SECTION Four Timeline for Hosting

 

Section 4            

                                                            Revised January 2025

 

 

 

Timeline for Hosting a Nationals

 

 

August preceding the bid:

o   Find grounds, have the grounds inspected by a Nationals board member or representative . (must be done at least 3 months before the bid is placed).

o    Nail down the prices; get a tentative contract contingent on winning the bid.

Select your officers.  They should be someone who has attended a multiple of Nationals and are well organized.

o   Put a bid book together.  Make 18 copies to be Distributed to board members during the bid presentation.

o   The book should include: The application form, a List of all members, a map of the grounds, an agreement between you and the grounds, an organization chart of Officers and committees, and your proposed budget.

o   Decide how you are going to get your front money for the flyers.  Selling ads almost pays for them.  

 

February:

o   Attend the bid secession at Council of Councils.  Bring at least one of your officers with you along with the bid books and pictures of the grounds.

o   After receiving the bid begin soliciting ads for the flyer while you can ask the other councils and clubs face to face.

 

March:

o   Start working on the artwork and theme.

o   Organize your committees and set goals to be accomplished by each committee.

o   Set up regularly scheduled meetings to keep things on track.

 

April:  

o   Your artwork should be almost complete.  It needs to be submitted to the National Truck-in board for approval by May 15.

 

May:     

o   Submit your artwork and flyer to Coop for approval by the 2nd week of May.

o   If you are going to give a pre-reg gift it’s time to decide and get the order in.

 

June:

o   Have your flyers printed.  Check the contract to see the required number of flyers.

o   Decide on how you are going to promote your event at the Nationals.

 

July:

o   Attend the Nationals.  Sell pre-registrations.

o   You can do a raffle if you want to.           

o   Promote, Promote, Now the real work begins.

o   Start going to events to sell pre-regs.

o   Check out the vendors and see if any will come to your event.

o   Start looking for certified van judges

 

August:

o   Start looking for your bands.

o   Games should be in the works.

o   All committees should have good reports on where they are.

o   Start getting your goodie bag and door prizes together.

o   Continue attending events to sell pre-registrations.

 

September:

o   Gate procedures should be in place.

o   Create a timeline for the bible so you know how many games (both children and adult) you have time to schedule.  How many bands do you want to have? Do you really want the responsibility of a burn out contest? Can you get insurance for it?

o   The Van Show Must be held on Saturday. With the exceptions of a major van related

Event on Saturday instead, (Local show, Parade to town, etc.) Present your reasons for a Friday show at your bid presentation for this exemption.                                                 

o   Create a list of van judges.

o   Order your golf carts. Are you going to let people rent them? If so, for how much?

o   Order the Port-o-johns.

o   Order the Portable Showers, if required.

o   Contract with an Ice Vendor.

 

October:

o   Get your sponsorship letters out.  Don’t wait too long because most company’s only have a limited budget for giveaways.

o   Visit the local area and get to know what services are available.  Explain what you are doing and get them to sponsor ads, giveaways, and door prizes.

o   Start looking for event insurance.

 

November:

o   You should be looking for trophies by now and have a handle on what kind you want and where you are going to get them or who is going to make them.

o   The bands should be pretty much nailed down. 

o   Vendors, at least the main ones, need to have a contract.

 

December          

o   Take a break and enjoy the holidays

 

January:

o   Get committee reports and decide on who is going to the Council of Councils.

o   Decide if you need a raffle at the Council of Councils.

o   Get your first aid plan together.

o   Get updates together for the meeting.

o   If your insurance is not covered by the grounds begin looking to find insurance.

 

February:

o   6 months to go.

o   Go to Council of Councils.

o   Have a presentation on your event ready for the Board.

o   Present your first aid plan.

o   Have a check for the royalty of $5.00 per van that you have pre-registered to date, to turn it in to the Nats Board.

 

March: 

o    Vendors need to be under contract.

o   Anything to be sold with the Nationals logo on it must be approved by the Nationals Board no later than May 15.

o   Start working on the bible.

o   Get Banners made if required.

o   Trophies should be well along in production.

 

April: 

o   3 months before the event

o   Gate, games, Ice, Van show should be pretty much set.

o   Send the updated info on your event to the Nats Board so they can send out a post card reminding people to Pre-register and letting them know what is new about the event

 

May:

o   The push is on

o   Finalize the bible. 

o   Sell sponsorships for the trophies,

o   Confirm your list of judges.

Collect the game items, props, etc. together.

 

June:     

o   Have that all important committee meeting to make sure everything is in place

 

July:      

o   It is here !!!! your big event. 

o   Have fun, smile, enjoy all your hard work, it will be over before you know it.

o   It is strongly recommended you have a committee head meeting each night to make sure things are going as planned and who needs last-minute help etc.

                                                                


                                        

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