Kevin and everyone,
(Info on organizing and running convention below.) Posting the information about the convention is messed up, but that's due to the problematic situation. Those who had volunteered to host the convention were from Minnesota, if I recall correctly. In their check-out, they determined it would be too expensive what with commitments, reservations, high costs, etc. They let us know their thoughts and we, and especially a few great people (like you, Kevin), wanted to have the convention anyway. I'd heard it said the board of directors would make the decision on January 31. That's today. So, it makes sense it couldn't have been in the January Coupe Capers which is mostly written in December and usually posted well before the end of the month. I was part of the crew for the Iowa National Convention way back when. Here are some of the things we arranged. National conventions usually have these things: (don't let this scare you - more info below) * Rooms at a local university and continual shuttle busses. * A block of rooms reserved at a group rate. Call in for yours before a certain date to get the group rate. Any not taken by that date revert to the motel for general use at regular rates. * A banquet room, caterers, food, etc. for the big banquet. * Door prizes. Often they try to have a door prize for EVERYONE there. Lots of door prizes. * Work with the FBO/airport management * Have space at the airport, usually an empty or partially empty hangar for tables inside out of the rain. This is used for meals, resting out of the sun, seminars and general hangout out. * Lots of tiedown space. * Extra tiedown stakes and ropes for those who failed to bring theirs. (Some flyins with rocky ground can't be penetrated by some anchors. Some ground is so soft spiral stakes won't hold. Know the conditions. * Events for non-pilots. These are often tours to local non-aviation landmarks or shopping centers. * Events for pilots. Besides poker runs, bomb drops, and spot landing contests, there are seminars and special pilot-interest side-trips. (i.e. the aviation museum). * Transportation shuttles to motels * Transportation busses to both kinds of tours. * Ground crew for the airport to direct incoming planes to parking spaces. (And, someone to measure out and mark parking spaces.) * Cleanup to police up out messes to we can be good visitors to the airport. * Help with fueling is sometimes done by volunteers. * Registration and taking money. * T-shirts - creating and selling. Special convention sew-on patches, ditto. * Food at the airport. Often breakfast. Always lunch. Sometimes supper. Often arranged with a local organization that does this as fund-raising for their club. (I think the EOC has a book of advice for organizers. Most groups make a moderate profit for the EOC between registration and selling stuff. But, they also often pay for bus or van rental and more stuff.) As you see, there can be a lot of stuff. Here's what I think is essential: * Coordinate with the FBO/airport for permission to come. Decide where to park the planes and mark the rows. It'd be nice to have permission for some people to camp by their planes. * Volunteers guide planes to the parking spot. * Food of some sort at the airport or nearby. Could be packaged. Could be self-grilled hot dogs (heck, it could be COLD hot dogs). We could make our own pancakes. Cheese sandwiches. Send someone with a car to McDonalds. (Google Earth doesn't show anything that looks like a restaurant within walking distance unless there's food at that fancy swimming pool complex NW of the hangars. Does the security fence keep us from walking there?) * Transport to aircraft museum. * Restaurant with back room we can have Saturday dinner in. Buffet, pizza, other - does NOT have to be catered banquet. Wheels to get us there. [Note that door prizes are NOT required. (Huge number of door prizes often makes for an almost intolerably boring part of the banquet. Please, please, please avoid that. If door prizes are done at all, I'd prefer to see fewer than 10. That's MY humble opinion.)] * Transport to one or two local motels. People can make their own reservations. At least one motel is inexpensive enough we don't have to mess with group rates. * Optional but very nice to have: Someone who can host a mechanical seminar. I think that the actual requirements can be organized by a couple of people. Volunteers can be from among the attendees. What do you think, guys and gals? Can you organize a minimal requirements National Convention? Ed
