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: Garry on May 12, 2020, 10:10:59
Rick,  set it as a sticky at the top
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: neelyrc on May 13, 2020, 04:17:48
Garry, I suggest blocking further posts in the old thread.
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: Brian in NL on May 13, 2020, 19:35:38
For a bit of American comic relief ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygdB-ZE0daY&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR1d86NAmCT_Z2bnLXJXy_VecDeD0mEP6mkZf9C9GR58Hx5GYhTwOaYfv9k

Stay safe, everyone. See you in 2021!

Brian
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: Rick007 on June 09, 2020, 16:16:39
Update ;

Dear attendees and members ,

As you know the Event for this year is cancelled, and as we speak we are negotiating with our Hotel for the deposit return.
We paid back the few members who payed the full amount already , but for the deposit we have to ask you for some patience.

There is also a little change in our team . We are sorry to report that Paul has decided to back out because of other obligations.
Peter, Johannes and myself still have the intention for organizing a 2021Event , so we can proceed for now.   

Nevertheless we keep you informed about our plans and the deposit status .
If the 2021 Event Will be in the same region as we planned for 2020 we don't know for now.
It may just as well be somewhere else .  But we planned to inform you about our new Event somewhere in September this year.

Then there is another matter … The budget.  We have been organizing these events for a couple of times and every time the
budget went up. Maybe we should look into a more basic , but not without good atmosphere and a happy gathering feeling , event ?   
We received some suggestions from members if we could somewhat simplify our Event .
Some even suggest a camping weekend ? We would really like your input or suggestions on that .

For now i greet you all on be halve of the Team. 
We will keep you informed .

The 2020/2021 Event Team
 

 
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: Paul & Dolly on June 09, 2020, 17:55:37
Thanks Rick

Dolly likes a nice Hotel....not a camping ....

Keep well

Paul & Dolly
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: neelyrc on June 09, 2020, 23:59:37
A big thanks to Paul for his efforts to date!

Rick, even if the budget creeps upward a bit, I vote to maintain the standard of the last couple of European events.   
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: Jonny B on June 10, 2020, 00:23:08
Easy response. If it is a bit more, I think we can manage that.
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: 450sl on June 10, 2020, 07:42:07
We do not like campings as well , so our vote is for a bit more budget. mark
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: WRe on June 10, 2020, 08:12:03
Hi,
maybe we can rent some abandoned American military barracks - there will be a lot more next year - with ramps, pits and dormitory bunks and do some workshops instead of sightseeing.
...WRe
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: JamesL on June 10, 2020, 08:29:01
Thanks Rick

Dolly likes a nice Hotel....not a camping ....

Keep well

Paul & Dolly
I can't tow the Airstream with my Pagoda so I know that camping is not an option for us.
Without going mad - and having organised in 2014 I know it's tough managing to a budget for big groups as all prices (eg meals) go up) - I'd be OK if there was some budget "creep"
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: Peter van Es on June 10, 2020, 09:19:03
There are ways of making it a bit more financially accessible:


We had a quite down-to-earth impromptu event at Schloss Dyck with a 8 Pagoda's two years ago. We stayed in a Mercure hotel, had coolers with drinks, brought a small Weber Smokey Joe BBQ, some chairs, some music, hamburgers, salads and wine and beer and it was excellent fun!

Remember, it is the people that make it fun!
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: star63 on June 10, 2020, 10:19:22
Remember, it is the people that make it fun!

Exactly!  :)
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: Kemal on June 13, 2020, 17:30:01
Hi,
maybe we can rent some abandoned American military barracks - there will be a lot more next year - with ramps, pits and dormitory bunks and do some workshops instead of sightseeing.
...WRe

Thank you for this .... I have been crying with laughter for 10 minutes  ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: Kemal on June 13, 2020, 17:58:05
Hi All,

I've had words with the Pagoda and she's certainly wasn't keen on the  camping idea!
She reminded me that she is over 50 and prefers the standards we've been used to.  ;)



We would be happy to nudge the budget upwards within reason.

It's unfortunate that Paul isn't able to join us, he will be greatly missed as he is and was a familiar face to our wonderful trips.

Thank you Rick & The Team for all your efforts  :)
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: Cees Klumper on June 13, 2020, 19:15:06
High cost is one of the things keeping me from attending. I had a blast at the very first PUB when the budget as I recall was $20 per person. Of course you picked and paid your own hotel and meals. I can pay for whatever I like, but I don't personally like these events enough to want to pay what they have been costing. This is a very personal thing so it will be very different for different people. But that is why I don't want to participate, even when something is close by like the San Diego event was going to be.
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: Rolf-Dieter ✝︎ on June 27, 2020, 21:55:47
Cees, I understand what you are saying, I feel the same way (once I convert the US $ to our Canadian $). However, then I say to myself, we only live once and we cannot take it with us :)

I hope you can make it in 2023, to the 60th Anniversary of the 230 SL

Dieter

Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: Garry on June 28, 2020, 00:27:08
I am with you Rolf Dieter.  There comes a point in your life when putting money away for some unknown future becomes less important than enjoying the pleasure of just what you already have in life.  I am sure that there are more than 500,000 people who were alive in January but not now due to Covid virus, that if they had a chance to decide again what is important, would no longer be hoarding money for an unknown future that may never exist. I am surprised how little i need to survive on and how much pleasure life can be to enjoy it.



Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: Rick007 on July 03, 2020, 08:57:00
Update :

Hello all ,

Well we've have been contacting the Hotel over and over again , to persuade them to pay us back the deposit .
The Covid-19 crisis most have hit them hard. But thanks to Peter it seems that they finally  pay us back. At First w considered if we would let them keep it and so reserve a place for next year .
But the discussion about the costs and so on , could influence the destination and the level of luxury . So we thought it would be better to start all over again with a clean sheet.

But dear attendees , and although we're still waiting for the deposit to return , we can pay back every one of you and then
start the list again as soon as we have a new destination . Or you let us keep the deposit and thus keep your place for next year.

As soon as we have the deposit we will contact every listed attendee what they want to do.
We will try to come up with e new plan and a new destination in September. Mind you It will be for a new event end of September 2021!

Then the discussion about the costs .  Yes we know there are different points of view . And yes it's the people that make a joyfull and pleasant event .
And yes that could even be in a tent  ;). But every one is free to make a choice and every one can sign in or not .
It's even so that every member can take up an initiative and organize a event in every way he or she sees fit.  So why not organize a camping weekend ?
Why not organize a do-it-yourself hotel event ? Or even a single country event , in gemany and Poland they do.
The funny thing is that every time we picked it up, within a few days the event is filled up. Even with a well stocked up reserve list.

All things considering,we think our attendees like what we did and do , so we will proceed with this level of event.
Hope you all agree .

So for now we await the deposit return, and we will contact you asap.


On behalf of the 2021 Pagoda Euro Event team ;

Peter , Johannes and Rick

Greetings
   




Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: Rick007 on July 03, 2020, 09:02:17
BTW  a new event will only take place if it things go back to normal and the Covid-19 crisis is under control and it is safe.
We will never take any risk in this . 



The 2021 Euro Event team
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: WRe on July 03, 2020, 09:05:08
Hi Peter, Johannes and Rick,
a big thanks to everybody in the event team for all your efforts! I appreciate that very much.
...Wolfgang
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: Paul & Dolly on July 03, 2020, 11:30:01
Hi Rick,Johannes,Peter

Thanks for all your efforts on our behalf,well done.
We like you to retain our deposit for 2021 event, which we look forward to already.

Keep well
Paul and Dolly
(I fixed the typo, James)
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: JamesL on July 03, 2020, 12:15:27
I REALLY hope it's sooner than that

Booo... Paul edited his post from 2921... ;)
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: Jonny B on July 03, 2020, 15:06:00
Speaking a little for Martijn here, but we made the decision earlier to stay with the event for 2021.

Hope all is well for you and your family.
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: 114015 on July 09, 2020, 00:18:36
Dear Rick,
Johannes and Peter,

Thanks a lot for all your initiative!
Aslam and I surely will attend the Event in 2021 as well (as we planned to this year). ;)
So, please keep the deposit for next year's planning.

Looking very much forward to it.

Stay healthy
& all best,

Achim
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: mazmonza on July 09, 2020, 06:42:35
Thank you Rick for all the work you have done.

Please keep our deposit for next time.

Maurice & Dawn


Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: Garry on July 09, 2020, 23:57:46
Thank you to the organising team and all the time and effort that had gone in to this point.
I am also keen to attend next year and happy for my deposit to be held.


Garry
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: ggdtr5 on July 13, 2020, 17:23:27
I too would like to attend next year’s event so please keep my deposit.

Regards Graham
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: Rick007 on July 20, 2020, 07:47:21
UPDATE

Dear attendees ,

We're happy to report you that we finally received our deposit .
So now we can start with a blank sheet for the 2021 event .   
Some of you already informed us that we could hold on to the deposit en thus guarantee a place in next years event.
This week i will try to contact the ones who did not.

As for the 2021 event, we do have to see how things are developing with the the covid-19 situation. This year bringing large groups of people together didn't  seemed to be a good plan.
But how this will evolve for next year, nobody knows . It seems that we are dealing with many uncertainties for the coming months, some say even in years to come.
The virus  may influence the way we travel and get together.
We may even ask ourselves, if in future, it will be possible to travel and tour around with such a big group ? 
Maybe the way to join up with SL enthusiasts will only be possible in smaller groups, closer to home.
A lot of questions we struggle with. 
   
The opening and closing of regions now makes it hard to pin point a region that will be safe for our event.
We planned to make a announcement in September, but we've decided that we will wait a bit longer for the 2021 event.
This could also mean that we have call it off all together , and that we need to switch to smaller regional events , we hope you understand.

But for now we want to stay optimistic and only ask for a little bit more patience.

The 2021 Event team .

 

 
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: Jonny B on July 20, 2020, 14:56:01
Rick,

Thank you for the update.

You are stating some clear thinking for the times ahead.

I will however, still keep my fingers crossed that we will be able to get together!

Kind regards,
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: Brian in NL on July 20, 2020, 15:26:48
Rick,

Please hold onto my deposit. I will likely be back in the Netherlands by September, as I recently was laid off from my "new" job here in the states.

Lots of uncertainty, for sure. Thanks for all the work you have put into this so far. Let's hope for the best.

Brian
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: neelyrc on July 21, 2020, 02:13:50
Rick, thanks for the update and thanks to all the team for the continuing effort.

Please do keep my deposit and keep us on the list for the 2021 event.  Let us hope that things will normalize over the next few months allowing us to continue events similar to the previous ones. Looking forward to more news as the virus situation allows you to move ahead.
 
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: JamesL on July 21, 2020, 06:27:20
Rick,

Please hold onto my deposit. I will likely be back in the Netherlands by September, as I recently was laid off from my "new" job here in the states.

Lots of uncertainty, for sure. Thanks for all the work you have put into this so far. Let's hope for the best.

Brian
Yikes. That’s stressful and fingers crossed you can sort a new job, NL would be good!
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: Rolf-Dieter ✝︎ on July 28, 2020, 16:49:30
Hi Brian,

Sorry to see you last that job hope you have better luck back in the NL

Best of luck,

Dieter
Title: Re: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled
Post by: Rick007 on August 24, 2020, 06:48:27
Hello All,

We are happy to report that, with a few exceptions, everyone whats to participate in next years event.
That's great offcourse and gives us the confidence to proceed with the 2021 event.
But again providing the region is safe. 

We are checking out regions at the moment and will inform you as soon as possible.

The 2021 event team