UK 2009 Meeting Update and report

[Glynn Roberts]

Its all going well!

We're well ahead on organising this years meeting at Lumb Farm.

If you've never been before here's the brief -

500 folk camping at a pub - Travel shows and presentations/demonstrations on a huge range of topics all to do with travel and biking - going on all day every day - rideouts to the scenic Derbyshire countryside - around a dozen trade stalls - and a fantastic atmosphere.
Around half of the folk have done a trip of some kind - the other half have come to gather some info before their own trip. (And with so many redundancies does this mean its going to be a bumper year for folk heading off.)

This is now THE national event for travellers in its 8th year and still growing.

The pubs made some changes to the campsite - new fencing and a bit of concrete here and there. It looks very good and much improved.

On the presenters front - we're still looking for some! We have some old favourites from previous years that fill out the rooms every year no matter what they talk about. We're still waiting for a few to confirm, as well as some new faces (always nice) we're just over half full (for presenters) so if you're thinking of presenting then don't just think - do it. It will be fun! And you couldn't have a better audience...
Have a look at the form here
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/meetings/presenters

A list of speakers and presenters is on the website. The timetable will be on the website a few weeks before the event. Hopefully around the end of May.

Attendance will be limited to around 500 people again this year - it sold right out a month before last year. We've sold 300 tickets to date, up on this time last year, so it will sell out again this year
If you book before the end of March it'll only cost you £35.00. One form per person please.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/meetings/UK2009.php

Details of the rideouts will be posted nearer the time.

If you want to trade at this years event please use the link on the UK meetings page.

Author and general all round good egg, Sam Manicom organises the 60 volunteers needed to run such a big event and does an excellent job. He's still looking for a few volunteers mainly to man (lady?) the gate and sort any problems with the digital projectors/laptops etc. If you can help in any way please contact Sam through this website or on the booking form, under volunteers.

Questions Anyone?

Glynn

[Sam Manicom]

Coo, dunno about the good egg bit Glynn, but its always good to be able to help out. Having been to the Ripley Meet for a few years now, I know how much rides on people mucking in.

If anyone can help out we are still short on crew for the Gate, Registration and the Digi Tech team. A couple more people to help clear up early Sunday afternoon would also be really helpful if you are up for that. We try really hard to leave the place spotless and HU is always welcome at Lumb Farm, in part because of that.

The Gate Crew is a fun job and a great opportunity to meet people. It also sets the mood for everyone when they arrive. We had loads of compliments about the volunteers last year. So nice to arrive at the end of a long ride and to be greeted warmly, to be told where to sign in, where to set up camp, where to get water and where to get that first pint (of something stronger)! Volunteers usually sign up for a couple of 2 hour stints. First timers to the meet are welcome.

The Registration Crew make sure that questions are answered, that people are signed in, get their T shirts, know where the ride outs leave from and so on. It's the hub of the event. There's a little more to think about with this role so it helps if you've been to a Meet before - you'll already know the lay of the land then. If you fancy helping out on this we'd need you to do a couple of 4 hour shifts over the weekend please. You'd more than likely be on at peak arrival times to help out Helen and her assistants who are very kindly doing 8 hour stints.

Registration is also where all the Raffle prizes are going to be laid out during the day on Saturday. Everyone can pre view the goodies then.

The Digi Tech Crew help make the talks run smoothly. We've all the right equipment this year but it very much helps people doing presentations if they know that things are set up so that their talks kick off on time, and that if anything goes screwy during the talk, there is someone in the room to help out. The beauty of this job for volunteers is that they get to be in the room this year so can listen to/ watch the presentations. If you are interested please get in touch so I can let you know how this is going to work. We need 9 people for the rota and I've 6 so far.

You'll need to know your way around laptops, digital projectors and Powerpoint.

In total we have about half the volunteers needed so far so please do get in touch if you fancy helping out.

As Glynn says, the best place to get your name up for this is on the registration form when you book but please do PM me if you've already booked and I'll get back to you asap.

Looking forward to seeing you at the meet.
Cheers,
Sam

[mr moto]

Sorry if i have missed it but , what dates is it on for this year ?

[Mick O'Malley]

A quick search revealed this.

Regards, Mick

[mr moto]

Originally Posted by Mick O'Malley

A quick search revealed this.

Regards, Mick

June 18-21 . Thanks Mick .

[Sam Manicom]

Hi Mr Moto and Mick,
Mick, thanks for catching the request. Mr Moto, sorry not to have got to you myself. Birgit and I have been on the road in Vietnam and are just back. Are you going to be able to make it to the meet this year? Hope so.
All the best,
Sam

[strimstrum]

Probably a daft question but this is my first Ripley meet. Do Grant & Susan e-mail a pass or something or do the registration guys just have a list of people who have paid. I registered and paid some time ago so I am just curios to know how it works at the gate.

[Glynn Roberts]

Hiya

When you register you will recieve an email acknowledging your form and thats it!

For directions you need to log onto the UK meetings page.

On arrival the gate staff have a list of everyone who have registered. You're then given a name tag thats used in a similar way to having a wristband. Wearing the name tag allows you onto the campsite and entrance into the presentation rooms.

Glynn

[strimstrum]

Thanks Glynn. I've found my e-mail sent to me back in November and it now makes sense.

[mr moto]

Originally Posted by Sam Manicom

Hi Mr Moto and Mick,
Mick, thanks for catching the request. Mr Moto, sorry not to have got to you myself. Birgit and I have been on the road in Vietnam and are just back. Are you going to be able to make it to the meet this year? Hope so.
All the best,
Sam

Sadly it looks like i will not be able to make it....2008 was the year i had been planning to sell my house and head off on my year on the road , then the credit crunch happened and my place is still for sale ! no sale no going away anywhere for me . I hope you have fun and enjoy the meet . who knows maybe next year i will be there with a few tales of my own to tell.

[mojohowillgo]

hey Ya,

Im planning on getting to Ripley on Thursday sometime, but I was toying with the idea of getting there on wed night after work now. Anyone know if camping is allowed on wed night?

With regards to the schedule, if i arrive on thurs afternoon, will I miss out on alot of the talks/sessions.

Also my girly is coming separately but in a car. Will there be space for a car?? sorry if a stupid question, but I am a newbie!!

Looking forward to it

Jus

[Glynn Roberts]

Hi Jus

You can arrive on the wednesday - theres always a few other folk there so you wont be lonely.

The timetable should be on the website next week but not much is happening Thursday morning, don't think you'll miss much if you arrive in the afternoon.

There is plenty of space for cars/4wd but they must be properly parked in the car park so as not to take up unnessecary space. Please ask at the gate where to park on arrival.

See you soon!

Glynn

[tsbnoise]

What are numbers looking like for this event? I really want to come but can't commit for another couple of weeks due to possible work commitments?

Thanks in advance for your response.

Cheers Tom

[Glynn Roberts]

As of a couple of weeks ago - over 350 folk have registered AND paid. Maybe this year we will just sell out...

If you're in any doubt about coming please register first. When you've decided if you're coming either pay or send us an email asking to be taken off the registration list.

The price goes up nearer the time so don't delay!

We do have a stunning line up of presenters this year.
With some internationally recognised folk attending.

Chris Scott, Paul Pratt, Ted Simon, Sam Manicom, Peter Henshaw, Nick Sanders, Simon Gandolfi to name just a few - check the list on the UK Meetings page.
I recently saw Peter and Kay Forwoods show in Germany - they've got some interesting photos - the first folk to visit every single country by motorbike (H.D. electra glide) all 193 of 'em and to see a world map with their route on it is really quite something, over 555,000 kms and still counting...

They'll be doing a presentation on the Thursday evening -don't miss it!

Glynn

[Grant Johnson]

We are filling up fast, currently at about 515 people registered and paid, so if you want to come better get yourself sorted quickly!

It's going to be a fantastic event, with one of the best lineups of presenters we've ever had, with Peter and Kay Forwood from Australia,Ted Simon, Nick Sanders, Sjaak Lucassen from the Netherlands, Sam Manicom, Simon Gandfolfi, Werner Bausenhart from Canada, Johan Lundin from Sweden, and MANY more! All three presentation rooms will be going non-stop from Thursday afternoon to Sunday noon!

See here for details and registration: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/meetings/UK2009.php

Note:

We need someone with 4 wheels to pick up a load at two places in London (or two people to pick up one each) as close to the meeting date as possible, and deliver there latest Thursday am, preferably Wednesday sometime. One load is at Isle of dogs, the other is at Dulwich or St Pauls in the City. Thanks for your help!
(no help no tshirts, video, sound, and quite a few other things! )


We look forward to seeing you there!

Grant and Susan