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[65GT]

If you think this reads more like the circus has come to town, you just might be right.  CBS news in Bozeman is reporting that the WBCCI is arriving later this week.  They're also boasting that 1,000 Airstreams AND RVs will be in town for a MONTH.  You just know there's something wrong with that.  I realize there's a lot of work to do on arrival, but maybe if there are aspects to set-up that take more than 3-4 days, we ought to pass on those aspects?

I realize the WBCCI Post Office does a fair amount of business, and has it's own custom Airstream distribution center, but if there weren't 500 early workers on site for 30 days (pre and post International) would we even need a Post Office?

I'm not disrespecting anything all those folks are doing, but does any other RV group populate a site for an entire month?  Sounds CRAZY to me...

Electric and water are huge tasks to lay out for 1,000 rigs.  Beyond that task, what else should take more than 2-3 days?  How long does it take to set-up electric and water for 1,000 RVs?  There's got to be a better way...

http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=8414822&nav=menu227_3

[Simon]

Ha! Even Burning Man sets up power grid and infrastructure in less time than that for more people. We are in and out in about 2 weeks for 95% of the folks who go out there and the rest are setup and takedown people.
The attendance is 50,000 give or take last year.

[AZFlycaster]

I bet BM has a different meaning for "Teen Queen"

[Simon]

You'll have to go to find that one out yourself!

[65GT]

You've got some serious giant art sculptures being erected there.  I'm sure that requires 2-3 weeks in advance anyway.  How long is set-up and breakdown.  What's the average time on-site for set-up people?  I'm assuming they can't leave anything in the desert when they're done.

I'd love for somebody with some real WBCCI International knowledge to answer this one.  I'm only assuming it's water and electric that takes REAL time.  I've recently heard some stories that basically state, if you're retired, and want to hang out on-site for a month, somebody will find something for you to do, even if it's being a 'duct tape cutter.'  Wow...   

[WKerfoot]

Rather than hearsay, someone who will relate the real story needs to show up a month early and find out what happens.

Bill

[Simon]

Well, the "golden spike" get's pounded 3 weeks before the event opens. That spike is the center marker for everything and is where the man will stand. From there the city is surveyed by a team of folks and the streets marked. The perimeter fence is installed once the survey is done. That involves pounding thousands of 6 foot t-stakes around the city. Also thousands more are pounded for street signs and markers and street corners.
In Center camp they start erecting a huge tent structure that serves as a gathering place and where one can get coffee.
During this time the airport is surveyed and marked with an approved dye. Structures for the Dept. of public works and a whole bunch of other departmental units are set up.
About 2 weeks before the event opens radio station towers are erected, electric grid for Center camp is installed and street lamp posts are installed.
About a week before the event opens most of the infrastructure is done and the surveying and flagging for all of the registered themecamps is performed. Art projects are being installed and the Gate is built to manage the people who are starting to come in early.
By the time the gates open the city is ready for them. Then when they arrive they must build their own camps, etc... But the city infrastructure is done. When the gates open the city population is about 10% at best.
After the man burns on Saturday about 25% of the folks leave. Bu Sunday half the city is gone. By Monday you have about 25% left and on Tuesday (when I go) just a few thousand still taking down the camps.
By the end of the week it is just clean up folks removing the t-stakes and infrastructure, etc...
So to me (and this is just my opinion) I don't see why it takes so many people so long to set up for International. I really don't get it...

[Simon]

At international setting up water involves some plumbing that a contractor sets up, not the folks out there I am guessing. Same thing for the generators.

[65GT]

Rather than hearsay, someone who will relate the real story needs to show up a month early and find out what happens. -- Bill

Bill -- if you were volunteering, you need to show up tomorrow.  TTBOMK the 5th is the kick-off date.

[WKerfoot]

Some year when I don't have "fixed vacation" I will seriously consider that.

Bill

[RideAir]

You've got to get your moneys worth! If one looks at the cost "per-day" the average person is paying about $100.00 a day if you stay for 5-7 days and depending on the number and ages of the kids you may drag along. I'm sorry, I can go to the "BEST" RV parks and campgrounds for much less during "PRIME" season. With that said, International only becomes a deal if you stay for a month! Plus, by "needing" all of the people to setup and take down, you get a minimum number of 500. I've talk to people that went to Perry last year and helped with setup and take down, they could not believe how little they would work in a weeks time. Granted, "no-one" wants to go to a rally and work your butt off, but I think we could be smarter about the way it is done. Example: More and more, we are seeing these huge campgrounds. From what I understand, in Myrtle Beach, SC there are two campgrounds that have 1000+ sites. Why not tap into this resource. Full hookups, no need for parkers, water/elec/sewer guys, etc.. etc.. etc.. No need to send money to JC, call the campground/get your site. Thats what I did for the "East Coast VAC Rally" this year. I've put togther a rally for about 45+ rigs with not a bunch of work. So if I can do that working full-time and running a balloon biz on the side, just think what could be done by 25 people who are retired!

Oh well, it really does not matter to me "to" much. I don't see me going out to the next three anyway based on the time and distance away from the east coast it would take to get there and back.

You guys have fun, MT it's a very pretty place, been there a couple of times. Maybe when I have 3 weeks of vacation I'll go again.

Work smarter, not harder, unless you have nothing better to do with your time!


Paul Waddell
Region 2 VAC Guy

[65GT]

I'm flying out on the 28th and flying back on the 2nd.  I found out just before I booked the flight that Pee Wee is talking for 2 hours on the 1st -- wasn't going to miss that!

The flight was $660 or so, and because I'm staying in a dorm room (my wife is no longer coming, back issues, which now kills the need for a swanky hotel) my housing is ~$150 for the whole time I'm there ($26/night).  Add $100 for the rally fee, and that's Bozeman for under a grand.  Now, somebody thought I was a millionaire by flying in and out, and then somebody else thought I was basically cheating the system -- that it SHOULD cost me 3 weeks time plus $2K in gas to attend!  I'm working smart on this one, and if I weren't running for the Nominating Committee I may have very well passed on Bozeman on gas alone.

I'll be Unit President next year, *IF* I'm elected (as McKelvay ribs Pons) in August, so we'll find the time to drive out to WI for that one, but Wyoming in '10, well, that one might require a club critical issue to get me out there, and honestly, I'm getting sick and tired of club critical issues.

The only thing that scares me about Myrtle Beach is Perry -- HIGH humidity and GNATS.  Do they have gnats in Myrtle Beach?  What about Palmetto bugs.  Damn those suckers were BIG...

[DFDureiko]

I hear you on this. Though I'd like to see Wisconsin, I may have to fly to the next two Internationals, due to a change in careers, as well as the seemingly never ending rise in fuel.
(2011 is rumored to be VT, but that's just a rumor)
but this year was planned, paid for and I'm on my way, albeit with some difficulties (head gasket blew upon arrival at PennWood, good thing I left REAL early.
perhaps we have to revisit the idea of east/west Internationals? Designated Region Rallys as "Internationals"
if fuel goes crazy, like european prices. We may have to think WAY outside the box, focusing on the Regional level vs International level of our organization??
Comments?
Dan

[WKerfoot]

For all of you wondering about the early workers schedule, I just found this on the WBCCI site: http://www.wbcci.org/documents/2008%20Bozeman%20Early%20Workers%20Program.pdf

Bill

[Simon]

500 people to do THAT? Sheesh! It's amazing that Burning Man runs at all without that depth of coordination.