[Deptheads] Trying to solve the Parking situation where we're at

Tue Apr 29 19:46:45 PDT 2008

Add my general Œhear hear!¹

Nothing would be destroy my enthusiasm for attending a con than driving up,
finding out there was no parking where there was supposed to be and then
having nothing more than a sign to try and follow in an unfamiliar area on
unfamiliar, crowded streets.  I¹d turn around and go home.  If someone was
standing there to help me find my way?  /So/ much better for all the reasons
already stated.  I think this is a great idea, though it¹ll be a pain to
implement.

If I can borrow a volunteer to watch the RPG desk, I¹ll be happy to stand
out there with the big sign and try to direct people.

On 4/29/08 7:35 PM, "Mary Scott" <myshanter at yahoo.com> wrote:

> We have over 150 volunteers. If all of them do one hour, that would cover more
> than we need. Yes, I realize that means me too. But I feel that we might want
> to look at this option more closely. A sign IS very impersonal, and shlepping
> gaming equipment, which most of them are bringing for the Con's benefit, is
> not fun. Having someone to watch the stuff while the cars get parked sounds
> like a very useful service to offer, and one that may retain us more
> attendees. That said, we should have a sign too, for those hours that are not
> staffed (if we even choose to do this).
> 
> Mary
> 
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Michael Russell <mikeinva8 at mac.com>
> To: deptheads at strategicon.net
> Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 5:32:41 PM
> Subject: Re: [Deptheads] Trying to solve the Parking situation where we're at
> er 
> Hey Mike,
> If you need a good sign done, I can do it for you senese I am going to
> be going to Kinkos and getting the big Directory signs done when I get
> there any way, and can have it mounted too, just let me know.
> 
> Mike
> On Apr 30, 2008, at 12:58 AM, Mike Fryer wrote:
> 
>> > The circle drive is for airport vans only, and my guess is that they
>> > will not be letting any other vehicles in the back. Any unloading will
>> > have to be done in the front.
>> >
>> > I am working on the parking and I have a really good lead for a good
>> > parking solution. I think a large sign with the flyers may work as
>> > well
>> > or better. It is going to be really hot out there, nobody will want to
>> > or should have to stand out there for hours.
>> >
>> > Mike Fryer
>> >
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: deptheads-bounces at strategicon.net
>> > [mailto:deptheads-bounces at strategicon.net] On Behalf Of DB
>> > Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 4:21 PM
>> > To: deptheads at strategicon.net
>> > Subject: [Deptheads] Trying to solve the Parking situation where we're
>> > at
>> >
>> > Here's how I think we can help the parking situation for Gamex at
>> > Raddison.
>> > There are two parts to it.  PLEASE don't casually dismiss this message
>> > --
>> > read and comment.
>> >
>> > It will take a few volunteers but I think it will go a long way to
>> > showing
>> > the attendees that we are trying to address the problem given the
>> > difficulties.  Please note, we can NOT simply put additional parking
>> > instructions on the web site.
>> >
>> > One.
>> >
>> > We have a con volunteer out on Vicksburg sidewalk, near the hotel
>> > entrance,
>> > and they have a stack of photocopies with a map of the area showing
>> > every
>> > nearby parking lot and the parking fee.  If there are in/out privleges
>> > for
>> > that lot, we note it.  These lots should be nearby hotels, airport
>> > lots,
>> > whatever.  We also indicate where there is (if any) day-long parking
>> > on
>> > the
>> > street.
>> >
>> > We can NOT leave this to the hotel to do; they've shown themselves
>> > to be
>> > very difficult to work with and we should not depend on them.  We need
>> > to
>> > have a con volunteer out there doing this.
>> >
>> > This helps only half of the situation because people want to park
>> > close
>> > and
>> > not lug fifty pounds of gaming supplies.  This brings me to:
>> >
>> > Two.
>> >
>> > We have a couple con volunteers by the circle drive entrance to allow
>> > people
>> > to unload.  These volunteers will supervise the area and watch over
>> > the
>> > stuff people unload until those people can go find parking in one of
>> > the
>> > lots nearby.  This lets people leave their stuff under con supervision
>> > rather than make them break their backs walking back from parking
>> > (which
>> > could be up to several blocks away).
>> >
>> > Are there potential problems with folks leaving their stuff under our
>> > supervision?  Yes.  But I truly believe we need to offer this option
>> > or
>> > these people loaded down with their books and minis and board games
>> > might
>> > just say "fuck it" and drive away.
>> >
>> > What does all this do?
>> >
>> > It shows the attendees that we care.  It shows them we're aware of the
>> > problem and not hiding our heads in the sand like Rocky and crew would
>> > have
>> > done.  One of the complaints I was hearing about from the parking
>> > situation
>> > at OrcCon  is that folks would show up to park but there was no info
>> > out
>> > front as to where else to go when they were told parking was full.
>> > Now
>> > with
>> > Gamex, pretty much everyone is going to have this problem.  WE NEED TO
>> > ADDRESS IT.
>> >
>> > To do this, we need a few volunteers that we can swap out over the
>> > course of
>> > Friday late afternoon & evening and, especially, Saturday (mainly).
>> > This
>> > won't be very fun volunteer duty but we need to find someone to do it.
>> > Barring that, we need to pay folks to do it.  Let's get someone out
>> > there
>> > with a card table, a beach umbrella and ice water and we can swap
>> > volunteers
>> > out every couple hours just to change it up for them.
>> >
>> > I know it's not the best solution but we don't have much choice.
>> > We're
>> > faced with the problem -- it's unlikely we'll move -- let's deal with
>> > it.
>> >
>> > - Denys
>> >
>> >
>> >
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