1996 COUNCIL OF COUNCILS MEETING

Adeeb's Sea Turtle Inn

Atlantic Beach (Jacksonville), Florida

February 17, 1996

Brian Walker called the meeting to order at 10:00 AM and welcomed the reps. A motion by Raul to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the last meeting was carried by voice vote.

Brian introduced the 5 member board of the Council of Councils (CofC) and noted that Jim McCleaf was not present because of health reasons.

Tony King welcomed the reps to Florida and introduced the "dirty dozen" committee responsible who have been working on this event for the last year and a half.

He also introduced Karen Townsend, the hotel coordinator, who was given a plaque by Patty Capps.

Tony introduced John Cunningham, who gave the "keynote" speech to a round of applause.

Next there was roll call, with introductions of the reps from each council. There were 30 councils in attendance.

Brian read the bids to host the 1997 Council of Councils meeting. Wisconsin Van Council made a bid to host the meeting in Manitowoc (in Eastern Wisconsin) on February 7-9, or February 14-16. Ontario Federation of Vanners (OFV) made a bid to host the meeting in Toronto on February 14-16. It was noted that entrance to Canada by air would require a notarized birth certificate or passport. Entrance by van would probably require only a voter's registration card.

Brian opened the floor to the NATS board.

Pennsylvania gave the reps information on the NATS. They noted that there are a lot of historical battlegrounds in the area. They also noted that no glass bottles will be allowed in the band building. There is lots of acreage, and very few trees. There will be a vanner's night out, 10 PM curfew for kids under 16, and be sure to register all raffles with the host. No bars will be advertised or allowed for insurance reasons. Even if you offer alcohol to someone free it is considered as dispensing alcohol without a license.

There are 205 pre-reg to date. There is enough electricity for lights and fans, but not enough for air conditioners. After all, it is a fairgrounds.

Because of the lack of electricity for air conditioners Pennsylvania planned to put those vanners who brought generators in one specific area of the fairgrounds for noise reasons. This brought about a heated discussion with complaints of discrimination. Some felt that it was just as big a problem if someone cranked up their stereo all night long. OFV noted that they have sections for Party Zone, Medium Zone, and Family Zone. Missouri suggested that there be a quiet area for those who want it and have the rest of the area for partying.

The NATS board said that they will address this problem at their 4 PM meeting today. Wisconsin retorted that it's not up to the NATS board. They've done their job by approving the grounds, etc. and letting the contract. It's up to Pennsylvania to run the NATS.

It was noted that the emergency phone number at the Ohio NATS was no manned. Pennsylvania will have phone manned 24 hours a day. The First Aid folks will be there to man the phone also. There will be an ambulance on the grounds.

Judith gave an update on the results of the Chillicothe Four. They went to court in October; the fine was nominal, and it is possible to have the records sealed. There was money left over and it will be returned to the vanners in some manner. You can give the NATS board written suggestions on what to do with the excess. Judith expressed a big "Thank You" from the "Four" for what you have done for us.

The next topic was recruitment of new vanners. A number of councils make it a point to enter car shows. With enough interest a van class can be made. Also, getting involved in parades is a good way to show off vanning. Raul noted that "grassroots" efforts like those mentioned are good, but we need a national clearing house (start at the top) to get more people. Who do we want; the 40-year-old engineer with a conversion van & 3 kids?

Six Pack said that you scare people off if they only see the show vans. Get a parade of vans (in a Fourth of July parade, Memorial Day parade, etc.) and show off the show vans and the other vans. Also, don't just put flyers on a van; talk to the people personally. Get with your local newspaper and see if you can get them to do a profile on your club.

There was also a suggestion to have a "Toys For Tots" type parade, similar to what the bikers do.

Joe Madonia said maybe we should advertise nationally about our sport. We all got together because the van brought us here. We ought to emphasize the van and not the partying, which is going along for the ride. If we advertise, then the magazine is more likely to cover out events. Then the "trickle down" effect will eventually build our ranks.

NSVA - Britain said we should put the advertising for Vanning NOW in a small corner of any advertisement. Vanning NOW is for those of us already in vanning; it doesn't draw new people in.

Brian read a letter from a vanner in Australia who expressed concern that his Bedford would not be admitted to our events if he brought it over. The consensus was, "No problem, bring it over." Also, there would be no problem bringing it to the NATS.

The next topic was about the "Information Superhighway" now being utilized by vanners. There will be a demo for those interested.

The meeting broke for lunch at noon and resumed at 2:20.

HOAVC suggested that we could have a points system for the Show 'N Shine. If you get enough points at regional events you would be allowed to show your van at the NATS.

Trailer costs at events was discussed. The topic centered on the inconsistency regarding admission fees for trailers. N.Y. would like a standard method. There were a number of different viewpoints. Some felt that you should charge per axle, like on the toll roads. Others felt it should go strictly by length and should not exceed the admission fee for a van. It was noted (to a round of applause) that it would really have to be left up to the host club because of the different rules at different campgrounds throughout the country. One vanner asked why the fuss; you don't complain about how far you traveled, how much you had to pay for gas, food, etc., so why complain about the trailer admission fees?

Pennsylvania Van Council wanted to know how other councils deal with serious fighting. Florida said you're tossed out of the event. N.Y. noted that good security could stop it before it gets to the serious fighting stage. It was also noted that there could be serious repercussions if you tossed someone out who had too much to drink and he got involved in an accident.

M.O.V.E. noted that we should be more considerate of the bathrooms; don't leave a mess. Lighting up the area around the porta-potties should help.

On the topic of unruly kids at events HOAVC noted that they have an 11 PM curfew or be escorted by the parents. Parents need to babysit their own kids. Keep in mind that some folks have come from different time zones and you see it as 10 PM, but the kids are biologically geared to 8 PM. It was suggested that there could be a double curfew; one for 12 & under could be 10 PM and there could be a 12 PM curfew for older kids.

ALIVE wants a list of pinstripers and mural painters so you could get your mural or striping fixed in case of dents, etc. They also wanted a list of "good" music stations across the U.S. & Canada. It was noted that the information should be available in Variety magazine. ALIVE also noted that, in their area, it is $500 fine for crossing a RR track with the crossing gate down. In addition, you have to perform 50 hours of community service.

A name change was noted. The old Council of Presidents is now the National Federation of E-Z Riders Van Council.

The lads from England asked if it is possible to have the Council of Councils meeting in England in the year 2000. They invited us to England to see Windsor Castle, the Tower of London, etc. They would need to know how many would go, for a whole week, not just the weekend. The weather will be wet and cold. It was clarified that England may put in a bid, like anyone else. They will come back next year with a price. With enough interest a plane could be chartered to keep the cost down.

Lew Skoko noted that kids should not be on bicycles at night in the campground. Along the same lines "Mountain" said the host club needs to control people on golf carts in the campground. Many of them are too reckless.

Chris thanked the Florida Van Council for a good time at this meeting. They were also complimented on the lunch buffet.

On the topic of membership Raul said membership in any social organization has dropped 50% in the last 4 years. It isn't necessarily anything we've been doing (or not doing). We just have to redouble our efforts to get new vanners.

HOAVC noted that if your pre-reg for their 19th (Vantasia) you get to go to the 20th free, even if you don't actually make it to the 19th.

Woodstock wanted to know whose bidding for the next NATS. The response was that, to date, there is one bid from the Maryland Van Council

In response to the earlier concerns about generators at the NATS, Pennsylvania said to park where you want, but please keep your generator confined inside your campsite.

Brian concluded the meeting at 3:20 by announcing that the OFV had won the bid for the 1996 meeting and he would see us in Toronto next year.

ATTENDEES AT THE 1996 COUNCIL OF COUNCILS MEETING

1. A.L.I.V.E.

2. British Columbia Van Association

3. Colorado Van Council

4. Corn Belt Van Council

5. Downstate Illinois Van Council

6. Florida Van Council

7. Greater New York Van Council

8. Heart of America Van Council

9. Hoosier Van Congress

10. Maryland Van Council

11. Midwest Van Council

12. Minnesota Organization of Van Enthusiasts

13. Missouri Van Council

14. National Federation of E-Z Riders Van Council

15. National Street Van Association - Britain

16. New York Van Council

17. New Jersey Van Council

18. New England Van Council

19. Northeast Ohio Van Congress

20. Northern California Van Council

21. Northwest Van Council

22. Ontario Federation of Vanners

23. Pennsylvania Van Council

24. Quebec Van Council

25. Southeast Virginia Van Council

26. Southern Ohio Van Council

27. Southern Van Council

28. Van Club Association of Michigan

29. West Lake Erie Van Council

30. Wisconsin Van Council