How to Have Fun at a GWRRA Event

A GOLD WING UNIVERSITY MEMBERSHIP ENHANCEMENT SEMINAR

Instructor Guide

TITLE: / HOW TO HAVE FUN AT A GWRRA EVENT
LENGTH: / Approximately 55 Minutes
RESOURCES: / One LCD projector and screen
Computer
White Board or rip chart and markers
One general meeting room - capacity 20 - 30
OBJECTIVES: / Gain a better understanding of how to maximize fun at an event
Describe the planning process that goes into an event
Describe the planning process for the attendee
INTRODUCTION: / Discussion points include:
Making fun happen
Event fun is for everyone
Event ingredients
Planning
Attitude
Slide 1:
Title Slide / Introduce yourself and welcome the participants to the Gold Wing University seminar. Let them know that questions can be asked at any time during the presentation for clarification.
Slide 2:
Objectives
•Gain a better understanding of how to maximize fun at an event
•Describe the planning process that goes into an event
•Describe the planning process for the attendees / Attending your first GWRRA event can be a little overwhelming especially if it is a big one like a Region Convention or Wing Ding. With the right planning Members can learn how to have fun at an event.
There is a lot of planning that goes on behind the scenes to get ready for an event. We will look at some of those activities.
The Member has to properly plan to attend the event and we will see what they need to do to make their trip an enjoyable one.
Slide 3:
Overview
•Each event is a unique experience
•Understanding
•Planning
•Attitude
•YOU make the fun happen / No two events are alike, even if they are held in the same location year after year.
Members need to understand that the people presenting the event are volunteers just like them.
It takes a lot of planning to put on an event and it takes a lot of planning to get ready to attend an event.
Attitude, (or perhaps a better term would be behavior) can affect your enjoyment of the event.
It is up to YOU to get involved, participate, and have fun.
Slide 4:
/ This little guy is ready to have fun. Hopefully he didn’t ride to the event dressed like this.
Slide 5:
A Question
An Event
is an Event
is an Event...
True or False? / Ask the participants to give some feedback to this statement.
The answer should be false. Each event is different and each has its own personality.
Slide 6:
Make FUN Happen
•Understanding
•Planning
•Behavior/Attitude / To have fun at an event the Members need to have an understanding of why the event is being put on. Is it a local event? Is it a District or Region event? Is it an annual convention? All of these questions help them Member make an informed decision about their involvement and attendance.
Plan to have fun. The people who are staging the event have spent a lot of time planning activities for the Members to enjoy. Participate and have fun.
The Members’ behavior is important. If they attend with a poor outlook they are creating a less than positive outcome. If, on the other hand, they are looking to have fun they will.
Slide 7:
Event Fun – Its ForEveryone
What do you do at an event to have fun?
What wasn’t fun and why? / Open the floor up for a discussion and sharing of experiences. Discuss the good and the bad and see if something could have led to a better outcome.
Slide 8:
Event Planning Ingredients
•Facility
•Registration Fees
•Banquets/Meals
•Seminars
•Hospitality Room
•Rider Ed Range
•Bike Show
•On-Bike Games
•Poker Runs
•Observation Runs
•Motel/Hotel accommodations
•Entertainment
•Vendors
•Ceremonies
•Prizes/Trophies / These are just a few of the things that must be considered when planning for an event. Many of these items are looked at a year or more before the date of the event. The larger the event the further out the planning must occur. It take many individuals working together to make an event a success.
It also takes many Members having a good time to make the event a success.
Slide 9:
Attendees +
Gold Wing spirit +
Activities +
Food and ice cream =
FUN / This formula seems to work for many of our events. People with the right attitude and lots of activities plus food and ice cream generate fun for all.
Slide 10:
Planning
•Start at home
–Checklist
•What to take?
•What to wear?
–Event Registration/Fees
–Reservations
•Hotel/Motel/Campground
–Travel Route
•Car/Motorcycle
•Scenic/Freeway / Before the day of the event the Members will be planning their trip. A checklist is always a good tool to use in planning.
Are you taking a camera? Do you have enough medicine?
Do you have comfortable shoes? What is the weather forecast for the trip? For the event?
Have you registered? Have you paid?
Where are you staying? Do you have your confirmation number?
How are you going to get there? How long have you allowed for the trip?
Slide 11:
Planning
•At the event
–Registration packet
–Check event schedule
–Plan your daily activities
–Participate as much or little as you want
–Relax and enjoy the event / Once you arrive there is still more planning to attend to.
Where do you pick up your registration packet? Is everything in the packet that is supposed to be there?
Sit down and look over the event schedule. What do you want to do or see?
Using the schedule plan out each day’s activities. Will you be riding somewhere? Will you be staying at the event site?
At your first event you may be tempted to try to do everything. That is almost impossible and by the end of the day you will be tired and not having a good time. Pace yourself.
Take some time to sit down and people watch or visit with old and new friends.
Slide 12:
Attitude
•Are you approachable?
•Is the glass half full?
–Hoping for the best
•Are you standoffish?
•Is the glass half empty?
–Expecting the worst / Attitude/behavior determines altitude.
Can people approach you? Are you a person that smiles a people? Are you planning on having a good time?
Or are you a grouch and looking to find fault with everything?
Slide 13:
The Answer
An Event
is an Event
is an Event...
Absolutely not! / Earlier in this seminar we asked the question – are all events the same?
Do you still agree with you initial response?
By now you have seen how each event can and will be different. Each time there are opportunities for improvement and the more you know the more you will be able to enjoy each activity.
Slide 14:
Summary
•Each event is a unique experience
•Understanding
•Planning
•Attitude
•YOU make the fun happen / Review the main discussion points.
Slide 15:
Recipe For Fun
Take a gallon of UNDERSTANDING,
Mix with a quart of PLANNING
Stir in 3 cups of a POSITIVE ATTITUDE
Yield: A bushel of FUN
Servings: Unlimited / This may be a little corny but it sums up the intent of the seminar.
Slide 16:
/ Reinforce that we can make fun happen by sharing our experiences and working together.
Slide 17:
Questions / Answer questions to the best of your knowledge and if you do not know the answer, DO NOT MAKE ONE UP!!! Refer back to the Officer Guidebook or give them the information to ask someone who may have the right answer.
Revision History
Formatted and Edited by / Ed Nahl (1/31/12)
Revised by / Tommy Wilson (12/14/13)

Version 12.13 1