Thank you Jenn for speaking out on this subject in my absence.
jeepcj7304,
Jennifer nailed it correctly. Yes, the start of the raffle is advertised to start at 4:00 PM on Sunday afternoon.
It is also printed in our Event Program that "times are approximate".
Sometimes things run behind schedule and sometimes they run ahead of schedule.
I'm sorry that your return placed you in this situation. But I assure you that you did not miss out on winning anything within the raffle because our first "re-called" number did not take place until approx. 4:20 PM and you were present at that time.
This year was only the second time in 17 years that we were not enduring 98 degree humid conditions. We've grown accustomed to proceeding into the raffle following the Awards Ceremony because usually everyone is really exhausted from having endured two days of oppressive heat. Our staff has endured four days of those conditions and we are eager to start the three hours of tear down, and packing up our event supplies.
I'm sorry you are disgruntled over this situation and hope you can understand why it happened. As the events "Chairman" I listen and act on everything, both positive and negative our participants and vendors have to say. We have made hundreds of improvements that have pleased everyone over the past fifteen years and will continue to do so going forward.
However, to complain about the event ending raffle starting 15 minutes early because (our event staff is operating more efficient) while hundreds of people are anxious for it to start comes across to me as being selfish.
Perhaps next year I should bring all 500+ Jeep registration forms to the stage and take roll call before starting. Well, I assure you that is NOT going to happen!!!
My advise to you going forward is as follows: Rather than complain about the efficiency of an events staff on a public forum, you should consider bringing your complains face-to-face with the events organizers.
In leu of all of this I certainly hope you enjoyed the rest of your time prior to the raffle at our Annual Jeep Show.