[TheForge] ABANA is NOT dead...

Wed Feb 28 19:35:21 EST 2007

I doubt I would come if it was camping only; inconvenient motels start 
being dubious for me (and usually a fair bit more expensive than dorms). 
Being able to stay at the site (in a bed) is a major plus to me.

I certainly wouldn't turn down ice cream, either.

Steve

ries wrote:

> 
> It seems like everyone thinks the reason there was a problem with the  
> last ABANA conference was all because it was too pricey- but in  
> reality, there were several other problems, whole nests of politics,  
> and a quirky decisions.
> If the conference had another hundred attendees, it might have been a  
> whole different story- and in an organisation with over 4500 members,  
> if a hundred people have other plans, it can make quite a difference.
> 
> I dont think the big problem is just to chop a hundred bucks off the  
> ticket price.
> Especially if it means putting it on in a campground.
> 
> Dave says at Richmond, under 25 people out of more than 500 camped-  
> this leads me to believe that the college dorm model is not so  
> unpopular. Same with the cafeteria food- most people, at the last 8  or 
> 10 conferences, signed up for the cafeteria food- me, I kinda like  it. 
> I like the Pig-out factor, I like not having to do the dishes (I  do em 
> all  here at home, always have) I like not cooking- I do plenty  of that 
> at home too. I like ICE CREAM at every meal!!!
> 
> I dont think the solution is cheaper tents, or using porta potties,  or 
> renting shower trucks- really, if sensible decisions were made,  and it 
> was more centrallly located, and 50 grand could be saved, the  
> conference would be just fine- the problem isnt that it costs 400  grand 
> to put on a conference- the problem is when the 400 grand  conference 
> only makes 350k.
> 
> Every suggestion you guys have been making doesnt change the fact  that 
> for every abana conference, I have to fly in, usually rent a  car, stay 
> in the dorms, buy food, and so, on top of a couple three  hundred bucks 
> registration, it STILL will cost me maybe $800 to go to  some fairground 
> in Tulsa- and at that price, I want a bed, and sheets.
> 
> I may not be old, but I aint young either, and I think I am pretty  
> representative of the people I have seen at the last 6 conferences I  
> have been to.
> 
> ries
> 
> 
> 
> On Feb 26, 2007, at 4:17 PM, Jeffrey Polaski wrote:
> 
> Just to add to this thread,
> 
> I just wanted to throw this out as an option... Sometimes you can rent a
> whole camp ground. There are SCA events that do this, and their prices
> are pretty low, so I'd think it would be doable for a blacksmithing
> event. I think it might be hard to find a campground that has the
> shelter that a blacksmithing event would require (i.e. non-flammable,
> good ventilation, power, etc...). I don't know, but maybe a campground
> with an equestrian focus might work.
> 
> One other suggestion... You can rent a shower truck. There were few at
> an SCA war I went to about a year ago. It had hot water and six stalls,
> IIRC. I don't know where it was rented from, but I think I get in touch
> with the organizers and find out. I think it was run off a RV hook-up.
> Any way, lack of facilities shouldn't automatically rule out a fair/camp
> ground.
> 
> Honestly, I think a fairground would be best, but not the only option.
> The really good thing about a fairground is that, if there is food
> there, you don't have to leave the area for the duration of the
> conference.
> 
> 
> Jeff Polaski
> Webmaster
> Office of Research
> Office of Graduate Studies
> University of California, Irvine
> http://www.rgs.uci.edu/
> 949.824.6363
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jerry Frost
> Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 11:34 AM
> To: Sponsored by ABANA
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] ABANA is NOT dead...
> 
> This is what got me thinking fair grounds, they'll rent
> all or part, have insurance for almost anything shy of
> suicidal and many have their own fire marshal so
> approvals can be. . . Had. There's already more than
> enough electric service for anything a blacksmith's
> conference is likely to need. Propane is on site too.
> In short, there's all the infrastructure necessary and
> people who have experience using it, coping with the
> logistics, and1,001 other details involved. All they
> need is the specifications.
> 
> Accomodations and food are close. There're about 150
> rooms within a 10 minute drive, another 250 or so
> within a 30 min. drive and 2,500-3,000 more within a
> 45-60 min. drive. There're two good cafe's a 4 min walk
> from the fair grounds main gate, a dozen more within a
> 10 min. drive, another 30-40 within 30 mins. and
> another 150+ within 45-60 mins. You can tent on the
> fair grounds if you want, hit a state campground,
> Alaskan lodges, bed and breakfasts, or opt for four
> star accomodations in Anchorage.
> 
> In the case of the Palmer, State Fair grounds, (it's
> the size of a small county fair grounds) they'll
> entertain almost any proposal, especially if there's
> nothing already booked for the date. It's in a
> suburbanizing farm community 45 miles north of
> Anchorage and about 25 miles east of me.
> 
> Ours is a small operation and they host all kinds and
> sizes of events from Girl Scout campouts, Boy Scout
> Jamborees, dog shows, RV sales EVENTS, swap meets,
> single family reunions to grid locking state fair
> action. They'll rent you a picnic table and BBQ for a
> couple bucks. Pizza Hut opens it's doors if they think
> 100 people will show up.
> 
> The convention center or sports arena in Anchorage are
> for hire as well though not as well suited to a
> blacksmith's conference.
> 
>  I'm not proposing Alaska for an ABANA conference. Any
> time soon anyway. <grin> I'm using our fair grounds as
> an example is all. I've always been impressed with the
> wide range of activities fair grounds handle.
> 
> Frosty
> -------------------------------
> If it ain't forged
> it ain't real.
> Wrought iron is.
> The FrostWorks
> 
> Meadow Lakes, AK.
> 
> http://www.artmetalradio.com/
> 
> From: "Dave Mudge" <dave at magichammer.net>
> 
> 
>> Bob, we need a facility for 1,000 if were lucky. We
>> can not afford a
>> 60,000 people facility.
>> Bruce, you hit the nail on the head. 99 percent of
>> the attendees want
>> a motel or dorm room and easy food. I could see the
>> "right" fairground
>> if local zoning lets us do our fire thing and if eats
>> and sheets are
>> near-by.
>> dave m
>>
>> On 2/23/07, Bob Willman <blcksmth at wcnet.org> wrote:
>>
>>>         The Wood County fairgrounds in Bowling
>>> Green, Ohio host the National
>>> Tractor Pull each year with over 60,000 folks
>>> attending. Camping on the
>>> grounds measured in acres. Plenty of open buildings
>>> for demonstrators. Food
>>> vendors move in for the weekend with a variety of
>>> fares available.
>>>
>>>
>>> Bob Willman
>>> Bowling Green, Ohio
>>> The Eagle's Anvil
>>> WB8NQW
>>>
> 
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