Brian Walker called the meeting to order at 10:10 AM.  Peter Lee brought up Jenny Langton, the mayor of Brighton.  She gave a short and witty speech, welcoming the vanners to Brighton and thanked them for the charitable aspect of the event; a £1750 check from the Old Ship Hotel to the "Help a London Child" charity.

Peter then introduced all the NSVA UK folks who helped during the preliminary phases and continued to help during the meeting.  He did note that they would be partying tonight, starting at 8 PM.  Peter thanked Ford Motor Company for their sponsorship support.

There were 32 councils in attendance at the meeting.

A motion by Raul to waive reading of the minutes of the 1999 meeting was carried.

Brian introduced the Council of Councils (CofC) board.  Three of the 5 members were present.

There was only one bid to host the CofC meeting in the Year 2001. Colorado Van Council made a bid to host the meeting in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  The meeting to be held in the Doubletree Hotel ($76.00/night, double occupancy) February 23, 24, 25, 2001.  You can fly directly into Colorado Springs and there is a shuttle from the hotel to the airport.  Air fare varies from $250 - $750 round trip, depending on your location.  The hotel phone number is 1-800-222-TREE.  Since there was only one bid, Colorado won by acclamation.

National Truck-In.  Doc gave out information on the 2000 NATS.  The official opening is Wednesday at noon.  Vanners will be entering as early as Monday, via a lottery selection process.  The location is the same place as the 19th NATS.  There are more wells installed since then and water will be trucked in to ensure an adequate supply.  The site is about an hour north of Albany.

Next year's NATS (2001) will be at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin on the 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd.

AGENDA ITEMS

Why do some council newsletters not list events in adjacent areas?  Doc said that you normally have a target area for your particular region.  They publish early, so the information for adjacent events would not likely be accurate.  Mountain noted that they try to put every event they're aware of in their newsletter, but they need the information.  He noted that the annual CofC meeting is a great place to put out fliers for your event.  Agnes complained that Florida tries to list every event, but some folks send in a statement with "information to follow."  That isn't very useful.  At the very least you need to have the date, location and a phone number.

Raul asked that the newsletter editors stand and the reps gave them a round of applause.  Geoff Koome said, "Send us newsletter editors the stuff, and we'll print it."

On the topic of "Boycott Dean Moore" (Van Fest promoter), one comment was, that, if Dean Moore can get 1500 new vanners, why complain?  We can draw from the new blood.  Geoff noted that they have an event of the same size in Canada at that time.  There are also three other events on Memorial Day weekend, so we should support our own events.  It was noted that Dean's event is, as usual, a bit pricey.  $45 pre-reg, $55 at the gate and to park camper trailers (at a nearby campground) runs $15 a night.

On the topic of Better Facilities at the NATS, Doc said that this years NATS will have a big water tank.  They're also putting in more wiring.  Agnes noted that, if you want more facilities at the NATS, you're going to have to pay a higher gate fee.

The topic was brought up about having the NATS warm-up party at a different site to keep the NATS grounds fresh.  It was noted that it is sometimes too difficult to find two separate locations and coordinate both parties.  One comment was that it takes me 2 to 3 days just to get set up at one campsite, let alone two.

There was discussion on revision of the show-n-shine classes to help defray the cost of trophies.  Howard said that the show-n-shine classification works; let's not change it.  He noted that the NATS board was asked to come up with the current classification system.  He said you do need about 100 trophies, but why be bashful about asking other councils or clubs to sponsor a $20 trophy?  After all, it's pretty ludicrous to think you're going to a 4-day event for a $25 gate fee and get expensive trophies.  One rep noted that the current system is the fairest he's seen, overall.  Geoff suggested that the host club cut a deal with the trophy place and wait until the day of the show to put the name plate on the trophy.  That way, excess trophies might be returned.  Howard said you could also make the name plate say "1st Place Chevy", rather than "1st Place Radical Chevy", or just "1st Place" to avoid left over trophies.

One rep said he really liked the idea of a jacket rather than a trophy.  Another rep said some of those jackets haven't been delivered yet, and that needs to be corrected.

"Let's Save Vanning Committee" is a web site for vanning.  It's what we put into it; no P.R. and no committee.  Just positive input and constructive criticism.   www.vanning.com/savevanning

One rep was excited that all the stuff he needed to know about the CofC meeting (trips, hotel reservations, etc.) was on the web.  Another comment was that everyone doesn't have access to the web.  The reply was, "Subscribe to a vanning newsletter."  The response back was that some newsletters don't list an address and phone number, just the e-mail address.  It was requested that the address and phone number be included on all event information, not just the web or e-mail address.

Raul made a general comment on the topic of spreading the word, via e-mail or other means.  First, what is the message we want to send to prospective new vanners, and, secondly, who do we want to send this message to?  One rep said the message we want to market is our recreation.  Another said that we need to get publicity in newspapers, etc. so that folks will know that vanning is still alive.  Judith commented that we need to be concerned about keeping our current vanners.  They tell her that they don't come any more because our events are the same old stuff.  It's boring.  She said we need to freshen up our act.

Another comment was that we've got too many complainers.  We need to bring back the love and togetherness.  Doc said we are old farts from the 70's and our kids don't want to drive their Dad's Oldsmobile to an event.  One of the UK reps said he fell out of vanning 6 years ago and came here because of the CofC weekend.  He said the way to promote things is to take an hour out of your Saturday and put event fliers out at bike events, etc. because there are van owners at a lot of places.

Howard said that we used to go through a hole in the fence and party.  Now we bitch about not having enough ice.  He said (to a round of applause) that the NSVA UK has been tight and done one hell of a job this week.  Peter noted that, one way to get things done is not to tell your folks, but to ask them.  If you tell them, or preach to them, then it's a chore, not fun.  He noted that the first thing we saw when we got off the coach was his hand.  We need to extend our hand more often.  Mountain noted that we can only present our sport to the public.  If they like it; fine.  If not, they're gone.  He noted that Maritime Van Council's banner sums it up: "We're Friends Who Just Haven't Met Yet"

Open up vanning to SUV's & Pickups?  Doc said accepting SUV's and Pickups works for them.  To each his own.  He said it gets them new blood.  Once they sleep in a pickup, they might just buy a van.

OPEN DISCUSSION:

Mid America Vanners noted that they're not a council (they all belong to other councils) but they want to make a bid to host the CofC meeting.  By the current rules, only a recognized council can make a bid to host the CofC meeting.  A motion that the "RULES GOVERNING BIDS FOR THE COUNCIL OF COUNCILS MEETING, Section 1" be modified to state that "an organization composed of recognized councils" be able to host the CofC meeting was carried by a majority vote.

One rep wants to see more van parades.  It's fun and great publicity.  You must work with the local law enforcement agencies and police your members, but it's well worth it.

OPEN MEETING

Desperado suggested that we use Dean Moore like he uses us.  Get him to put out our fliers.  It was noted that Dean has donated trophies to help vanners.

Howard suggested that all meetings go as fast as this one.  He also noted that there are minutes of the NATS board meeting and they have been distributed.

Maritime presented collectibles to Peter to distribute to the NSVA UK members.

Nigel thanked Peter for the last two years effort in bringing the CofC meeting to England.

Peter noted that, if you want to get free stuff, like the NSVA has from Ford, you have to be persistent and keep the same contact point.  You're more likely to get opportunities for sponsorship if the contact person is the same, year in and year out.

Peter gave out goodie bags to each rep, the NATS board reps, and the CofC board.  He also thanked all the members of the NSVA UK team for their hard work, and gave them goodie bags, as well.

A motion was made to adjourn and the meeting was concluded.