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Subject: 
Re: Introducing and Planning .datFest
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.cad.datfest
Date: 
Tue, 18 Jan 2000 15:25:23 GMT
Viewed: 
3483 times
  
In lugnet.cad.datfest "Eric Kingsley" <kingsley@nelug.org> wrote:
> > There will also be areas for groups to set up booths with information
> > about their organization - such as LUGNET, LUG groups, corporations,
> > and schools/universities.  This can be used to introduce attendees to
> > various aspects of the [online] Lego community, as well as the
> > corporations and universities involved.
> 
> This sounds ambitious but you can count on NELUG for some support I am sure.
> We love doing events and we would have to talk as a group about how we can help
> but I am sure you can count on us for some help.  I will make it a point to
> bring this up at our next meeting.

Great!

> I know I could bring one of my B-Wings (Which won the first LDraw Model of the
> Month back in November).

Cool!  If there is some mention of MOTM stuff there, your model will
be sure to be showcased :)

> > Todd also suggested inviting Brad Justus with LEGO Direct to attend
> > the event and talk with us about the company, etc.  Brad, along with
> > LEGO Direct, are located in New York, so proximity to the event is A
> > Good Thing in greatening our chances here.
> 
> This would be very cool although I think we need to have this well organized
> before any official invitations go out.  (I realize there is a chance Brad will
> see this and that is fine)  We just don't want to be premature about any
> invitations because we don't want things falling through after an invitation
> like this.  We need our first official contact with LEGO to be a positive one.

I agree 100%.  I'm also going to wait to invite the Jessimans until a
few more things are concrete (funding, facility, date..etc)

> > This event could take up a Friday evening and Saturday daytime, a
> > Saturday daytime and Sunday morning, or just all day on a Saturday.
> > Depending on what materials are developed and the estimated timeframe
> > needed, the event could last a whole weekend.
> 
> Boy two Saturday daytime's.  I don't know how we work that but it would be
> interesting :-).  I assume you meant the second to read Saturday evening.  If
> so I think that would be a good time for more casual interaction.  Maybe some
> soda and snacks and people could look at the booths etc.

Not two Saturdays in a row...but at the most a Friday evening,
Saturday all day, and Sunday morning through afternoon.  Though for
the organizers who need to be busy then, that's gonna be one heck of a
tiring weekend...  We'll see what kind of attendance estimates we get
and then decide on that.  Also, we could divide curricula into
different days, Friday could be a VIP package Legofest, etc...

> > In order to pull something like this off, there needs to be tremendous
> > planning and organization in many aspects of the event.  I myself do
> > not have near the amount of time or managerial skills required to
> > organize such an event.  I would like to get the ball rolling on this,
> > but would appreciate it tremendously if a few of you could step up in
> > certain areas where you are knowledgeable and work together to make
> > this happen.
> 
> I will bring this up again latter but I don't want it to get lost in the
> shuffle.  One thing you need to keep in mind is Insurance.  Unless we can get
> The Media Lab or some other company to sponsor this we will more than likely
> have to be insured before renting any hall for a public event.  This is
> something that needs to be a top priority if we have to get a hall on our own
> because it means we will have to be official in some way and have insurance.
> (Which also means everything is taxable and would probably have to file a tax
> return next year as part of this offical group).

Good thought I honestly did not think of.  In some ways I understand
how this is needed, but don't fully understand.  What would we have
someone could possibly get hurt and die on? ;)  I know nowadays just
about anything is subject to a long bitter lawsuit, but could you
offer some ideas so I can get a better picture of this?

> I realize this sounds like a ton of work and it is but it has to be considered
> and we don't want to go through all this planning and then have an oversite
> like that ruin everything.

Yes.

[Facility:]

> > 1. Corporate Offices - A corporation with large auditorium or floor
> > space for a convention which would be willing to sponsor us.
> 
> This would be good and seeing the corporation would have to be insured it is
> one less hassle for us.  Plus its probably free or of little cost.

> > 2. Hotel - Many hotels have banquet rooms and meeting rooms, this is a
> > possiblity.
> 
> Good idea but 1. Expensive and 2. Probably need insurance.

Yeah, this should lean towards a last resort.  We should try to
integrate sponsorship and a facility as much as we can to minimize
costs.

> > 3. Convention Center - A convention center in the Boston area.
> 
> Again good idea but see #2 above.

> > 4. MIT Media Lab - Again, this would be possible if they chose to
> > sponsor or help out with the event.
> 
> Great idea and maybe our best hope.  They are probably insured and would
> probably pick up some of the costs although I am sure they would probably want
> some of the proceeds.

I emailed Fred Martin at the lab last night asking he review my
original post and consider helping us out.

> I will add one more...
> 
> 5. College of University sponsor - If MIT does not work out how about another
> college or university sponsoring the event?  Boston is College Town USA and my
> guess is that if we looked hard enough we could get some college or university
> to sponsor the event.  Again this might help with Cost and the need for
> Insurance.

Another good idea.

> You can also count on some space on the NELUG web page.

Cool :)

> > Some acceptable weekends are:
> > 
> > June 9-11
> > June 16-18
> > June 23-25
> > June 30-July 2 (attendance may be down here, 4th of July weekend)
> 
> I would not assume that it may actually help raise the attendance because then
> folks with family could incorporate a trip to Boston with the event.  Boston is
> where the American Revolution started and it is a great place for history.  So
> what better time than around the 4th of July.

That's a good thought too.  Once we get a better feel for facility
availability, we should decide on our date from there.  So the
Facility should be a top-priority item along with sponsorship.

Another thought - with a sponsor we'd probably have to sign a
contract, right?  1) Who would sign, and 2) I probably can't sign
until late Feb when I turn 18. :)

> > Accounting/Fundraising
> > Facilities (includes booths to be set up at event)
> > Technology
> > Advertising
> > Workshops/Panels/Seminars
> > Literature
> 
> I again I will say you need to add insurance to this list at least as a
> possible need.

Ok.

> Now all this being said I am not sure how much time I can devote.  My job
> requires me to travel quite a bit and I have a lot going on right now outside
> of work.  If I can I will help out but I don't really have any experiance in
> any of the above areas.  I guess I can learn though.

Ok, well when you do have available time, I'd appreciate any help you
can give.

Thanks!

-Tim

http://www.zacktron.com
http://www.ldraw.org
AIM:   timcourtne
ICQ:   23951114



Message has 1 Reply:
  Re: Introducing and Planning .datFest
 
In lugnet.cad.datfest, Tim Courtney writes: <snip> (...) cal group). (...) I did not post this thinking that we needed the insurance because we would have something were someone could get hurt. The reason I posted this was because most (if not all) (...) (27 years ago, 18-Jan-00, to lugnet.cad.datfest)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: Introducing and Planning .datFest
 
Wow! this is one huge post! :-). Anyway I have a few comments and will try snipping out the areas that I don't have a comment on right now. (...) This sounds ambitious but you can count on NELUG for some support I am sure. We love doing events and (...) (27 years ago, 18-Jan-00, to lugnet.cad.datfest)

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