Author Topic: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled (Read 17609 times)

Rick007 · « **on:** May 12, 2020, 09:14:59 »

On request so that we don't have to scroll down 5 pages.

Update

We are sorry to report that we have to call off the Euro event for 2020.

There are simply to many uncertainties to go on with our event. Covid-19 is still keeping us in grips and even if it would all calm down again this month
the Hotels , restaurants would still have a lot of restrictions . Also it would not let us move freely among the sights that we wanted to visit and the roads
we wanted to tour. We really tried to give it our best if we could do it safely , but there's simply no way.
So regrettably we have to call it of , and we will look if we can postpone it to next year or call it off al togehter . At the moment we are talking with our hotel , which we payed the deposit, if we can postpone it or call it off and have a refund. But for those who already payed the second payment i will return this asap . And if we have an agreement with the hotel we will refund everyone who does not want to be part of next years event.

Now we don't know if our full team will be organizing next year , but if we don't we will refund everyone , providing we can get an agreement and refund from our hotel.
I hope for your understanding in this , and be assured we do our best to get our money back.

We will keep you posted .

Garry · « **Reply #1 on:** May 12, 2020, 10:10:59 »

Rick, set it as a sticky at the top

neelyrc · « **Reply #2 on:** May 13, 2020, 04:17:48 »

Garry, I suggest blocking further posts in the old thread.

Brian in NL · « **Reply #3 on:** May 13, 2020, 19:35:38 »

For a bit of American comic relief ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygdB-ZE0daY&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR1d86NAmCT_Z2bnLXJXy_VecDeD0mEP6mkZf9C9GR58Hx5GYhTwOaYfv9k

Stay safe, everyone. See you in 2021!

Brian

Rick007 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 09, 2020, 16:16:39 »

Update ;

Dear attendees and members ,

As you know the Event for this year is cancelled, and as we speak we are negotiating with our Hotel for the deposit return.
We paid back the few members who payed the full amount already , but for the deposit we have to ask you for some patience.

There is also a little change in our team . We are sorry to report that Paul has decided to back out because of other obligations.
Peter, Johannes and myself still have the intention for organizing a 2021Event , so we can proceed for now.

Nevertheless we keep you informed about our plans and the deposit status .
If the 2021 Event Will be in the same region as we planned for 2020 we don't know for now.
It may just as well be somewhere else . But we planned to inform you about our new Event somewhere in September this year.

Then there is another matter … The budget. We have been organizing these events for a couple of times and every time the
budget went up. Maybe we should look into a more basic , but not without good atmosphere and a happy gathering feeling , event ?
We received some suggestions from members if we could somewhat simplify our Event .
Some even suggest a camping weekend ? We would really like your input or suggestions on that .

For now i greet you all on be halve of the Team.
We will keep you informed .

The 2020/2021 Event Team

Paul & Dolly · « **Reply #5 on:** June 09, 2020, 17:55:37 »

Thanks Rick

Dolly likes a nice Hotel....not a camping ....

Keep well

Paul & Dolly

neelyrc · « **Reply #6 on:** June 09, 2020, 23:59:37 »

A big thanks to Paul for his efforts to date!

Rick, even if the budget creeps upward a bit, I vote to maintain the standard of the last couple of European events.

Jonny B · « **Reply #7 on:** June 10, 2020, 00:23:08 »

Easy response. If it is a bit more, I think we can manage that.

450sl · « **Reply #8 on:** June 10, 2020, 07:42:07 »

We do not like campings as well , so our vote is for a bit more budget. mark

WRe · « **Reply #9 on:** June 10, 2020, 08:12:03 »

Hi,
maybe we can rent some abandoned American military barracks - there will be a lot more next year - with ramps, pits and dormitory bunks and do some workshops instead of sightseeing.
...WRe

JamesL · « **Reply #10 on:** June 10, 2020, 08:29:01 »

Quote from: Paul & Dolly on June 09, 2020, 17:55:37

Thanks Rick

Dolly likes a nice Hotel....not a camping ....

Keep well

Paul & Dolly

I can't tow the Airstream with my Pagoda so I know that camping is not an option for us.
Without going mad - and having organised in 2014 I know it's tough managing to a budget for big groups as all prices (eg meals) go up) - I'd be OK if there was some budget "creep"

Peter van Es · « **Reply #11 on:** June 10, 2020, 09:19:03 »

There are ways of making it a bit more financially accessible:

use slightly cheaper 3 star hotel accommodation
do not organise a group lunch each day, have room for people to spend an hour or two in a city centre around lunch time to cater for themselves
organise lunchpacks with sandwiches and drinks
have a buffet style BBQ instead of a sit-down 3 course meal (like we had in Willingen one night)

We had a quite down-to-earth impromptu event at Schloss Dyck with a 8 Pagoda's two years ago. We stayed in a Mercure hotel, had coolers with drinks, brought a small Weber Smokey Joe BBQ, some chairs, some music, hamburgers, salads and wine and beer and it was excellent fun!

Remember, it is the people that make it fun!

star63 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 10, 2020, 10:19:22 »

Quote from: Peter van Es on June 10, 2020, 09:19:03

Remember, it is the people that make it fun!

Exactly!

Kemal · « **Reply #13 on:** June 13, 2020, 17:30:01 »

Quote from: WRe on June 10, 2020, 08:12:03

Hi,
maybe we can rent some abandoned American military barracks - there will be a lot more next year - with ramps, pits and dormitory bunks and do some workshops instead of sightseeing.
...WRe

Thank you for this .... I have been crying with laughter for 10 minutes

Kemal · « **Reply #14 on:** June 13, 2020, 17:58:05 »

Hi All,

I've had words with the Pagoda and she's certainly wasn't keen on the camping idea!
She reminded me that she is over 50 and prefers the standards we've been used to.

We would be happy to nudge the budget upwards within reason.

It's unfortunate that Paul isn't able to join us, he will be greatly missed as he is and was a familiar face to our wonderful trips.

Thank you Rick & The Team for all your efforts

Cees Klumper · « **Reply #15 on:** June 13, 2020, 19:15:06 »

High cost is one of the things keeping me from attending. I had a blast at the very first PUB when the budget as I recall was $20 per person. Of course you picked and paid your own hotel and meals. I can pay for whatever I like, but I don't personally like these events enough to want to pay what they have been costing. This is a very personal thing so it will be very different for different people. But that is why I don't want to participate, even when something is close by like the San Diego event was going to be.

Rolf-Dieter ✝︎ · « **Reply #16 on:** June 27, 2020, 21:55:47 »

Cees, I understand what you are saying, I feel the same way (once I convert the US $ to our Canadian $). However, then I say to myself, we only live once and we cannot take it with us

I hope you can make it in 2023, to the 60th Anniversary of the 230 SL

Dieter

Garry · « **Reply #17 on:** June 28, 2020, 00:27:08 »

I am with you Rolf Dieter. There comes a point in your life when putting money away for some unknown future becomes less important than enjoying the pleasure of just what you already have in life. I am sure that there are more than 500,000 people who were alive in January but not now due to Covid virus, that if they had a chance to decide again what is important, would no longer be hoarding money for an unknown future that may never exist. I am surprised how little i need to survive on and how much pleasure life can be to enjoy it.

Rick007 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 03, 2020, 08:57:00 »

Update :

Hello all ,

Well we've have been contacting the Hotel over and over again , to persuade them to pay us back the deposit .
The Covid-19 crisis most have hit them hard. But thanks to Peter it seems that they finally pay us back. At First w considered if we would let them keep it and so reserve a place for next year .
But the discussion about the costs and so on , could influence the destination and the level of luxury . So we thought it would be better to start all over again with a clean sheet.

But dear attendees , and although we're still waiting for the deposit to return , we can pay back every one of you and then
start the list again as soon as we have a new destination . Or you let us keep the deposit and thus keep your place for next year.

As soon as we have the deposit we will contact every listed attendee what they want to do.
We will try to come up with e new plan and a new destination in September. Mind you It will be for a new event end of September 2021!

Then the discussion about the costs . Yes we know there are different points of view . And yes it's the people that make a joyfull and pleasant event .
And yes that could even be in a tent

. But every one is free to make a choice and every one can sign in or not .
It's even so that every member can take up an initiative and organize a event in every way he or she sees fit. So why not organize a camping weekend ?
Why not organize a do-it-yourself hotel event ? Or even a single country event , in gemany and Poland they do.
The funny thing is that every time we picked it up, within a few days the event is filled up. Even with a well stocked up reserve list.

All things considering,we think our attendees like what we did and do , so we will proceed with this level of event.
Hope you all agree .

So for now we await the deposit return, and we will contact you asap.

On behalf of the 2021 Pagoda Euro Event team ;

Peter , Johannes and Rick

Greetings

Rick007 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 03, 2020, 09:02:17 »

BTW a new event will only take place if it things go back to normal and the Covid-19 crisis is under control and it is safe.
We will never take any risk in this .

The 2021 Euro Event team

WRe · « **Reply #20 on:** July 03, 2020, 09:05:08 »

Hi Peter, Johannes and Rick,
a big thanks to everybody in the event team for all your efforts! I appreciate that very much.
...Wolfgang

Paul & Dolly · « **Reply #21 on:** July 03, 2020, 11:30:01 »

Hi Rick,Johannes,Peter

Thanks for all your efforts on our behalf,well done.
We like you to retain our deposit for 2021 event, which we look forward to already.

Keep well
Paul and Dolly
(I fixed the typo, James)

JamesL · « **Reply #22 on:** July 03, 2020, 12:15:27 »

I REALLY hope it's sooner than that

Booo... Paul edited his post from 2921...

Jonny B · « **Reply #23 on:** July 03, 2020, 15:06:00 »

Speaking a little for Martijn here, but we made the decision earlier to stay with the event for 2021.

Hope all is well for you and your family.

114015 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 09, 2020, 00:18:36 »

Dear Rick,
Johannes and Peter,

Thanks a lot for all your initiative!
Aslam and I surely will attend the Event in 2021 as well (as we planned to this year).

So, please keep the deposit for next year's planning.

Looking very much forward to it.

Stay healthy
& all best,

Achim

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Author Topic: 2020 Pagoda Euro Event Canceled (Read 17609 times)