Evaluation
After discussing the merits and demerits of August and June scheduling we picked the June date. It conflicts less with other events, and we hope the bugs are less active.
Re: lunches& dinners
Sandwiches didn’t work for Akosua
Soups were good.
Smorgasbord is good
Several people did not want a hot meal at noon.
Lots wanted fruit available on the table (meals and snacks.)
Concern over cold cuts unchilled? Use the sterno food keeper without the sterno. Put ice in the bottom pan and the meat tray on top of it with cover.
Have a food manager: List where things are in the coolers and post on black board mounted on barn. Keep coolers inside the barn basement and labled.
Food Teams need to support their captains better. Captains didn’t know who was on the crew. Assign them when they register (not on sight) and give a list to the captains. If someone cannot do their work shift, they must find their own substitute. Have a kiosk with that kind of info on it near the kitchen. (workshop info too). Give the food captains a budget and let them buy their food. Must have receipts to be re-imbursed. Raven volunteered to do bulk shopping.
Insect control: mesh picnic tents over the food. Box fans blowing across the ground keeps flys away. Feels good too. Fly tapes are ugly but they work.
Clean up: hooray for the sinks. Much appreciatd. Use real dish detergent since the rinse water is hot and clean. Dr. Browners is a pain. People need to put their dishes away, not leave them on the drain board. Decided we would ask everyone to bring their own plates and silverware glass and cup, clean it at the sinks but keep track of it in their own tent.
Menu:
Bekki and Crow volunteered to do an organic meal: Persian Lamb, rice fruit, nuts. Raven will do the salad for that meal. (check who provides the ingredients, my notes are not clear.)
The African dinner was a success; please repeat.
Ditchwitch volunteered to do a venison meal. (Remember the vegetarians)
Ginny volunteered to be in charge of soups next year.
Merlin & Webweaver would like to be excused from food prep if there are enough people, given the fact they are working on the campout all weekend.
Keep the vendors together in one area. We did not need to charge a vendors fee, and it encouraged Joanna to come. She was really pleased with the response.
Registration: back registration cut off date up another couple of weeks. On site registration needs a walkie-talkie from sign-in to food manager and grounds people. An info kiosk at registration and near the food tent should include posting for work shops, food info, updates and notes between campers. People need to know they get important stuff when the register on site, and need to do so.
Scholarships are good, but should be tied to work/study, maybe in preparation for the event.
Grounds: awesome portapotties and hot water sinks in the kitchen! Good thing we had sides on the tent in the rain. Be sure that is part of the deal when we rent next year. Having them put the tents up is a good idea. Star lights on the barn were a nice way to keep the kitchen lit. Bruce builds pole barns real quick. We need other sheltered shady areas besides the 2 big tents. A workshop site up under the maple trees in front of the house is a good idea.
Bonfires were wonderful. Having a firekeeper makes a lot of sense.
Drum circles worked better and people danced. Performers, singers, story tellers prepped in advance with time for spontaneous performances, and someone in charge of the flow. Get people to make costumes and prepare for this.
Workshops were good. We need a special area for massage workshops that is cool and private. Leja favors the house. Merlin favors keeping people outside—especially as we get larger. We had 24 people the first year, and around 35 the second year. We can handle more.
Festival Committee for 2003: Mary, Raven, George & Phyllis (Valerie?)
