In article , Mike Coslo writes:

N2EY wrote:
In article , Mike Coslo
writes:

"do you plan FD for what will bring out the most people, or
what
will make the most points, or what will be the most realistic emergency
simulation. or what will get the most publicity?" Or any of a bunch of
other goals.

Sure. And will the local mall allow you to run ops all night?

Not around here!

I'm a firm believer in a balanced approach. Our FD site is in a
stunningly beautiful field with plenty of trees and a million dollar
view. There is a picnic area about 1500 feet away, and ball fields
tennis courts and soccer fields east and west. It's a huge site,
probably bigger than a square mile. We get a fair amount of onlookers
that were out for a walk with the family or boyfriend/girlfriend. We
could possibly get more exposure by running it downtown or in the City
high school parking lot, but no thanks.

Exactly.


Here's a scenario for ya:

Months in advance
.....

You'd probably love a Field Day like that, Ryan. Would be a great learning
experience for all. But I can guarantee you that more than half (probably
more
than 3/4) of the FD regulars in your club would walk away if the club tried
such a plan cold turkey.

That would be kind of fun. But you're right, too many people would hate
it.

Unless it were brought about very gradually.

Best way to control where the site is is to become an EC. The you can
do as YOUR philosophical desires dictate. Are you willing to do that?


And if you are, how will you deal with the inevitable disputes that will
arise?
Remember, these folks are all volunteers, bringing their own equipment with
them.

Yaknow, those disputes are part of the training too! The frayed nerves
are part of the training, even. I note a short frayed nerve session
about 10 minutes before FD or any other big event. Player a gets a
little irritated with player B. Knowing about that allows us to smooth
it over before it gets big.

Excellent point!

There are so many things about FD that are training us without us even
consciously thinking about them.

Even something as basic as exactly what to bring along to set up a complete
station. ("Coax? I thought *you* brought the coax!")


Well, no one
wanted to work even after they got ride of the ******* - me, so they
ended up hiring three people to do my job (keeping in mind, I did it for
nuttin'), subbed out the most lucrative part of the job, and now make
absolutely no money on a fund raiser that was bringing in a lot of money
every year. They are actually in money trouble now. Smart people weren't
they?


bwaahaahaa - great story, Mike.

Zey haz no money to buy zee toyz they dezire no more!

I'm not one to gloat, but this was such a case of poetic justice and
Karma that I have to, just a teeny tiny bit. But I have to balance that
with sympathy for their plight now. They were willingly stupid, and are
paying the price.

Reality doesn't care what they believe.

I did want to note that there were a few people in the club that *were*

willing helpers. They were my core supporters. And when I left, they
left too. So all that were left were the lazy ones. Evolution will
extrat it's price eventually.

When I was a small child, the local parish had bingo night, raffles and an
annual fair. People came - including non-Catholics! - and dropped some dollars
and had a good time.

Then a new monsignor showed up and put an end to all of it. Thought people
should just drop the money in the basket every week. Guess what - they didn't.

73 de Jim, N2EY