Ira 0 #1 December 16, 2003 The Rantoul Press reported today that the Rantoul city council met on Monday and approved a 5 year contract with the WFFC. I have a copy being mailed to me and will post the article once I get a chance to scan it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverdriver 5 #2 December 16, 2003 That is excellent news. I thought it would do well there. Now it's up to us to make sure the city feels that their welcome matt is not being trampled on. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skymonkey13 0 #3 December 16, 2003 Rantoul board OKs 5-year Free Fall deal By TIM MITCHELL © 2003 THE NEWS-GAZETTE Published Online December 16, 2003 RANTOUL – The skies over Rantoul will continue to rain men and women each summer through 2008. The Rantoul Village Board voted 6-0 at a special meeting Monday to approve a new five-year contract with the World Free Fall Convention to hold the international sky-diving event each August at the Rantoul airport. "I think this is an exciting thing for Rantoul," said village board member Dan Molloy. "What I like about the World Free Fall Convention is that the type of people that they bring to our community have a lot of money in their pockets." This year's event is set for Aug. 6-15. After holding the event for 13 years in Quincy, the convention moved to Rantoul in 2001. The first two Rantoul events operated under single-year contracts. Village officials wanted a longer contract to ensure a steady flow of tourists over several years and to ensure enough steady income to pay for infrastructure improvements, including a proposed shower complex. "The World Free Fall Convention had a real impact on many of our businesses, especially our hotels, restaurants, gas stations and bars," said Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Joe Bolser. "But the attraction of the World Free Fall Convention isn't all financial; it is also emotional. We need to seriously consider hosting this for many years to come." Convention organizers wanted a longer contract to allow sky divers around the world to make plans years in advance to come to Rantoul. "Many of our international sky divers, especially the Europeans and South Americans, want to know when and where we will be far in advance so they can get their visas and make their vacation plans," said Convention President Don Kirlin. Village board member Helen Lewis said she was supporting the contract with reservations, arguing that Rantoul should be given the opportunity to end the contract each year. "I don't want the village to continue to lose money and have this on the backs of the taxpayers," she said. The contract approved on Monday includes a new provision that village officials hope will prevent Rantoul from losing money on the convention. Each registered sky diver will be required to pay a new $10 fee. While the 2003 event in Rantoul drew 2,800 sky divers, the World Free Fall Convention has drawn as many as 5,700 paid participants in earlier years, according to convention documents. As a result, the new $10 fee is expected to raise between $28,000 and $57,000 a year. The village will keep the first $30,000 generated by the new fee. Village Administrator Gary Adams said Rantoul would use the money to pay for the village's costs, including for water and electricity for the convention, the upkeep of the Prairie Pines Campgrounds and police protection. The village would also use a portion of its proceeds to pay for infrastructure that could be used by the convention, including a proposed permanent shower-restroom-first-aid building that would serve not only the World Free Fall Convention, but also the annual Illini Boy Scout Jamboree and the Farm Progress Show, if Rantoul is awarded that event. If the new fee generates more than $30,000, up to $10,000 will be spent for international advertising and marketing of the convention. At Monday's meeting, Lewis tried to amend the contract to eliminate a provision that reduced the $10 fee slightly for participants who arrive on the final weekend of the event. Convention Executive Director Bernice Eickelschulte said the provision would affect only 100 to 150 sky divers who jump on the final Saturday and Sunday. But Lewis' proposal was dropped due to lack of support from the rest of the village board. "We don't feel it is appropriate to charge the sky divers a full amount when they are only here for a portion of the event," Kirlin aid. Both Kirlin and the board did approve a change requiring the convention to continue to provide money for the infrastructure work if it defaults on the contract and decides to leave Rantoul for a better location. "If we weren't truly committed to Rantoul in the long term, we would never even have this discussion," Kirlin said. The village board's decision drew praise from Julie Hardy, owner of Hardy's Reindeer Ranch, who has been directing tour groups visiting her ranch to the convention. Angela Ingerson of the Champaign County Convention and Visitors Bureau said four tour buses from Pontiac, Mich., will be coming to Rantoul this summer to see the sky divers, and she anticipated that additional motor coaches would be booking tours now that a long-term contract has been approved. Jack Johnston, director of customer operations for Cingular Wireless, said the World Free Fall Convention was a hit with his employees. "They have been cordial neighbors and have brought excitement to us at Cingular," Johnston said. "They have allowed us a chance to meet people from around the world." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paige 0 #4 December 16, 2003 Maybe the hell fish will bring ample temorary tattoos again. This time I will not fall victim to their tricks! Tunnel Pink Mafia Delegate www.TunnelPinkMafia.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #5 December 16, 2003 Another $10.... Thats a lot of registration fees.....Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bbarnhouse 0 #6 December 16, 2003 QuoteAnother $10.... Thats a lot of registration fees..... I agree especially since the jump prices were expensive as well. Free Beer is only good to those that drink it. Then again...I could stay home. All about choices. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
weegegirl 2 #7 December 16, 2003 I'll be there for the greatest party on Earth and in the sky. I loooooooooove WFFC! They can have my stinkin $10. Let the countdown begin! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
indyz 1 #8 December 16, 2003 QuoteAnother $10.... Thats a lot of registration fees..... Last year I camped for 5 nights and drank 30+ free beers. That's worth it to me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #9 December 16, 2003 QuoteI agree especially since the jump prices were expensive as well. Free Beer is only good to those that drink it. Then again...I could stay home. All about choices. Same here. The registration fee is a rip off to those that don't drink beer. And they didn't even do prize give aways for those that pre-registered in 2003. I have no choice but to pay the fee since i wanna be at the convention though. As has been said many times in the last few months, skydiving is starting to become all about the money....people wanting to make a few more $$$ ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverdriver 5 #10 December 16, 2003 QuoteQuoteI agree especially since the jump prices were expensive as well. Free Beer is only good to those that drink it. Then again...I could stay home. All about choices. Same here. The registration fee is a rip off to those that don't drink beer. And they didn't even do prize give aways for those that pre-registered in 2003. I have no choice but to pay the fee since i wanna be at the convention though. As has been said many times in the last few months, skydiving is starting to become all about the money....people wanting to make a few more $$$ If there was a lot of money to be made in skydiving I would not have become an airline pilot. Look around you. You see a lot of people working at a DZ driving Lexuses? I don't think they are asking too much here. Creating a DZ for 10 days every year doesn't come cheap. And Rantoul is supposed to just bite the cost for infrastructure and extra security? Seems like they are just trying to cover their costs.Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #11 December 16, 2003 QuoteI agree especially since the jump prices were expensive as well. Free Beer is only good to those that drink it. Then again...I could stay home. All about choices. What I got for my registration fee last year - A place to put my tent and park my car for 12 days and nights (I figure a $120 value) Live music every night (I figure a $50 value) Free beer (I didn't drink much of it, prefering to stick to good beer and jello shots, so I figure a $20 value) Portapotties, stocked and cleaned on a regular basis, located an easy stumble from wherever I happened to be (priceless) A clean place to take a shower (also priceless) A smiling group of event staff and volunteers who would go out of their way to make sure I was having a good time (also priceless) 3000 or so friends (old, new and yet to be met) to jump, hang out and party with (also priceless). So by my figuring I got $190 value out of however much I paid in registration fee for 2003. Don't matter how much the registration fee is... to me it's worth every penny. Can't wait for August 6th!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
n2skdvn 0 #12 December 16, 2003 What skybytch said... Il be there this year pop up camper and all!!! went 99'-01' had fun hoping to have more fun this year!!!!if my calculations are correct SLINKY + ESCULATOR = EVERLASTING FUN my site Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #13 December 16, 2003 The beer is the only thing that pisses me off. To some, the free beer is prolly worth the registration fee alone. But if the registration fee can be lowered and make beer drinkers buy their own beer....well they should do that. ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest #14 December 16, 2003 QuoteQuoteAnother $10.... Thats a lot of registration fees..... I agree especially since the jump prices were expensive as well. Free Beer is only good to those that drink it. Then again...I could stay home. All about choices. Betsy, I wouldn't call what they serve there as 'beer'. Carbonated cat urine is more like it. mh"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kai2k1 0 #15 December 16, 2003 How much is the registration fee now? There's no truer sense of flying than sky diving," Scott Cowan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bbarnhouse 0 #16 December 16, 2003 QuoteI wouldn't call what they serve there as 'beer'. Carbonated cat urine is more like it I will have to take your word for it. It all comes down to value and the perception of it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoadRash 0 #17 December 16, 2003 I'm with you!!! I can understand the positive and negative aspects of increasing the registration fees!! I worked as a volunteer last year because I couldn't jump due to an injury...Believe me, some of the extras you pay now(which do kind of suck) will be major benefits in the long run (more permanent facilities)!!!~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Fly the friendly skies...^_^...})ii({...^_~... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaGimp 0 #18 December 16, 2003 QuoteQuoteAnother $10.... Thats a lot of registration fees..... I agree especially since the jump prices were expensive as well. Free Beer is only good to those that drink it. Then again...I could stay home. All about choices. what are you complaining about BB...you had the hook up there."Professor of Pimpology"~~~Bolas Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #19 December 16, 2003 >I agree especially since the jump prices were expensive as well. Free Beer is only good to those that drink it. Then again...I could stay home. All about choices. The jump prices were only .50 cents more then SDAZ's normal price and cheaper then a lot of DZ's normal prices. $19 for a lift in the mid-west is still a very fair price. Its nice to have free organizers at any time too. Walk up and get on a Boxman load or a BillVon way. And never have to worry about covering anyone elses slot... that alone is worth a buck a ticket to me. I did'nt drink more then a cup or two of the beer the entire week so it did me no good, but after doing the staff thing last year and realizing all that goes into making the WFFC happen... I don't envy them. Trying to get vendor trailers set up, the organizer tents, power ran every where it needs to be... basically building a city in 7 days before the jumpers get there then to tear it down again the Monday its over. I'll be there this year... not a doubt in my mind Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bbarnhouse 0 #20 December 16, 2003 Quotewhat are you complaining about BB...you had the hook up there What like I didn't have to pay the registration fee too? Who you kiddin'? One can justify anyway they want to. People look at a value of a thing differently. All I am saying is that it is a matter of choices. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jlmiracle 7 #21 December 16, 2003 QuoteThe beer is the only thing that pisses me off. To some, the free beer is prolly worth the registration fee alone. But if the registration fee can be lowered and make beer drinkers buy their own beer....well they should do that. I'm with Sunshine on this one. I never found the free pop when I went. They kept saying it was by the beer, but could never find it. JudyBe kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #22 December 16, 2003 > I never found the free pop when I went. Last year the free soda was in the main party tent, it was its own fountain machine sitting there with soda tanks hooked up to it. It was back by the Hottub and next to where Kyle got pied for 20 minutes I do think that it would be better if they moved the soda to a place that was not in the middle of the crowd for next year.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flygurl 0 #23 December 16, 2003 YEAH!!!! See you all in August!!! The free cheap beer is useful for when the private stock runs out... ________________________________________ "One out of every four American's are suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're okay, then it's you." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FrogNog 1 #24 December 16, 2003 Quote Betsy, I wouldn't call what they serve there as 'beer'. Carbonated cat urine is more like it. mh Are you saying it was warm? -=-=-=-=- Pull. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaGimp 0 #25 December 16, 2003 QuoteQuote Betsy, I wouldn't call what they serve there as 'beer'. Carbonated cat urine is more like it. mh Are you saying it was warm? no it was cold and plenty to go around...i just didnt like the fact that they closed so early.....i found out that ten mins before they close get two pitchers and carry them around drinking them...i did that a few nights."Professor of Pimpology"~~~Bolas Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
