XMAS Ride & Dinner - Maleeya's Cafe, Porongurups 28-Nov-2015

[spacey1]

XMAS Ride to the Porongurups, Western Australia.

When: 28-Nov-2015

Get this one in your diary right now...

Seats to fill: 40

Dinner at Maleeya's Thai Cafe

Location: Maleeya's Thai Cafe

1416 Porongorup Rd,
Mount Barker, Western Australia
6324, Australia

Website: http://maleeya.com.au/

Overnight details to follow: Camping / chalets / caravan park.

About this event back in 2013: http://forum.bmwmccwa.asn.au/viewtopic. ... it=Maleeya

[old betsy]

I didn't realise a decision at be made as to the location of the Xmas dinner.

[BillB]

I didn't realise a decision at be made as to the location of the Xmas dinner.

Great venue, amazing food ,wine and the ride down that BEEMERS are designed for.....
Everyone raved about the 2013 Xmas party we had down there previously.
Trying to organise Xmas parties for a large group at this time of the year can be very expensive with large deposits required, expensive meals, DUI limiting alcohol consumption for city venues and many other negative factors.
Your committee has made a good decision for the Xmas venue

[Fastrhino]

Count me and Prudence in.

My bike will be in Melbourne so I will have to come down in the Cage.

At least i can use my Oztent

[Paddy7]

If someone can take responsibility to prevent Jamie from throwing wine around I'm in

Maybe +1.

ps. Bill are you organising the Vineyard visit again?

Cheers

[old betsy]

Seats to fill: 40

Dinner at Maleeya's Thai Cafe

http://forum.bmwmccwa.asn.au/viewtopic. ... it=Maleeya

As I've said for many years,
Why are we always travelling away from Perth for this function? People say its for the country members. I myself, haven't seen too many country members at these functions.
Why are seats limited, didn't realise we only had 40 members? If its because you wont get 40 members to the function maybe it should be held in town.If its because that's all they can seat maybe we need a bigger venue for all members to be able to attend
A lot of people cant afford a trip away at this time of year, also time available to members at this time of year is limited.

Ahab

[BillB]

Bill And Doris are starters.
Jono will you be putting a registration up for people to put their names down on the private members only forum site so we know numbers going........

I rang my mate Duke at Dukes winery and he will put on a tasting like he did last time. He wants us there at 5pm which gives us an hour and a half of tasting. His winery is within walking distance from Maleeyas . Members who attended last time will recall the great high quality wines he produces and he will organise sending purchases you make to your home.
He said a few guys could put up tents out the back like last time but you have to ring him to let him know as he doesn't want too many taking up the offer. 0898531107

[jono]

As I've said for many years,
Why are we always travelling away from Perth for this function? People say its for the country members. I myself, haven't seen too many country members at these functions.
Why are seats limited, didn't realise we only had 40 members? If its because you wont get 40 members to the function maybe it should be held in town.If its because that's all they can seat maybe we need a bigger venue for all members to be able to attend
A lot of people cant afford a trip away at this time of year, also time available to members at this time of year is limited.

Ahab

Ahab I realize that the country events don't suit everyone and of course I am sorry about that. But take into account that we do hold the Socials, GM's and the Sunday Morning Breakfasts meets in the City. There is a sound rational for having the Christmas event in the country which I will endeavor to explain.

The reasons we have chosen to hold it in the country the last few years are:
1) Price
The prices for bulk booking and holding a Christmas function in Perth have become prohibitive, last year after making numerous inquiries I found that venues wanted a booking fee non refundable and not offset by the dinner of between $500 and $900 for a group of between 30-90. The cost of a set menu meal was coming in between 75 and 90 per head depending on options and venue. Bookings were required several weeks in advance and the venue fee payable at the time. In discussion with numerous members at club meetings we have tended to find that members don't want to may much more than 50 per head or it starts to exclude them as starters.

2) Accommodation
Most (not all) members want to relax and enjoy a drink at the dinner. That means either having a skipper, organizing a cab or booking accommodation. At this time of the year in Perth forget accommodation under $200, Not too many partners want to skipper, and a cab is probably going to be $50 plus a substantial wait as its busy season. In the country we can usually secure accommodation options and camping with accommodation up to $60 per person and camping from as little as 0-15 a night. This is much more affordable for members.

3) Its a Bike Club
By this I mean we enjoy having an excuse to go for a good ride in the country, this way we get the ride a great dinner and overnight options to make it relaxing.

4) Supporting the country folk
Its good to support these little towns and the communities who are often doing it pretty tough. I have found we get far better service and reception in these places than we get in the city where frankly we are just another number through the door. The welcome we get at these country venues is fantastic and we just don't get the same treatment in town.

5) Country members
When we head out of town we do get country members joining us, past years have seen members join us from Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie if we head East. Geraldton and Dongara if we go North and Albany, Esperance and the Porongurups when we head South. These are members we usually dont get to see during the year

However if there is sufficient interest in an additional City based event I am sure we could support both. In which case I would also encourage some volunteers to step forward and help with the organizing. If we run it to a similar budget as the Christmas do that probably means we either have take advantage of some of the public spaces and hold a BBQ style event or perhaps if a member wants to volunteer their address we can organize something there. If you are genuinely keen to see this get up then please contact the committee and we can discuss options.

Cheers
JonO

[KoosWA]

There is a sound rational for having the Christmas event in the country which I will endeavor to explain.

The reasons we have chosen to hold it in the country the last few years are:
1) Price
2) Accommodation
3) Its a Bike Club
4) Supporting the country folk
5) Country members

Cheers
JonO

Now where's that LIKE button?

[jono]

Thanks Koos.
I forgot to add to my reply above that in the 8 years I have been a member of the club the largest attendance at a dinner was 55 (Ive had a committee every year since joining so I know the numbers). Most years we just scrape the 40 mark. That's irrespective of location. It usually comes down to other commitments be they work, family, travel.....etc
Also most venues begin to struggle with numbers over 40 as is very difficult to manage catering of a hot meal to be served for many more than 40 people at the same time. Hence requiring facilities for more than 40 people really limits the venue choices available especially around Christmas.

[Colin Della]

Will be there x 2, have booked a room between Dukes and Maleeya's. Is registration open? Is Maleeya's BYO ?

[jls]

Count me in (one only)
I'll be on my best behaviour (promise).

[goodguy]

Away from town works best for me...I'm in
Airheadcool

[BillB]

Thanks Koos.
I forgot to add to my reply above that in the 8 years I have been a member of the club the largest attendance at a dinner was 55 (Ive had a committee every year since joining so I know the numbers). Most years we just scrape the 40 mark. That's irrespective of location. It usually comes down to other commitments be they work, family, travel.....etc
Also most venues begin to struggle with numbers over 40 as is very difficult to manage catering of a hot meal to be served for many more than 40 people at the same time. Hence requiring facilities for more than 40 people really limits the venue choices available especially around Christmas.

I had also suggested a venue in Lancelin to consider at the beachside cafe to the committee as a suggestion. I rang the cafe and they felt they couldn't cope with a group of 40 but suggested trying the Lancelin Angling clubhouse for a booking This on investigation was quite expensive to book and have a Christmas party there. It seems large groups can be very expensive to organise generally for a Christmas party in both the city and it seems some country towns also that is if you can get a booking. So to get a venue that we have secured at the Porongerups we have done very well. Especially considering the reputation of the restaurant , the choice of accomodation nearby and the ride down. Hopefully we can organise a people mover to run those that will be drinking around after the dinner like last time.
So statistically as we only seem to get about 40 attending our organised functions at any one time for the many reasons that Jono has indicated and also some members just aren't into socialising and are club members for other reasons. We must take all this into account when planning the logistics, the reasonable enjoyment factors expected to make the function pleasant and cost effective outcomes so members feel they are getting value for their hard earned for these various club functions. Not easy to do, but we do try even thou only on average 25% usually partake.
The Club Xmas party is probably our most important function of the year as it does take in people's busiest social commitment time where trying to fit in all social commitments starts getting complicated. So we have to make it a function that members decide is a function they want to attend as a priority. I don't think just a BBQ would entice many takers.
Anyway Mike it would be great to see you and O joining us at this one and also all others that have the time and inclination to join club members for this great social occasion where club members can form closer bonds with other club members which is important to the strength of the club.

[Cookie]

Count me in, it is a good excuse for another ride (2 weeks after Tractor Pull), Two definate places for dinner, plus two optional extras for the trip and camp over .