Oshkosh BBQ update
 

After kicking it around a bit, we've decided to cap registration for the RV BBQ at Oshkosh at 350. This includes spouses, kids, guests etc. No doubt this will fluctuate some by circumstances, but we really need to have a handle on the supplies, campsites, and help we'll need to accomodate the BBQ this year.

Second, there's a pretty fair chance that we have underwriting by some RV friends for the BBQ. If this comes to pass, any money sent with pre-registration will be returned.

As I understand it, some folks have donated door prizes (only those people who pre-register will be eligible for door prizes since the tickets will be mailed). If you would like to donate a door prize, please contact Darwin Barrie. (RV7GUY on VAF)

The first batch of "credentials" (tickets and badges) went in the mail this weekend, and another group went to the Post Office this morning.

As near as I can figure, only 6 reservations that have been submitted have not gone out yet, and mostly I'm waiting for word back on names on badges, or names of guests etc.

We have 141 reserved so far, not including those who have said they'd be coming but haven't submitted a menu list yet, guests of donors etc.

That's 141 more than we had reserved at this time a year ago, so it looks like it'll be well attended.

I can stress strongly enough how important is it to let me know you're coming...and what you'd like to eat, so that we can order and plan accordingly. We think we've eliminated the long lines and with things being mailed out this year, you should be able to just walk in and start eating, drinking, and having fun.

Thanks to donors, we have reserved a large 40' x 40' tent (well, I guess there's only one size for a 40' x 40' tent) from the EAA vendor (big bucks, $1150 for one night, but worth it because it eliminates the possibility of getting "weathered out")

Reserve now!

Good morning Bob,

Please check your PMs and E-mail.. Thank you!

I still haven't found the Pilot Getaways. Trust me. You'll be the second to know.

The "credentials" packets have gone out to those who've registered. If you have received yours, would you please drop me a quick e-mail at bcollinsrv7a@comcast.net so I can check it off on the spreadsheet.

thanks

Yet another BBQ update
 

As of this morning -- I haven't checked the mail -- we have 215 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?

BBQ photo?
 

Bob,

EAA just announced this week that the Goodyear blimp will be back for the first time in about 20 yrs.

Maybe EAA would like an "official" photo of maybe the largest RV BBQ at OSH?

Might need to get that high to take 400 folks pic anyway :eek:

Worth a call?

Bob,

I posted over on RBer's also, but how many people here would be willing to NOT get their money back if we do get underwriters to ensure we can keep doing this? Put the money in an account, and save it for expenses next time or something...

Good idea Chad, count me in on that one.

I will refuse to take my money back. It is little enough to help defray the costs from previous years and keep this thing going.