Hi Mike, why the time crunch? The next National is at least a year away.

Ok, back in our 2019 NATS Signup forum we have had a post recently by Chuck Edwards and it should indeed be moved as he suggested as we archive the NATS threads as the next NATS planning begins. So we will "sticky it" here as I agree with him 100%. This is NOT a new discussion. Many members, including myself have discussed this for a few years and at length. Two guys individually and myself had some email discussions. Wayne Mathews and Clark Hymas and I as well as a some long time NATS attendees. (Hope they do not mind me mentioning them by name). We had ideas of a rotating NATS, Eastern, Central and Western Venue. Not a new idea but some of the other things besides the geographical placement that have to be factored in before this works. I had an idea (and still do but with issues to say the least) of a concurrent East / Central / West NATS. Many obvious obstacles there but an idea just the same.

There were also a couple lengthy discussions again in Arizona at IJS with a few groups about just this.
Rumor dispelled there. Myself and Mike were approached at IJS directly, and with great frustration, by a member. He had been told that "The BOD will not ALLOW NATS to be moved". THIS COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH, nor has that comment ever been made by myself or Mike or any of the other BOD members I have worked with since 2014 to my knowledge.

1) "The BOD does not insist this event remain on AMA grounds". This is an AMA event however.

2) The event has remained there for lack of any plan or volunteers that have brought forth to change the venue.

3) AMA begins their NATS planning around September of each year for the following years calendar. Thus for a move to take place, and to be fair to AMA, we must have a solid plan in place and to the BOD by no later than August of current year. So, for 2019 NATS, as we had nothing presented by August of 2018, then the event was planned and scheduled again for Muncie.

4) IF and WITH a solid plan (if moving NATS is the majority consensus) then for 2020, a solid plan would be needed by August of 2019 for the 2020 NATS. If that plan is approved by the BOD, there are NATS funds allocated to the event from the yearly budget to help offset costs of the event.

5) I and others on the BOD and some members I have discussed with individually believe the (on or around) July 4th holiday hurts us with possible lack of attendance that have family obligations for that time frame. AGREED!

6) So for this to happen successfully then a "TEAM" needs to be put together to begin a planning process and procurement of a venue and needed amenities.

As I am currently loading my RV and headed to Muncie today in fact and out of time to continue for now, I will stop here. Below I have copied Chuck E's comment below. But a "Pin Holder" of his point and many's input over the years that I have been directly involved with NATS.

By Chuck Edwards

"The question remains. What needs to happen and or change to spark life back into this event?

Doug,
Feel free to start a new discussion thread for this if that would be better suited. This is not me being negative, but as a group we need to figure this out before next year or there won't be another NATS for IMAC."