Thread:

The Dam is still Standing Poker Run!

I wanted to make this a seperate post from the other threads about the Butte Poker Run.
It was never my intent to say we didn't have fun. I just wanted to voice the opinion of others and myself who particpated.
How can you not have had fun on a day like tha!
But you know $'s are tight right now. Every $ we have means a lot to all of us. All of us are more critical as to where it goes and what we get back.
1. Jim Nichols is a Class Act! I probably vented to much in his direction. I apologize.
He was and is concerned about how it came off more than me. His name is associated with it and he values that.
2. Groups are hard to get together and get people to aggree. But why don't we as NM boats help out. We all have contacts let's use them to make this one of the Best Events in New Mexico. Instead of me bitching because I didn't get my Vodka Friday night, MD assured me I won't go without next time. Let's all work together to put on a party for next year.
3. Let's make it a weekend that a large group of people can get together and have fun together.
From families to beer drinkers to bass fisherman, jet boaters and whom ever wants to join. Have a car or bike rally the same weekend. Invite vendors to show off their goods. Maybe having one of you all with fancy boats have them at the State Fair prior to the Run would be neat. State Parks Dept. would like some publicity.
So from Friday at 12PM until Sunday at 5 PM there is something going on.
You can't please everybody all the time.
But let's make this something we'll all be proud of in New Mexico.
To any of you whom thought I insulted I apologize. Even you Dutch and Ultrafast.
I'm very passonite about New Mexico, boating and customers being happy.
I've already to to friends an family and they've volunteered.
I welcome any feed back.
Anybody who wants to help to start now for next year, give me a call.
This is all on a volunteer basis. Let's make it worth Lake Racer and Power Boat Party time to come over and put on an event.
Thanks to you all.
Richard Burrows
505-344-8277

Originally Posted by Sundance

Instead of me bitching because I didn't get my Vodka Friday night, MD assured me I won't go without next time. Let's all work together to put on a party for next year.

I changed my mind,, I won't have Vodka availible,, you'll have to settle for Captain Morgan

I'll be the first (well, maybe 2nd) to offer my help to set up something... Like I said in an earlier post, Our little group has put on 4 lake parties in the past 5 years on Powell and I know what a logistical nightmare it can be.

MD, Already slipping out with the Vodka. Actually Tequila is my drink of choice.
If you have a core group helping Lake Racer and PBP it can work out good.
They're 500 miles away. Where here.
Let's make it something we can all be proud of.
Business has changed, it's not like it was two years ago. $'s are tough to come by. We need to attract a more diverse group but yet keep the hot boats there. You know how many people want to see them. You know how many would like to take a ride in one.
I know when I've had my jet on the beach I've got a steady stream of kids and parents I take out.
Let's give back to others.
There were a lot of kids riding with the paricipants. Why not have some kind of game for them to get involved with.

Mr. Burrows,

Thank you for taking the time to put your post together & I am glad that you had a chance to talk to Jim about your concerns & share some suggestions with him.

This following is just my 2 cents on the whole Shakin the Dam Poker Run.

Jim (Lakeracer) & I have been friends for a long time and he has always been willing to listen to anyone who is willing to give him feedback (good & bad) about his events. It is one of the main reasons he has built Desert Storm into one of the best poker runs in the country.

It is also the reason why I personally asked him to be part of any NM poker run that I was going to be part of, starting back in 2002 & most recently in 2007. Jim agreed immedately to give us a hand & provide us with his expertise & logistical support over the last 3 years...Shakin the Dam would have never happened without Lakeracer. We are fortunate to have Lakeracer support this event & I can't thank Jim & Lakeracer enough for doing so. Jim and his family work very hard to put these events together and he is truly a professional when it comes to planning & organizing an event like this, but he can not do it alone.

I was sorry to hear that this years run was a little "rough" but maybe this will start a fire under some NM boaters butts to get out and support an event like this. The fact that you have already volunteered for next years run is a great start. Using this forum to keep everyone posted on the upcoming event is a great tool. We need more volutneers & people to get the word out, but at the end of the day, what this run needs is more participants & sponsors. This event cost money regardless of the size; unfortunately, the turn out over the last three years (in my opinon) has been dissapointing & from a financial stand point, has not paid the bills. The result is what you experienced this year, people committed to bringing you the event, but on a shoe string budget because the turn-out will not pay the bills. Worse, without a decent turn-out you can not attract sponsors & the sponsorhip money is what pays for the the "nice stuff".

In short, unless NM boaters turn out in bigger numbers to support this event, my guess is, this event like many others, will go away in the future. I would hate to see that happen.

Again, a huge thank you to Jim & his entire staff for coming out to support this event & I hope that they are back next year!!!

Jim & Claudia, thanks for stopping by the showroom today & I look forward to seeing both of you in November...

Don is right. I run a club called NMTDR, its a local diesel club. I worked my butt off for a few years to get it up and running, finally got a pretty big group of people, and our events got big and bigger. Finally they got to the point that more help was needed from members, which a few pitched in but the majority showed up, ate food, complained about the weather/location or something, and left.

I finally just gave up. It wasn't worth the hassle and all of the money out of my pocket. It was fun for a while however. We still have small events every now and then and the website (www.nmtdr.com) still exists...but out active member base has declined drastically (we used to have ~85 to 100 active NM members on there, now its like 10).

I guess what I am getting at is Im sure Jim/Darrel/Don etc wouldn't reject the help. Every little bit counts.

--Jeff

Don I came by the other day but didn't see Traid. ????
Jeff, For over 20 yrs. I've done events for both $'s and volunter.
It always is the same. A few do all the work and the rest take advantage of it.
But I guess if those few didn't, it wouldn't be America. A few of us would have made a Big diffeence last weekend.
As Don pointed out it takes a lot of help. Depending on what the economy does this year, I would hate to lose a good event like this next year.
If there are four or five people out there who would take the time and meet as a steering committe we could make it work.
At the end of the day of the event you have the satisfaction of knowing you may have worked your butt of but it turned out good.
Like Don said you can't do it alone.
Let's make it a fun time for a lot of people not just one group.
As MD posted, let's line up a Charity well before and work with them and others to make it successful.
There are a lot of you out there with past experience, or well conected somewhere, help us out.
Thx,RB

Don, is Dave S. doing your cabinet work for you?

DB, I hear what you are saying. You should be in the golf business, same thing. All of my companies are down 30 -50%. Golf rounds are holding steady, but it's the shop sales that are way off.
Have deversivied into other areas of business, museums, resorts things like that. Problem is nobody is paying there bills, my suppliers are shuting down.
Just picked up one of my companies military divisions. They are the only one with $'s. Hope it works out.
I see circumstances like yours everyday. Really gets frustrating. All you have to do is drive down Fourth St. and see the empty store fronts.
I didn't see you this last weekend. Did you go?
If your willing to put your 2 cents in for next year we'd like your help.
Take care.
I'll stop in and see you next time I'm driving by.
Good Luck,
RB