On Jan 18, 1:53*pm, tommytoyz wrote:

Aero Friedrichshafen will be held every year in, well,
Friedrichshafen.

We should note that Friedrichshafen is a mix of EAA SSA and NBAA - so
there is quite a blend of General Aviation - not just soaring - hence
is held at an airport facility. It therefore attracts BIG dollar
(euro) displays from the prime OEM's. While I have not checked the
exhibit rate - my guess it that it is a good bit more expensive than
space at any SSA event.


Setting up and organizing it every time in another city can not be
cheap, convenient, efficient or predictable.

Agreed - however many major exhibits or conferences do recognize that
there should be an East coast, West coast, Mid-west venue every other
time - so they have three long term fixed contract sites. This at
least means that the attendees and exhibitors are comfortable with the
layout and hotels etc.


I have been happy to see this thread extend the discusson held at
several board meetings. Now that Friedrichshafen has just switched to
an annual event - one of our original reasons for going to alternate
years is no longer valid.

Assembling, coordinating, putting funds at risk (hotel garuntees,
floorspace rate etc) is a big task - and for the past several years
SSA HQ has collaborated with local club or clubs to provide the
manpower to do much of the work. Those clubs that did a good job of
local publicity AND that could draw from a reasonable nearby
population were most successful. MY OPINON - where the geography and
population was not as conducive to such and event did not fare as
well.

Some organizations have a full time staff dedicated to just the
convention - and hence can put on events with an annual cycle
reasonably easy, Others have a very well documented kit of information
where local organizations / clubs bid to run the event four years in
advance, get awarded three years out then are reviewed by HQ and the
board on a quarterly then monthly basis as they lead up to the event.
HQ provides the kit, software and organization name / garuntee for
expenses and the local chapters put up a "bond" to HQ to show their
committment (usually paid by a key OEM near the site of the event).
The slightest glitch from the project timeline or coundown and alarms
bells go off at HQ and the bond can be used to pay for professional
assistance. So everyone is motivated $$$ to keep things on track.

Enough for this post - am interested in seeing reactions to any of the
above.,