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Reflections of an Organizer AD

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Jason Cherry View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jason Cherry Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Reflections of an Organizer AD
    Posted: 7/21/11 at 11:44am
Two years ago I got my feet wet in the Highland games. I
have met some very nice people and had a blast in all
phases of the game.

I decided in my second season to host a game in my home
town. My pitch to the various agencies here were met
with weird looks and such. After squeezing blood from
turnips the games took place with 12 athletes all in the
Open Class, one bag piper, and a volunteer food vendor.
Despite lousy weather (cold and rainy) we made out to the
good after T-Shirt sales were done.

With some money in the kitty thoughts turned to this
season. Realizing I had to look at more from a PR stand-
point as opposed to a thrower's view I set out to make it
more of a festival. Added to this year was a piper (they
are expensive), volunteer dancers (who had to cancel
today as they qualified for nationals - good for them!),
a professional food vendor (as opposed to a volunteer
center looking to us a fund raiser), black smith
(complete with demonstrations), a kilt seller from Alma,
hand made jewelry, UK Market (seller of fine Scottish
goods), Celtic fiddlers, and more athletic classes:
Masters, Open A's, Light Weight, and Ladies.

While this Saturday is our second games and we look to
have better weather (mid 80's with only a 25% chance of
scattered showers) which makes for a better turn out. My
thoughts turn to next year and the road this will take.

Looking at my points of purpose:
1) Enjoy a game nearby
2) Celebrate Scottish heritage

With this in mind it is more one than two. So do I go
the route of opening it up from twenty athletes to
forty+? Charge a modest fee (25-30 dollars) and make it
the most thrower friendly environment I can? T-shirts,
awards that are useful (high quality sporran, etc),
provide drink and food, massage stations (local classes
with folks needing hours!), tents and such. Or do I try
to make this more and more a festival? Continuing to
struggle with sponsors and the struggle for cash.

By breaking down and charging to play it displaces the
need to find a source of money for insurance, shirts, and
the above ideas. Sell a few shirts and maybe get some
seed money for the following year.

Thoughts?
"Example is the best precept." ~ Aesop
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Danny Bradley View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Danny Bradley Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 7/21/11 at 3:04pm
Hey! Add to your "Points of Purpose" -point 1a. Celebrate IRISH heritage!  See ya Saturday!!!
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