Ad Hoc Get-Togethers

[chris vickery]

Personaly, when myself and John Adamiak started the West End Meet in Acton, it was an informal get together by invitation only.
As it grew over a couple years, we opened up the invitation to whomever was interested. Having said this, I know for myself I would be more inclined to keep it as an invitational only event. Keep it small with a few of your best like mined friends and it limits your troubles. Afterall, it's easier to tell your friends they're being a**holes than it is a bunch of unknown guests.
I am not trying to be a snob or piss anyone off, nor make anybody feel unwelcome but in todays world thats the way it is.
As it grew and more strangers appeared, we had people sign a standard liability waiver to protect both John and myself. Those who were not so inclined politely asked to do so or leave.
On the last occassion, prior to John's passing, we did have an unfortunate incident during a trailride.
We were on privately owned property, loaned us with permission for our trail ride. Well, needless to say, a fellow who was trespassing tangled with an UC and you can guess who the winner was. Luckily for us, the trespasser went to hospital with relative minor injuries and a host of fines from the local constabulary. I used my diplomatic touch to keep the heat off the convoy and remarkably none of the participants even had a second look from the cops. In the end though, the land owner cancelled any further usage due to his own insurance liability issues, all this caused by someone who was not even involved with us.
Aside from these serious issues there are also the ones that tick off even the most easy going fellow. Remember that these events costs the hosts a whack of cash and therefore the couple bucks requested for a dinner per se should not be looked upon by the attendees as being a tacky or cheap request. Afterall there is plenty of work involved from buying groceries, to setting up tents, tables BBQs etc, cooking and on and on. Personally I really applaud those of us who go the extra mile to put on such affairs.