A Proposal - Gathering of the Clan

I was wondering if there is any interest on the part of Phoenix Cruiser owners, who are members of the PC Forum, for an informal gathering of the clan in the Florida area. Other owners who do not participate in the forum would be welcome to join in, but I am not sure how to communicate with them. It would be an opportunity for owners to meet and share the excitement of owning a PC and share their travel adventures. Very much like our forum, except in real time and face to face.
This gathering would be open to anyone interested in making the journey to whatever location is selected. Florida is mentioned because that is where I reside and would be willing to help get the ball rolling if there is enough interest. I envision a very informal gathering located in an easily accessible location near a major highway at a campground with full hookups. And if possible a campground that is close to restaurants, shopping and entertainment. At this point in time, no discussions or arrangements have been made with anyone.
Unlike national club rallies, there would be no hosts or formal activities. This is simply a gathering of kindred souls. Each attendee or group of attendees would be responsible for their food and entertainment. The goal is to meet other PC owners and share the joys of our RV lifestyle. I think you get the idea.
If this gathering is of interest to enough PC owners, we could move on to the next step which is to determine the when and where.
If anyone sees any potential problems with this concept please raise your concerns now before this thought proceeds beyond the dreaming stage. I do not want to cause problems with our national organization or any other group I am not familiar with. So please if you see any issues, raise them immediately.
I am most interested in your thoughts and concerns regarding this very preliminary proposal.

Roo, I would enjoy getting together with other PC owners as well.  As you know, in florida, most of the better rv site's are taken by snowbirds during the winter months, making it especially difficult for a group to camp together.  That being said, its much easier to find sites in the popular parks during the summer months.  Unfortunately many people chose not to endure the heat and humidity of the sunshine state.  I will follow your post and see what kind of interest it generates.   

Larry

ROO, I like your idea of a PC gathering.  I also like your Florida suggestion.  

Prior to our PC we owned a small molded fiberglass travel trailer (Casita).  Various owners across the country organized Rally events throughout the year.  I attended several of them and always enjoyed meeting other owners.  The gatherings were great learning opportunities as well as meeting new and old friends.  I attended gathering with as few as 15 to as as many as 80 other units.  None of these gatherings were sanctioned by the RV manufacture.  Whatever organizing effort required was done by volunteer(s).

These gatherings were generally informal.  They typically had limited organized events during the Rally and the attendees could take advantage of some, all, or none of these.  Some events that were scheduled were morning gathering for coffee, pot luck dinners, special topic gathering (examples of those I attended: planning an Alaska trip, RV maintenance, cast iron cooking, etc. ), and group visit to a local attraction.  

The cost for the gatherings was also very minimal.  The most I recall paying other than campsite and food was $5.00 per campsite.  This was used for name tags, morning coffee, and other minor expenses.  

I attended gatherings in private, state parks, and Corps of Engineers parks.  Each unit attending was responsible for making their own reservations.  In the case of the private park a group rate was provided and held for anyone wanting to attend up until a certain date. For the government operated parks anyone wanting to attend were encouraged to make reservations as soon as allowed (6 months for federal, and 11 months for state).

I know a number of us snowbirds migrate to Florida for some part of the January to March time frame.  This past year we ran into 5 other PC owners at campgrounds we were staying.  Since these were chance meet ups I would think there were several PC owners that were dodging the snow or Florida residents that were in the “Sunshine State” at this time.  If a gathering was organized with enough advance knowledge I would think several may want to attend.

Depending on others response to your posts it may be worthwhile doing a poll to determine the level of interest and location for a gathering.

We're in !!!

Sounds like fun!

We're from St. Louis and Florida would be more than a weekend trip for us. But as said earlier, between snow birds and spring breakers, parks can get quite crowded. Would this be Florida only campgrounds or possibly others? We'd love to attend, pending date & location. If it matters, we are avid fans of COE parks.
Please keep us posted on possible updates.

thanks

I like it! 

Possible campsite - Spirit of Suwanee music park in Live Oak. Boondocking to full hookup, and beautiful scenery. We should have been there this weekend, but Mr Flu changed that.    We will be up there April for Wanee festival. When not having music events, its a quiet little park with reasonable prices and decent amenities. When there is a festival, it can get quite intense.   

https://www.musicliveshere.com/rvandtent/

Not that I can make it, but.......

Branson MO is centrally located and offers some great full-hook-up camping with large level concrete pads and a fire pit at Table Rock State Park as well as other places.  The Branson area is a magnet for the over-50 age group with piles of things to do, places to shop, places to eat, and entertainment beyond imagination.  We would love to see the theatrical play "Samson" at the Sight & Sound Theater this year, and we also would love to take the Branson Belle Show & Dinner Cruise on the lake.  We were there last in February and loved Dick Clark's Legends In Concert.

After our summer tours, we find that the high demand Florida campgrounds are available in October and early November... before the snowbirds arrive.  This is how we have camped in Bahia Honda and Curry Hamock and Key Largo in the Keys.  

We also camp with a group of 8 to 15 Casita trailers during the “season”.  They always seem to find a state campground that has room for the group.  The campout last month was really remote.  Look up Kissimmee Prairie State Park.  This month is very good as the snow birds are now beginning to leave.  Look up Ortona South Campground COE Park on the Caloosahatchee River by Moore Haven, FL.

It should be possible for a Phoenix group to find a Florida place before Thanksgiving or after Easter when the weather is still good and the snowbirds are at a minimum.

It sounds like a good idea to me.

COE campgrounds are a good suggestion.  Just checked WP Franklin, mid July there are many open sites.  Spirit of Suwanee might be more convenient  for folks in Al, Ga, Ms as well as Fl.  It may be time for a poll regarding locations and possible attendance at each.  Of course setting up a poll is beyond my paygrade.  I think the sooner we establish a place and date, folks may be able to work it in with their travel plans over the summer.

Larry

As Ron stated,

Not that I can make it.......

As Ron pointed out with Branson, much more centrally located and which may make it more logistically possible for more members to attend.

So much depends not only on location but on when, and other things to see and do in the area.

Count us in.  We head north from June1 to Oct 1.  Any other time would be great.  Also we are willing to help with the set up.
Syd & Margo

I was wondering if there is any interest on the part of Phoenix Cruiser owners, who are members of the PC Forum, for an informal gathering of the clan in the Florida area. Other owners who do not participate in the forum would be welcome to join in, but I am not sure how to communicate with them. It would be an opportunity for owners to meet and share the excitement of owning a PC and share their travel adventures. Very much like our forum, except in real time and face to face.
This gathering would be open to anyone interested in making the journey to whatever location is selected. Florida is mentioned because that is where I reside and would be willing to help get the ball rolling if there is enough interest. I envision a very informal gathering located in an easily accessible location near a major highway at a campground with full hookups. And if possible a campground that is close to restaurants, shopping and entertainment. At this point in time, no discussions or arrangements have been made with anyone.
Unlike national club rallies, there would be no hosts or formal activities. This is simply a gathering of kindred souls. Each attendee or group of attendees would be responsible for their food and entertainment. The goal is to meet other PC owners and share the joys of our RV lifestyle. I think you get the idea.
If this gathering is of interest to enough PC owners, we could move on to the next step which is to determine the when and where.
If anyone sees any potential problems with this concept please raise your concerns now before this thought proceeds beyond the dreaming stage. I do not want to cause problems with our national organization or any other group I am not familiar with. So please if you see any issues, raise them immediately.
I am most interested in your thoughts and concerns regarding this very preliminary proposal.

[/quote]This sounds like a great idea.  I camp with a chapter of FMCA every month and it would be great if PC's could meet more often than once a year at a reunion   Even if it were quarterly.  This year's reunion is central US and I am not sure if I will travel solo to Duluth.  It is just me and the Pooch Penny.  I travel the eastern seaboard ok but unsure of traveling west solo unless there would be a few PC's having a rolling rally that way from the eastern US.   The idea of waiting till PC comes east next year is too far off for getting together. So this idea proposed is interesting. Something to consider.

I recently had similar thoughts after seeing a new owner's post from Pensacola of a regional gathering. Many clubs do this. We would definitely be interested. October and April/May are an ideal time for the SE area. We are in coastal Alabama, but from the Tampa Bay Area.