[TheForge] ABANA conference program problems

[Ralph Sproul]

Pete, if it's anything like our meets and conferences - the demonstrator is
usually putting stuff into his truck the morning of the demo and trying to
figure out what he's doing for a demo on the way to the demo......  :-)  

Having volunteer to do it twice and in putting over 600 hours into the
planning of the Kentucky conference with Dave Koenig I can say two things
that should be mandatory to improve the current hap hazard method of
scheduling equipment, tools, gear, demos, promotion, and signage at a
conference (which appears to be everyone's view of what could be improved
mostly)
.  
1) A conference should never be put on without the support of good local
help/chapters/affiliates.

2) Getting a list of tools, materials, and what a demonstrator plans to
demonstrate should accompany the signed contract for the demonstrator when
he is signed on for a demo. (this is common sense but seems to get ignored)

You don't need a book, nor an operations and procedures manual - just add
those two items in your mandatory planning criteria and you'll take half the
work out of the task at hand.

I was receiving requests for tools and materials (from demonstrators) the
day before demos in Kentucky (and being the 4th of July weekend - let's just
say one must improvise...:-)     .............and politely tell them they
are dreaming in Technicolor.  We had wisely ordered large round stocks and
wide flats ....just so we could torch or forge things to size to meet those
late requests, but we had seen it coming due to the amount of planning we
tried to do - but some things just don't go as smoothly as you'd hope with a
slew of volunteers and a list of demonstrators who really don't know what
they're doing until the last minute (from what I've experienced).  2/3 of
the demonstrators had turned in tool request and stock needed three months
ahead of the conference...........those folks were a pleasure to deal with
and had no complaints in the tools provided and stock they had to use.
Those who refused to answer e-mails, didn't know what they were doing,
didn't have a plan, and left things to the last minute seemed to be the most
scattered and complain the most............. (big surprise ehh).  

This just follows the golden rule:  "Improper Prior Maintenance, Leeds to
Piss Poor Performance" 

Oh, and I have already signed on to help do the set up and take down in NY.

 Ralph

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Peter Fels And Phoebe
Palmer
Sent: Friday, July 14, 2006 4:10 AM
To: Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: Re: [TheForge] ABANA conference program problems

Judging from our CBA conferences, the demonstrators and available 
  facilities keep changing till the last second..the presentation 
is a juggling act.
All the players are either volunteers or minimally compensated.
Printing accurate schedules is difficult..but posting the info in 
conspicuous locations would help.
No, I don't volunteer to do it next time....PF

Bruce Freeman wrote:
> I realize these conferences are organized largely by the local section,
> but REALLY it's about time these organizational problems were fixed.  It
> really should be up to ABANA to evaluate and log these problems, and to
> come up with better ways of doing things.
> 
>  I attended the 1998 conference, and missed SO MUCH because the
> available information was so poorly presented that I found it difficult
> to get to the demos most interesting to me.  
> 
> Since then I've attended as many of the local conferences and demos as
> I've been able to, and find they provide much more bang for the buck
> (counting ALL the bucks - travel, lodging, conference fees, food).
> 
>  I have not been tempted to go to another ABANA conference.  I'll go to
> the New Paltz one (2008?) because it's so close by, but maybe my
> contribution (time permitting) will be to present the program in a
> manner to allow people to actually attend the demos they most want to
> see, instead of spending megahours figuring out what will be where, then
> finding the schedule was changed anyway.
> 
> Bruce
> NJ
> 
> 
>>>>mpaietta at iglide.net 7/13/2006 1:20:31 AM >>>
> 
> <snip>
> I really enjoyed the classes, but it was not organized well. They had
> four different lists that seamed hidden on the website. The demo list
> with
> times, locations, and demonstrator did not say what they were
> demonstrating,
> that was on another list. The list changed and was not updated very
> well. My
> friend wanted to go on the UW metal lab tour the people who were
> volunteering their time were not informed of the different tours. There
> had
> been an issue long before with the local chapter and the person in
> charge of
> the conference.  <snip>
> 
> Regards
> Martin
> 
> 
> 
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