Ah, yassss -- once again someone mentions an idea, someone else hears it as
a plan, the next person hears it as being on the agenda, and finally someone
panics that it is going to be VOTED ON IMMEDIATELY; WRITE NOW IN
OPPOSITION!!!!
Throttle back, people. Notions to move the SCCA headquarters are, at the
moment, pipe dreams in the minds of a couple of CVBs and a director or two.
Could it happen? Yes. Will it happen in the near future? Not even close.
Here's what I've got, from talking with a former director reasonably close
to the situation and reading the writings of another current director.
The Topeka CVB (Convention & Visitors Bureau) has floated an idea before
Denver that it might move its HQ to Topeka. Couple of assets there -- Forbes
Field where the Solo Nationals are held, and Heartland Park, which could be
a potential Runoffs site (and big enough to do so). Also centrally located
geographically -- "equally inconvenient for all" (to steal a line from
former SEB chair Phil Schmidt).
This is in the exploratory stages. It is NOT going to be voted on anytime
soon.
Down in SEDiv, Area XII Director Phil Mellor has written (I read it in the
Gulf Coast Region newsletter) that "Birmingham, Ala., and Atlanta, at my
request, have/are preparing preliminary bids to provide Office, Museum, Solo
and Road Racing complexes for the Staff and the BoD to review along with a
bid from Topeka."
Mellor also adds in the very next sentence: "Serious consideration must be
given to a decision of this magnitude."
So, not only is the BoD not going to rush into anything of this nature, at
the moment there is not anything really on the table to rush into. These
things begin with a couple of people talking about "whaddya think if we..."
and things develop from there. Ideas are being formulated, "what if" things
are being floated, they are looking into the blue sky to see if anything is
flying there.
As Area I director Kathy Barnes noted, someone in her Area inquired if
others could apply. She basically said sure, but the proposal needs to come
from a CVB, not a Region.
Folks, anybody can float an idea. That does not mean it is a done deal, or
even likely. Keep your finger on the pulse. If you have a thoughtful
insight, feel free to make it, but flaming letters will accomplish nothing
at the moment as there is nothing to flame yet. Panicking that a decision is
imminent is just that - panic. Talk to your directors as they will be the
ones ultimately making such a decision. But don't freak out that SCCA is
moving to Toplantaham next month. Ain't no way. They're still very early in
the "what if" stages.
Chill...
--Rocky Entriken
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