Chatter about Oshkosh seems to be picking up, so I want to alert folks to the status update on the Oshkosh BBQ on Wednesday. This year, we're asking folks to register in advance, to prevent the long lines (and constant runs to the Super WalMart for more provisions).
Kindly check here.
Oshkosh BBQ
-
RVNewsletter
- Class D
- Posts: 259
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:57 am
- Location: St. Paul, MN.
- Contact:
-
RV7Factory
- Beanpolt
- Posts: 522
- Joined: Fri May 20, 2005 2:28 pm
- Location: Livermore, CA
-
RVNewsletter
- Class D
- Posts: 259
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:57 am
- Location: St. Paul, MN.
- Contact:
As of this morning -- Thursday -- we have 221 people who have registered for the RV BBQ at Oshkosh. This is almost the same number we had registered last year by July, and almost 400 showed up.
We're kind of hoping that doesn't happen again and we are imploring people to register in advance so we don't spend 4 hours running to the store to get more food (we can't very well say "sorry, the food's all gone," because the people who might lose out are those who paid in advance.
So we're once again encouraging all to register early. On June 1, the price goes up; not because we're greedy -- you think $7.50 actually covers the cost? -- but because we're trying to provide an incentive for you to do now what you might be inclined to do later.
As indicated, if we do get underwriters -- we've heard there may be some but we haven't seen the green yet -- then money will be returned.
Of course if we don't get underwriters, this will definitely be the last BBQ as we're well into the hole. (that tent is cool and allows us to proceed regardless of the weather but we had to use the EAA vendor and that's about $1,000 a night for that puppy. I should have gone into the tent rental business. Anyway, that's already been paid via my trusty old credit card. No checks are being cashed until the week before Oshkosh.
Also the camping fees at AirVenture have gone up another $1 a night this year and this year we'll need 6 campsites to accomodate the crowd. That's $19 a night times 6 ($114) times the number of nights we have to pay (6) for a total of $684 just for the patch of ground we're using. And we haven't even bought all the food and beer yet. So our expenses have almost tripled this year while -- factoring in the cost of postage -- the price of a ticket has dropped almost 50 cents from a year ago, when we lost about $200 on the deal -- a worthwhile investment, imho.
I'm pretty confident we'll be OK. The biggest headache I'm concerned about is a bunch of people showing up at the last minute who didn't tell us they were coming.
So if you're going to Oshkosh, you might as well register now because why wouldn't you want to spend a pleasant Midwest evening at a barbecue with several hundred like-minded individuals, with no speeches to listen to, no hard tables to sit on, where you can eat and drink as much as you can stand... all for just $7.50?
Make it easy on us. Do it now. I prefer snailmail as PayPal takes about 60 cents off the top and every dollar counts toward better beer.
And if you're in the EAA, spread this around your chapter (it's newsletter time and I'll bet your newsletter editor would welcome a few lines).
Oh, by the way, we could use an official "photographer." I'm thinking it would be great to take a large group photo and then send it to everyone after the event as a souvenir.
And, finally, we'd like to encourage RVers to camp near us and be our neighbors. We figure that way, we won't upset the neighbors with our bash. The map is on the Web site of exactly where we'll be.
And is there anyone going to OSH earlier than July 20 (Friday) who'd like to stake out our area?
Updates are available and will be posted on the BBQ Web site, Rob Riggen's RV Builder's Hotline, and a new blog I'm writing called "Letters from Flyover Country."
On another note: I'll be in Cleveland for three days starting Friday to take in the big Tigers-Indians series with my son. I've got an extra ticket for Friday night and Sunday afternoon. If there are any RVers in the Ohio area who want a free ballgame, let me know.
We're kind of hoping that doesn't happen again and we are imploring people to register in advance so we don't spend 4 hours running to the store to get more food (we can't very well say "sorry, the food's all gone," because the people who might lose out are those who paid in advance.
So we're once again encouraging all to register early. On June 1, the price goes up; not because we're greedy -- you think $7.50 actually covers the cost? -- but because we're trying to provide an incentive for you to do now what you might be inclined to do later.
As indicated, if we do get underwriters -- we've heard there may be some but we haven't seen the green yet -- then money will be returned.
Of course if we don't get underwriters, this will definitely be the last BBQ as we're well into the hole. (that tent is cool and allows us to proceed regardless of the weather but we had to use the EAA vendor and that's about $1,000 a night for that puppy. I should have gone into the tent rental business. Anyway, that's already been paid via my trusty old credit card. No checks are being cashed until the week before Oshkosh.
Also the camping fees at AirVenture have gone up another $1 a night this year and this year we'll need 6 campsites to accomodate the crowd. That's $19 a night times 6 ($114) times the number of nights we have to pay (6) for a total of $684 just for the patch of ground we're using. And we haven't even bought all the food and beer yet. So our expenses have almost tripled this year while -- factoring in the cost of postage -- the price of a ticket has dropped almost 50 cents from a year ago, when we lost about $200 on the deal -- a worthwhile investment, imho.
I'm pretty confident we'll be OK. The biggest headache I'm concerned about is a bunch of people showing up at the last minute who didn't tell us they were coming.
So if you're going to Oshkosh, you might as well register now because why wouldn't you want to spend a pleasant Midwest evening at a barbecue with several hundred like-minded individuals, with no speeches to listen to, no hard tables to sit on, where you can eat and drink as much as you can stand... all for just $7.50?
Make it easy on us. Do it now. I prefer snailmail as PayPal takes about 60 cents off the top and every dollar counts toward better beer.
And if you're in the EAA, spread this around your chapter (it's newsletter time and I'll bet your newsletter editor would welcome a few lines).
Oh, by the way, we could use an official "photographer." I'm thinking it would be great to take a large group photo and then send it to everyone after the event as a souvenir.
And, finally, we'd like to encourage RVers to camp near us and be our neighbors. We figure that way, we won't upset the neighbors with our bash. The map is on the Web site of exactly where we'll be.
And is there anyone going to OSH earlier than July 20 (Friday) who'd like to stake out our area?
Updates are available and will be posted on the BBQ Web site, Rob Riggen's RV Builder's Hotline, and a new blog I'm writing called "Letters from Flyover Country."
On another note: I'll be in Cleveland for three days starting Friday to take in the big Tigers-Indians series with my son. I've got an extra ticket for Friday night and Sunday afternoon. If there are any RVers in the Ohio area who want a free ballgame, let me know.
-
Spike
- Chief Rivet Banger
- Posts: 4013
- Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 8:40 pm
- Location: Baltimore, MD
- Contact:
Patti and I are in and paid as well. She is willing to do the photography for you Bob. Shell get in touch.
John
John
http://www.rivetbangers.com - Now integrating web and mail!
Current Build: 2 years into a beautiful little girl
Current Build: 2 years into a beautiful little girl
-
RVNewsletter
- Class D
- Posts: 259
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:57 am
- Location: St. Paul, MN.
- Contact:
Funny thing. I was just exchanging some email with Rhonda Bewley (Barrett Precision Engines) on this. We're trying hard not to lose any money here, but we're trying hard not to make any either. Especially in the context of the whole Oshkosh "vibe," I think athe grassroots "barely get by nature" of this event is really important.
One of the things I finally figured out last year is about half (or maybe a quarter) of the people who showed up, didn't donate any money to help offset expenses. The previous BBQs stressed that donating was purely voluntary and when we were only attracting 17-50 people, that was manageable.
When 400 showed up last year, it became another story. We ended up making a food run late that, it turne dout, wasn't needed.. and that was a $300 mistake (which pretty much accounted for the $300 we lost last year... which isn't bad for a good night's entertainment in my book).
But I think this year with really careful food ordering and the reservation system we've got, we can really control expenses and be more accurate.
I think at this point we've raised enough money for the tent and the campsites -- those are the two big increases this year. And if we get another 80-120 people to registerin the next month, we'll be in the ballpark on food costs.
The emphasis here, though, is for everyone to come and have a good time. If that happens, everthing else will take care of itself.
One of the things I finally figured out last year is about half (or maybe a quarter) of the people who showed up, didn't donate any money to help offset expenses. The previous BBQs stressed that donating was purely voluntary and when we were only attracting 17-50 people, that was manageable.
When 400 showed up last year, it became another story. We ended up making a food run late that, it turne dout, wasn't needed.. and that was a $300 mistake (which pretty much accounted for the $300 we lost last year... which isn't bad for a good night's entertainment in my book).
But I think this year with really careful food ordering and the reservation system we've got, we can really control expenses and be more accurate.
I think at this point we've raised enough money for the tent and the campsites -- those are the two big increases this year. And if we get another 80-120 people to registerin the next month, we'll be in the ballpark on food costs.
The emphasis here, though, is for everyone to come and have a good time. If that happens, everthing else will take care of itself.
-
RV7Factory
- Beanpolt
- Posts: 522
- Joined: Fri May 20, 2005 2:28 pm
- Location: Livermore, CA
Bob:
I will be setting up camp probably on the 15th and no later than the 18th. If you would like for me to stake out the property again (I did it last year, but I saw that I had it on the wrong side of the "street") I can do it again this year. How big do you want it?
Regards,
I will be setting up camp probably on the 15th and no later than the 18th. If you would like for me to stake out the property again (I did it last year, but I saw that I had it on the wrong side of the "street") I can do it again this year. How big do you want it?
Regards,
Jeff Orear
RV6A N782P
Hatz Classic, Welding fuselage
Hatz build log. https://eaabuilderslog.org/?blproject&p ... GNCwv&sid=
Peshtigo, WI
RV6A N782P
Hatz Classic, Welding fuselage
Hatz build log. https://eaabuilderslog.org/?blproject&p ... GNCwv&sid=
Peshtigo, WI
-
RVNewsletter
- Class D
- Posts: 259
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:57 am
- Location: St. Paul, MN.
- Contact:
Update
Update: We're just about at 300 registrants (not including guests of sponsors) so it looks like we'll be able to cut off registration by the end of the month. I've been able to turn around the credentials mailing to about 2 days (sometimes less) from the time I receive the registrations.
That will give me a few weeks to work on the logistics, including coming up with a good setup that will make the food and drink lines work quickly. If there are any "experts" out there who can diagram such things, let me know. We've got plenty of folks who've volunteered to work the "chow line," now I just have to design one that works. And I hope to have volunteer assignments nailed down by two weeks ahead of time.
We have been unable to get the "event grill" that we had hoped to; they're not in stock anywhere, so we're going back to the tried-and-true method -- my wife's BBQ grill and one other. If you live nearby or are hauling stuff to Oshkosh and have room, we'd sure appreciate the use of your propane grill. (We'll reimburse you for the propane).
We've now got -- I think -- 5 coolers sitting here in St. Paul. If there are any Minnesotans who have room to spare who can lug them down (and back), that'll free up some room in ye olde Subaru (although I may just have a trailer hitch put on this year and give in to the obvious). I figure we're in need of another 5 to make things work well. So if you can provide a cooler for the evening (delivering it by Wednesday morning), let me know.
Within the next week, I'll have a thing on the Web site on how to find us, depending on where you're staying. Remember: Do NOT drive over to the campsite itself. And remember to bring your own chairs.
I'd like to thank those RVer-owned companies who have stepped forward with generous donations to assure the continuation of this event. See the Web site for more.
I think that's all I've got.
That will give me a few weeks to work on the logistics, including coming up with a good setup that will make the food and drink lines work quickly. If there are any "experts" out there who can diagram such things, let me know. We've got plenty of folks who've volunteered to work the "chow line," now I just have to design one that works. And I hope to have volunteer assignments nailed down by two weeks ahead of time.
We have been unable to get the "event grill" that we had hoped to; they're not in stock anywhere, so we're going back to the tried-and-true method -- my wife's BBQ grill and one other. If you live nearby or are hauling stuff to Oshkosh and have room, we'd sure appreciate the use of your propane grill. (We'll reimburse you for the propane).
We've now got -- I think -- 5 coolers sitting here in St. Paul. If there are any Minnesotans who have room to spare who can lug them down (and back), that'll free up some room in ye olde Subaru (although I may just have a trailer hitch put on this year and give in to the obvious). I figure we're in need of another 5 to make things work well. So if you can provide a cooler for the evening (delivering it by Wednesday morning), let me know.
Within the next week, I'll have a thing on the Web site on how to find us, depending on where you're staying. Remember: Do NOT drive over to the campsite itself. And remember to bring your own chairs.
I'd like to thank those RVer-owned companies who have stepped forward with generous donations to assure the continuation of this event. See the Web site for more.
I think that's all I've got.
-
Spike
- Chief Rivet Banger
- Posts: 4013
- Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 8:40 pm
- Location: Baltimore, MD
- Contact:
Im very much looking forward to this event! Keep up the great work Bob!
http://www.rivetbangers.com - Now integrating web and mail!
Current Build: 2 years into a beautiful little girl
Current Build: 2 years into a beautiful little girl
-
RVNewsletter
- Class D
- Posts: 259
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:57 am
- Location: St. Paul, MN.
- Contact:
I don't think you'll need to drive down, Jeff, although I really appreicate the offer. Tom Odehnal (Hardin, KY) is showing up early and he's going to stake it out.painless wrote:Bob:
I will be setting up camp probably on the 15th and no later than the 18th. If you would like for me to stake out the property again (I did it last year, but I saw that I had it on the wrong side of the "street") I can do it again this year. How big do you want it?
Regards,
It looks at this point, fyi, that we'll be buying 6 campsites. I can't remember the typical EAA dimensions but I think it's 20 x 30, but that spot in the field is 80 feet between the roads (as opposed to the usual 60 feet) because of the creek.
We have a 40 x 40 tent -- I'm guessing that's about the size of the Van's tent in case the weather causes us a problem (it probably isn't enough to shield everyone from weather but we can save the women and children.)
What would REALLY be cool is if any RVers are showing up on Friday, set up near us to create a larger "RV neighborhood." Of course you'll have to put up with a little noise on Wednesday night, but it would give us more room to stretch out.
I've got to try to get in touch with Frank Zwart, to see if he's coming. Nice guy. He owned that nice big RV that he pulled around to shield us from that rain shower last year.
-
RVNewsletter
- Class D
- Posts: 259
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:57 am
- Location: St. Paul, MN.
- Contact:
This evening we reached 352 registrations for the RV BBQ at Oshkosh, topping the limit we set of 350 people. With expected neighbors and miscounts, this should give us about 400 attendees.
There's no way we could handle any more than that, especially with 150+ "didn't tell you we were comings" that we had last year, so the BBQ is now a 'sellout.' To go larger would, I think, ruin the grassroots nature of the event that has made it such a favorite for many people in very short order.
If you didn't get your registration in, I'm sorry but we look forward to seeing you next year.
Now, onto the planning. and a few chants for good weather wouldn't hurt.
BTW, Smitty, Stein Bruch sent me a note today that he found someone who had a Coleman (I think it was a Coleman) event grille. It was more than he'd planned to spend (I believe we're talking a couple grand here) but he wrote the check and is having it delivered.
Stein is, quite simply, unbelievable. Buy stuff from him!
There's no way we could handle any more than that, especially with 150+ "didn't tell you we were comings" that we had last year, so the BBQ is now a 'sellout.' To go larger would, I think, ruin the grassroots nature of the event that has made it such a favorite for many people in very short order.
If you didn't get your registration in, I'm sorry but we look forward to seeing you next year.
Now, onto the planning. and a few chants for good weather wouldn't hurt.
BTW, Smitty, Stein Bruch sent me a note today that he found someone who had a Coleman (I think it was a Coleman) event grille. It was more than he'd planned to spend (I believe we're talking a couple grand here) but he wrote the check and is having it delivered.
Stein is, quite simply, unbelievable. Buy stuff from him!
-
RVNewsletter
- Class D
- Posts: 259
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:57 am
- Location: St. Paul, MN.
- Contact:
Apologies because this is going to be posted on various message boards to make sure we hit everyone, but I've put together a 'flow chart' of the chow line at the Oshkosh RV BBQ. It has the volunteer "assignments" for those I'm aware of that have volunteered.
You can find it here:
http://tinyurl.com/26gvb8
Please check it out and tell me if it makes sense.
We'll probably start cooking around 5 so that there's food ready when people arrive at 6 (and beyond). In the past, we've cooked for several hours. So it would be great if you'd let me know how long you wish your "shift" to last.
I would discourage folks from volunteering for more than an hour because it's easy not to see everyone when you're cooking and running around. So let me know which shift (6-7. 7-8, 8-9) works best for you.
I've also listed some volunteer "opportunities" we're still trying to fill.
SALADS: We need folks who can bring a salad. You know, a bunch of lettuce in a big bowl and jar of dressing. We have a few who have volunteered but it would be bad form for us to have only a few dozen servings. So if you've got a big Tupperware bowl, wouldn't mind filling it and taking it home with you -- empty and greasy -- when done, drop me an email. (bcollinsrv7a (at)comcast.net)
You can find it here:
http://tinyurl.com/26gvb8
Please check it out and tell me if it makes sense.
We'll probably start cooking around 5 so that there's food ready when people arrive at 6 (and beyond). In the past, we've cooked for several hours. So it would be great if you'd let me know how long you wish your "shift" to last.
I would discourage folks from volunteering for more than an hour because it's easy not to see everyone when you're cooking and running around. So let me know which shift (6-7. 7-8, 8-9) works best for you.
I've also listed some volunteer "opportunities" we're still trying to fill.
SALADS: We need folks who can bring a salad. You know, a bunch of lettuce in a big bowl and jar of dressing. We have a few who have volunteered but it would be bad form for us to have only a few dozen servings. So if you've got a big Tupperware bowl, wouldn't mind filling it and taking it home with you -- empty and greasy -- when done, drop me an email. (bcollinsrv7a (at)comcast.net)