Why isn't Reading in the summer?

[manofmayo]

For us west coasters, why isn't Reading in the summer?

I know I would love to go, as would others around here, but I can't take 2 weeks off until the summer. And I would love to drive to see the country, so flying is not an option.

Just curious.

[NomadTW]

well it's now because this is when it was the first time...

i'd rather it be now than in the summer, i am too busy doing other types of vacatoin in the summer that i would have to sacrifice to go to reading

right now is perfect, it's easier for most to get time off work right now, because this is the slow part of the year for almost all businesses

[manofmayo]

Originally posted by NomadTW
because this is the slow part of the year for almost all businesses

except civil engineering

[GreenMarine]

And for alot of the rest of us too... I'm kinda busy down here... However I already put in my leave papers, so my office can just deal with it when I leave

[zavikan]

Yea, maybe most business people have it off. But anyone who works in construction of ANY kind, Electrical, Plumbing, Masonary, Carpentry, Landscaping, Roofing, Flooring....is screwed big time, cause this is like, PRIME month for everything to start rolling really fast to start jobs.

But car comes before self, I will be there

[mohrds]

Originally posted by zavikan
But car comes before self, I will be there

There is an attitude we all need to have!

Reading has always been, and will always be in April.

Mike

[manofmayo]

Is it because it is a tradition?

[Phast SVX]

Sucks for people in school more hten 9 hours away. Ill probably never make it, its right smack dab in the middle of a very important time of the semester.

phil

[WestCoastSVX]

Yeah, I think what Mike and the other "powers that be" behind Reading are saying is that it is tradition. It's always been April since the beginning, and at the time it started no one knew that it would become such a big deal. In theory, it is still just a regional meet (I think), but in practice, everyone knows that since most of the big popular members attend Reading every year that it is THE meet to be at.

Again in theory, there could be "official nationwide" type meets like the 10th Anniversary one was every year in the summer, and rotate them around various regions each year, but in practice the fact is most of the core group is located in that area that can attend Reading every year and focus all of their energies into it, so the essence of Reading will always be in.... well....... Reading.

Not to say other big events can't be (and in fact are, i.e. Reno) planned, and not to take anything away from those efforts at all, but the fact is most of the people with the large meet planning experience and skills are "back east" and focus that on Reading. Again, not to take ANYTHING away from anyone's efforts, but case in point compare the planning and organization for the supposed "nationwide" SVX gathering in Reno, to that of the "regional" Reading meet (I won't even get into why this meet gets its own forum and there are barely two threads going for the "big" Reno meet). That's not to say the Reno meet will be any less fun for those that attend, or even more fun. Just saying that without most of the "core group" of the network behind it, or more importantly attending it, it will just kinda lack some of the "magic" of Reading, and we on the west coast will always long to be able to actually attend that legendary meet.

Just my $ .02, nothing personal intended towards anybody.

[lee]

Troy, I always thought Reading was the big meet for the East because you have Earl, and if he just walks outside, the West Coast has a good meet going.

[Aredubjay]

Yes, it's tradition. I wrote a "History of Reading" somewhere. You could search for it. In fact, the Reading meet has never been held in Reading, but, it's always been held in April.

At first, we had designated the FIRST weekend in April as the official time for the meet, but, Easter changed that. So, we changed it to the THIRD weekend in April. Well, Easter screwed that too. So, we've decided on the THIRD weekend in April UNLESS Easter falls on the Third weekend, then, it's the LAST weekend in April.

We wanted a large meet that was held at the same time every year so people could start planning WAY ahead of time.

So, it just happened that way. Whether or not people keep coming, Larry III, John Hoffman, Me and some others have vowed to be in "Reading" every April as long as we're able.

[LarryIII]

Originally posted by Aredubjay
Yes, it's tradition. Larry III, John Hoffman, Me and some others have vowed to be in "Reading" every April as long as we're able.

After I'm gone, I expect someone to tow my box to the Reading SVX Meet on the appropriate weekend, park it in the upper lot of the Denver, PA Holiday Inn, and draw some "wierd window" lnes on the side of my box. One end of the box will be inscribed with the Network logo & 'Larry III." The other end will be inscribed with "Yahoo SVX Club" and "Larry iii"

[WestCoastSVX]

See, it is fanatical commitment, loyalty, and traditions like this that will always make Reading the big famous meet and anything else just a little less special. I hadn't used names in my other post, but the short list Randy gave as "Reading attendees for life" is a good start to what I mean. These are some of the most famous SVXers, the guys that make up the backbone of this network, and did for years before on Yahoo as well. Not to give these guys an inflated ego or anything , but fact is if they signed up for a meet, I'm willing to bet at least a few extra attendees would appear, kinda like a celebrity endorsement of the event.

[Aredubjay]

Originally posted by MacGyver
See, it is fanatical commitment, loyalty, and traditions like this that will always make Reading the big famous meet and anything else just a little less special.

Yes, but you've got a GREAT start on your own Fanatical gathering. I can remember a time when there were only about three or four "posters" (Mooseman, Kyra and her husband, Shotsky . . ) from your area. That number is growing all the time. "Reading" will always hold a special place in my heart. I've recounted the story many, many times, about how I came out of the Holiday Inn at Morgantown to 17 SVXes sitting in front of the Motel, and my eyes welled up with tears (yeah, silly, I know, but I couldn't help it). As the old saying goes, "The first is always the best."

I do look forward to making it out to the Pacific Northwest one of these days. I [u]will[/] do it. The question is when.


Just as a reminder, and these numbers are "best guesses."

Reading I -- 23 Cars
Reading II -- 19 Cars
Reading III -- 38 Cars
Reading IV -- 43 Cars
Reading V -- 44 Cars