Another Chaser Convention

[Jason Foster]

What would you all think about some sort of national online chaser convention? Like instead of meeting offline in a hotel, we can all attend online with video presentations, sponsors and the works... I know it sounds a little futuristic but it is 2010!

I didn't even both with the Denver online option that chaserTV or severestudios (can't remember which) offered. In person is the point. We really need to get folks to talk to each other in person. So many of us (especially me) come across horrible online, and I think many spats would be lessened if folks knew the person on the other end much better.

We do spend WAY TOO MUCH time online.

 

[Shane Adams]

We do spend WAY TOO MUCH time online.

Yeah, but because it's a cheap and safe form of entertainment.

I'm not lost on the benefits of social interaction, but with chasing having slowly become a rich man's game the past five or so years, the social events really cater to that sect. If money wasn't an issue, I'd be at everything (like I was back in the day). But these days, as much fun as I know they are, it's just not justifiable financially to blow $500 or more on a few days of elbow-rubbing.

My problem is, when I'm at one of these things, I'll think nothing of buying a $50 bottle of Scotch in the spirit of friendship and celebration. That's nothing when I've got money, but when I don't, it's really really bad LOL. Point is, regardless of how well/poor I'm doing financially, if I'm in that situation, I'm buying the booze. So I have to stay away from things like Denver, because I don't do Denver if I can't do it right

I know tons of people love TESSA, but the reality is, that's about education and spotter-oriented....so it really doesn't count. I wish they'd flip TESSA and NSCC and do them in the opposite cities....that would rule. I used to kinda resent the CO chasers because they inherited this amazing event in their own backyards, but over time I've gotten over it. My thing is, if we're gonna talk about doing something new, I'd need it to be close. It's cool that the CO guys get the best party every year at home. But if we're lobbying for a new venue, I want something that I don't have to drive 8-10 hours to get to. Having one party out of reach is acceptable; having the TWO best parties of the year out of reach would just piss me off.

I know chasers live everywhere now and that Minnesota is the new South Dakota (this year) and all of that, but you'd think if there were TWO mecca chaser social events each year, one of them would be in either Dallas/OKC/Wichita. Sorry, but Denver and Kansas City are not the first two markets you think of when discussing storm chasing. Just seems like if there's two major events, one of the classic Tornado Alley cities should host one.

Denver got in on the stock early and rode it to the top. They were first. But now that we've seen the potential that's there, just makes sense to do it in a more traditional chasing city. I'd drive three hours to OKC. I'd drive 5-6 hours to Wichita. But there's no reason I'd drive to KC when I won't drive to Denver.

 

[Jesse Risley]

You're always going to have those that can't make it due to any variety of conflicts, be it financial, distance, work, prior commitments, etc.

I welcome the idea of having something closer to home in the Fall, though I have to agree that with the emerging popularity of the National Weather Festival, it might be best to plan something further away from that first weekend in November, namely because there are those living in areas more distant from KC that can't or won't attend both events if they are held so close together in time.

 

[Jonathan Behle]

I think this would be great just because its an alternative.. Generally a little competition and choices can make every option improve and the free market will decide on which chaser convention or conventions would survive going forward

 

[MatthewCarman]

There could just be 3 conventions that way everyone could go to one. Have one in Denver, one in Kansas City or St Louis as Danny suggested and the other one in Norman or Tulsa. Most storm chasers would not have to travel far then to get to one then.

I think it might be better to wait until next year so your not rushing this or putting it next to a holiday. That way you would have a lot more time to plan it out and get it organized.

I don't think this should be a storm chaser gathering where people eat some food and watch videos. We already have that with Rocky's picnics for storm chasers. If you do this it should be on a professional level. That is just my opinion.

 

[Steve Miller]

Aside from the tropical season, the weekend of the Weather Festival in Norman each November (Nov 6 this year) would be a killer time to rent space and host a convention if someone was so inclined. Is anyone inclined?

I agree that Denver has the advantage due to longevity and frankly, it's a 'destination convention' for me because I travel to the mountains the week after. Roger puts on a great show and the sessions run like clockwork which is also a draw for many.
Denver has a large airport and airfare is generally inexpensive for those who don't want to waste two days of their life driving.

 

[Jerry Prsha]

K.C.

I've got to throw my ideas in the hat on this one. I really like the idea of a convention in the middle of SDS. Having one during the snowiest part of the year will probably lower attendance. And, so will having it around the end of year holidays.

The current convention seems too close to chasing season for my taste plus, it's just too close to a holiday in which I feel the need to stay home with my wife. She puts up with my leaving her alone with our child for days on end. They least I can do is be there for a special day. We're also building up funds for chase season and right after gifts and New Years celebrations, we have Valentine's Day. It's an expensive time of the year.

I think that the best time to have this is the weekend following Halloween. There's still weeks before Thanksgiving and the weather shouldn't be all that bad by then.

All roads lead to Kansas City. I think that's a wonderful place to start even if it's on the edge of the city itself. It truly is in the center of the country. Have it near KCI and people can fly in or drive.

My second choice would be Oklahoma City. It might be a little warmer than K.C. but there's a lot of options on how to get there. Dallas is my third and distant choice. All three have airports to get in and out of from just about anywhere.

I think a simple poll with a list of cities around the Plains would be sufficient. Some folks are just too far away to drive to something like this. Perhaps instead of cities, we need to start pushing the idea on which airport is easier to get in and out of as well as drive?

 

[MatthewCarman]

I would start a poll but I don't now how to do that. Maybe Jason Foster can help us out with a poll since he likes doing that stuff. These cities could work for the convention.

Omaha
Kansas City
Des Moines
St. Louis
Chicago
Whichita
Tulsa
Norman
Dallas
Houston
Springfield (Missouri)
Minneapolis

 

[Tim Vasquez]

Jeff Duda and Shane Adams raise some good points... maybe this idea is smaller and more informal than we're assuming, and if that's the case, it's basically going to come down to one or two people stepping forward and setting it up as their situation allows.

I guess I have to refrain from tossing out further ideas because I'm not even sure yet that I can attend, and I can't really organize such a thing right now. I've had some ideas of starting an annual Stormtrack event here in Norman in 2011 or 2012 (larger than Rocky's picnic but smaller than TESSA). I think that this likely will happen in some shape or form, but I'm not ready to cross that bridge yet due to too many other things going on right now.

Tim

 

[Lanny Dean]

Of course my vot is for Tulsa

 

[James Hammett]

Jerry makes good points about timing and location. Admittedly we all have location-bias but the KC area is still a good bit closer to the "classic tornado alley cities" Shane mentioned than Denver. Cities further west like Wichita seem too close to Denver considering the number of us well east of Wichita.

Tim's point about cheaper facilities in smaller cities is a good one so if KC is deemed too far north then Joplin, MO could be an option. Here are the 6 hour drive times surrounding Denver, KC, and Joplin (clockwise):

 

[Danny Neal]

After some thought I think they should some how try to incorporate the NWF into it. If not officially then spread the word at the NWF. Maybe rent out a bar/grill and go there and hang out one night... Judge your numbers there, throw around the idea of an official gathering place and run with it. I think by just throwing together a "convention" is setting yourself up for failure, after all the Denver one didn't start by 150 people showing up. Maybe even the day after the NWF in OKC, rent out a convention hall for a few hours and see what happens. But the most likely scenario I see playing out is getting a group of people from the NWL and scheduling everyone to meet downtown at a bar or restaurant. I would do either or as I think this a good idea.

 

[Skip Talbot]

How about Lawrence, KS or Stillwater, OK? Both towns are big campus towns so people will have plenty of stuff to do in town, places to eat, and places to stay. Lawrence is right between Topeka and KC City, so its centrally located and by a bunch of major interstates. Stillwater is right off 35 and quite close for the OKC/Norman crowd. Rates may be cheaper and the towns wide open when school isn't in session too. Maybe host it before school starts in the summer, or perhaps during spring break? The towns are also small enough that should be easy to get in and out of without having to deal with traffic or big city prices for accomodations.

 

[Danny Neal]

If you pick a college town at the end of October... bad news. Especially on a weekend. College football + Halloween Parties = Fail.

In all honesty I would probably be passed out drunk at some random girls dorm room than watching tornado videos that weekend.

 

[Brendon Lindsey]

Joplin Sounds good to me...