[AT] Now Portland

[Gene Dotson]

    I have stated before and will again. Portland is more of a reunion than 
just a tractor show. Those of us who return every year, more to greet old 
friends and make new friends, than to just ogle a lot of tractors and peruse 
the 65 acres of tractor and engine parts for sale.
    When the daily show winds down on the fairgrounds, we gather in the 
campground to socialize or go into town as a group for a community evening 
meal. We will be working on projects at the campers that someone bought that 
needs work or one someone has brought along for some extra expertise and 
fine tuning. Heck, we even replaced an in tank fuel pump on one of our 
member's truck once. Just to watch the variety of Butt buggies touring the 
campgrounds in the evening is very intertaining.
    Before I started attending, I had no idea of the size and scope of all 
the activities going on there. Someone who just attends the daily show and 
leaves misses out on the largest part of the gathering. There are people who 
come in and camp a week and half before the official show starts. No one 
gets bored unless they choose to be. Before I retired, this was a must have 
week for my vacation. I have met and become very good friends with many 
members who post to this list.
    Yes, the officers and directors know how far people travel for the show. 
There is a lighted map next to the registrations building. It shows all 50 
states along with Canada and Mexico plus U.S. territories and several 
foreign countries. Yes people come from England, Australia and New Zealand 
plus a few other countries. Most of these are lighted on the map at show 
time. Early arrivals also volunteer their time to get the grounds ready for 
the show. Erecting fences, marking exhibit areas, cleaning the grounds and 
jobs even I can't imagine.
    Once a member has joined our group for a week, it becomes a must do 
event. No other way to explain it than "you just gotta do it"

                    Gene


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "charliehill" <charliehill at embarqmail.com>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Monday, December 08, 2008 7:47 PM
Subject: Re: [AT] Now Portland


> Gene,  I have no right to comment about what goes on at Portland as I have
> never been able to attend but I would like to ask a question.  Is it
> possible that the Portland directors don't really grasp how far away some 
> of
> the ATIS attendees are?   I know there are several right there in a
> reasonable distance who can go and help out but most of us (who attend) 
> are
> from way down the road.
> Could it be that the directors don't pay us much mind because we don't
> participate enough in helping with the show and they don't really realize
> why?
>
> I don't know what kind of effort others make to go to Portland but I do 
> know
> what an effort it takes for some of us to get there.  Believe me if it
> wasn't extremely difficult I would have been to the show by now but there 
> is
> absolutely no way I could justify going to a meeting or work day prior to
> the show and I suspect that goes for at least half of us that do attend.
>
> My opinion doesn't matter since I never go.  I'm just trying to open up 
> some
> constructive discussion.