*STAR, Sport Touring Association Rendezvous, is the name we give for our annual National Rally.
We have heard some grumbling that the EC spends too much of its time on STAR. That we are neglecting the state groups and membership because of that. We have also heard from many people that they desire to have a STAR event in the western states or new England, and we have heard from some people that they wish that some changes be made to our STAR format. We agree with the first thing and hear the others. But we want to correct all those things, and we can do so if YOU help us.
Historically in the past, state groups would come to the EC with a STAR proposal, and it would be primarily the state groups that planned, organized, and hosted a STAR event. Some few years ago the EC stopped getting those proposals. When that happened, it fell to the EC to take on the task of putting on a STAR. Now putting on a STAR is not difficult. We have done it so many times that the formula is pretty set. The schedule doesn’t vary much from year to year. But it IS time consuming working on the details. It does take up a lot of our EC time and efforts. That is time that we might better spend on such things as member retention, club outreach, working on our social media footprint, supporting local groups and leaders, building the membership level back up, and other such things that benefit the whole club. But the EC has been spending most of our time dealing with STAR, leaving little time for the other things. It needs to be reversed. We need to spend most of our time dealing with the other things, and only a little of our time on STAR.
One of the most difficult and time-consuming parts of STAR is choosing a location. A location can only be 100% set after an on-site visit is made. That is not only time-consuming to do, but it can also be somewhat expensive. We are not compensated by the club for our travel expenses to check locations out. Therefore, if we want to have a STAR where we don’t live, we either need to pony up the money and time to travel there ourselves, or we need to rely on someone we can trust in the area that needs to be checked out. The same goes for the time involved in doing routes in the area around a STAR. Since almost all the current EC members live east of the Mississippi River, it is logistically difficult for an EC member to really know what is available as a potential western STAR location, or any area not close to where we live. Then providing that some potential locations are found, it is even more expensive, difficult and time consuming for one of us to do an actual visit to those locations, or to plan any routes if one is chosen. Keep in mind that Dennis Villarose, the STAR Czar, lives in Florida. I live in Kentucky, and Norm Kern, the club VP, lives in Ohio. Denver, Colorado is 1200 miles from my house. It’s 1800 miles for Dennis. Not exactly a day trip, or even a weekend ride. Quite frankly, if members want to have a STAR in many areas, they must be willing to help. And that starts with first proposing sites, and then doing on-site investigations of those sites. We have neither the time nor the money to do those visits on a regular basis. We need local people to do this type of thing. But, if we can get enough local people, it won’t be a real hardship for anyone. Otherwise, we are going to continue to do them in areas that we EC members are personally familiar with and that we can check out for ourselves, without having to spend lots of our own time and money doing so.
So here is our proposal: We want to start a National STAR Committee. We want it to be made up of any and all members that wish to be on it, and for it to have members from all over. We don’t want it to be mainly made up of members from any one area, but for it to reflect the wide range of members that the club has throughout the US and Canada. This committee would have almost complete autonomy to plan, organize, and host the STAR rally. It would choose the location, the dates, the theme, the color/style of shirts, the meals, the activities, the routes, the budget, and everything else that a rally needs to have. Our only stipulation would be that, like any other MSTA rally, it must fill out a proposal and budget form for the EC to examine prior to the event, it must send in a profit/loss form after the event, and that it must at the very least break even. (That shouldn’t be very difficult as STAR rallies always make money when they are organized well.) The EC would give it all the guidance and support that it would desire. But won’t dictate to the committee how to do it, we will only advise when asked to do so. Our thoughts are that if we had people planning these events from all over the US and Canada that would make it easier for suitable locations in all areas to be found and given an equal chance to be a STAR location. Also, we feel that those wishing to make changes to the format need to be listened to and need a voice in the decisions. An autonomous committee would give them that voice.
Here’s your chance to let your voices be heard and to make a difference. We want this to be primarily member driven and organized. Not to be told how to put on a STAR, but also not left to just figure it out on your own. Norm Kern has come up with a fantastic How to Guide for putting on regional rallies, and much of it could be used to put on a STAR too. We also have past event schedules that can be used as a guide. Of course, such people as Dennis Villarose, Dianne Parks, and Scott Snedden have all the experience and information about putting on a STAR that anyone could ask for. I have asked them to serve on this committee, and they have all agreed. This will be what they are concentrating on from now on. Many other long-time members also have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to putting on a STAR, and I’m sure would answer any questions that the group might have. Some might even be willing to serve on the committee. We do encourage anyone with past STAR planning experience, or experience putting on regional rallies or other large events, to be a part of this committee. However, we also encourage those members that just have an interest and desire to help to stop forward too. We want this to be a committee of old and new members, that represents all the different ideas and thoughts about how to make STAR great!
We want to get back to the days where the EC was not the STAR committee but was the Executive Committee of the MSTA. We want to get back to the days when it was the members and state groups that were the driving force behind the club. But we need you for that to happen. If you’ve been one of those complaining about the locations of STAR, how they are put on, or how much time the EC spends on them, it’s time for you to step up and do more than just make your voice heard. It’s time for you to take an active part in making what you want to happen a reality. You can be part of the solution. It’s up to you. We can’t make it happen, but you can. Being a member of this committee will give you the opportunity to be part of the future of STAR and of this club. You will also be doing a great service to your current fellow club members, and the club members to come.
If you are interested in being part of the committee, please contact an EC member and let us know. We will put you in contact with others and working together we can make this a great thing for the club and its future. Our contact email EC@ridemsta.com. Or call any of the members of the EC or your own state director. You can find contact information on this website or in the membership directory.
The Executive Committee of the MSTA