[GreenKeys] Hamvention 2017

[Robert Nickels]

Here's a contrarian view:   I think Xenia was  a great improvement over 
Hara, which has been a dump for decades.   Yes it rained, and my $16 
investment in a pair of rubber overshoes took care of that just fine.   
When you see an event on grass, you should be prepared for heavy dew if 
nothing else, and historically "it rains at the Hamvention".    The new 
spaces are 10 ft. wide to accommodate push-up awnings which eliminates 
the #1 complaint from flea-market sellers in  years past and the 
requirement of "sellers only" in the fleamarket and nearby convenience 
parking on the track were big improvements.    Of the 20 or so guys I 
know and have talked with since, all but one felt the same way I do, and 
are looking forward to next year.  Most of us drive 8 or more hours to 
get there and come prepared for all weather contingencies expected for a 
3 day outdoor event.

It's worth pointing out that the Hamvention is put on by volunteers, not 
a paid event management staff.  I know that this year's flea market 
duties ended up falling primarily by one man, who everyone agrees did a 
terrific job.   Anyone who's been part of a club with 50 members of 
which 20 show up for meetings an only 2 or 3 turn up when there's work 
to be done knows exactly how this goes.    There's evidence that the 
committee has already adapted and improved as they admitted early 
arrivals on Saturday after experiencing traffic congestion on Friday.    
What more can you ask?

The Greene County fairgrounds is clean, modern, and presents an image to 
be proud of.   The number and variety of food options far exceeded 
anything in the past, and I found it very helpful to have the vendors 
posted at the entrance to each building so you could find those you 
wanted to visit without having to navigate the jammed rabbit warren 
aisles of Hara.    Now that a baseline has been established, next year's 
fleamarket registration will go much smoother and other improvements 
will be forthcoming.    I'm sure that will include ways of dealing with 
muddy aisleways.

73, Bob W9RAN