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I just wanted to take the time to give everyone on the forums some updates on how the 2005 Rotary Revolution is coming together. Keynote22 and I are always overwhelmed by the support the rotary community produces every year for the event, and we feel it is good to keep everyone informed on the progress as the event nears (quickly).

Rumors:
I know of only two rumors circulating out there that I want to address, if you have others please feel free to ask them here and I will try and address them prior to the event.

The new Mazda/BK Motorsports ALMS 3-Rotor Racecar:
We have been in constant contact with those in charge of this project and have obviously invited Mazda to bring this car out to display at the event. At this time we are making plans for it to be part of the Mazda display, but have not been given the complete "thumbs up" that it will be there. Since it has been so recently announced and they are working 24 hour days getting it ready for Atlanta which is the weekend before the Revolution there are too many variables for them to tell us 100% certain it will be at the event, but I know they are trying to get it there.

God
While Keynote22 and I currently feel we are on good speaking terms with God at this point He has not given us any guarantee on the weather so we have taken extraordinary steps to ensure there are alternative activities for all the attendees in the case of inclement weather. Some of these steps are two separate days of drag racing, a second fully-timed autocross track, tents for each sponsor, a record number of rotary seminars, and four 30' x 40' tents with various activities located in the middle of the sponsor exhibit area.

Prayer vigils on the weather are encouraged and I have already put Keynote22 into a specific rain-dance class should that become necessary.

Updates
The 2005 event is going to eclipse the other two events in every fashion. You can rest assured that we have spent countless hours as we tore down every comment we received from the past two events and rebuilt the Rotary Revolution from the ground up. We believe the rotary community is the best in the world and deserves the best event that can be held.

Advisory Board
In November we invited members of the rotary community to participate in our monthly Advisory Board meetings online to discuss aspects of the event and how they could be improved. Members of the board were selected based on their insight and commitment to the community and consisted of Mazda employees, forum owners, club presidents, and past attendees. Each month we submitted a new topic to the board members and met online to discuss changes that have been implemented to the event. Some of the topics include alternative weather related activities, obtaining top-tier sponsors, event organization, and marketing to a broader rotary community. The Advisory Board input has been extremely valuable and we thank each and every member who participated.

Event Organization
The entire event was torn apart and evaluated by strengths and weaknesses. Many improvements will be evident upon your arrival at the hotel and track, but many more will go unnoticed as the event runs smoothly from start to finish. This re-organization includes pre-registration, attendee packets (that are in the mail), rotary parking, club organization, hotel caravans, and structured staging lanes for drag and autocross racing just to name a few.

Track Workers
Seeing as how the track does this on a weekly basis we have hired many new track personnel to help with on-site registration, parking, drag racing tech, drag racing timing, etc...

Autocross Workers
CJ Stringer has run our autocross track for the past two years in brilliant fashion and we've given him expanded duties for setting up two of the best autocross tracks for our attendees to enjoy. CJ has already been out to the track with us numerous times this year working over the layouts so that each track will be an entirely different experience to challenge all aspects of your driving skills. He is also responsible for the workers at each track and the professional attitude they employ throughout the weekend.

Spokesmodel Workers
Yep, they are easy on the eyes, but they aren't there just for show. These women represent our event and will be working at getting everyone parked, settled, notifying attendees of sponsor specials, and other functions. Plus they make the Sponsor Exhibit area much more beautiful.

Sponsor Exhibit Area
Possibly our largest noticeable change will be in the Sponsor Exhibit Area. Put in a permanent location for the entire weekend directly behind the main grandstands; this area will be setup in a larger and more fun atmosphere including music, rotary related videos, seminars, and all the goodies each sponsor has to enhance your rotary rocket.

Information Desk
We will now have a permanent information desk setup at the hotel during non-track hours and near the seminar tent during on-track hours. This area will be staffed by Rotary Revolution employees to help you with questions or comments on the event. During off-peak and non-track hours there will be schedules and other information available if the table is not staffed (we do have to sleep at times during the weekend).

On-Site Registration and Parking
On-Site registration will be held at the hotel on Friday, and at the entrance to the track on Saturday/Sunday. Those who pre-registered will receive special parking passes in the mail to get them through on-track registration quickly and efficiently. Those that register after 3/15/2005 or at the hotel will receive their information when they arrive at the hotel. This will make for a smoother experience when everyone arrives for the on-track festivities.

Rotary Challenge
Yes, it's a challenge. And we hope all of you straight-line racers are taking this seriously because so are the local piston cars in the greater Indianapolis area. The track has already begun marketing the event to the locals, and we hear some of them have a chip on their shoulders thinking about 200+ rotary vehicles taking over their town for the weekend.

Rotary Review
Our first ever car show is shaping up nicely. Registrants who have chosen to participate have begun submitting us photos and write-ups on their vehicles that we plan on submitting to the official website soon.

We have heard from many of you concerning your excitement levels for the 2005 event. Well rest assured we are both bouncing off the walls wishing it would begin tomorrow, but until then we have plenty more news coming out so it's good we still have a little time to finalize preparations for all of you to have the greatest weekend of your rotary life.

See you in April!

-Michael S. Ewles