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Halloween Parade this year?

Discussion in 'Local Area Events' started by hornerjo, Aug 29, 2009.

  1. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    Just to be clear, the TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE totally runs the Flicks in the Sticks, not the Events Committee. It's our budget and we do it for the community as a whole, not just a particular age group. The Events Committee has nothing to do with it.
     
  2. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Flicks in the Sticks is done by the Tech Committee, not the Events Comm :)
     
  3. LKB508

    LKB508 New Member

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    Sorry! Thanks to the Tech Committee!
     
  4. hornerjo

    hornerjo Senior Member

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    On a related note (not trying to go too far off-topic), the Technology Committee does work with the Events Committee at the various events so confusion can come up as to who does what.

    * The meet and greet with Santa is organized and run by the Events Com. The Tech Com runs the photos at the event taking photos and printing them for the residents at no charge.
    * At the Halloween Parade, that's again organized and run by the Events folks. The Tech Com helps by bringing the face painter and giving out something 'techie' at the end of the parade. We've done things from fiber optic light wands to space ice cream to last years Dippin'Dots - provided by our costumed super heroes. :)

    I think that's the only ones where we work together.
     
  5. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    i forwarded this thread to the head of the events committee. maybe she'll reach out to those who said they'd help with the parade and see if it can happen. i have nothing to do with that event but i'm happy to pass messages if ya'll need me to!

    THANK YOU to the volunteers on all committees that make things happen in the Broadlands- you make this a better place to live for the thousands that benefit from your volunteers hours.
     
  6. Beth10

    Beth10 New Member

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    I would love to volunteer for the Halloween Parade. :happygrin:
     
  7. twells

    twells New Member

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    Hi Everyone,

    I am the new events committee chairperson. I hope all of you will appreciate this has been a transition year and some changes in events were made to accomodate those committee members leaving and new members who have chosen to committ to new events in line with their interests in the community. I have been a committee member of both events and Broadlands Live and our biggest difficulty is volunteers. I believe I have worked with the same 15 people on both committees for many years now. Any support with folks willing to step up would be greatly appreciated.

    There will be no Halloween parade this year. There will two halloween events; a halloween party for 4-6th graders and an adult halloween party. The Halloween parade was not well attended and lacked volunteers. Regarding the Easter Egg Hunt we were newly transitioning to a new committee chairperson (myself) and after a social affair requesting folks to come and volunteer we had no takers to handle the Easter Egg Hunt. We held a hip hop into spring affair for elementary students and a summer carnival for younger children in the neighborhood during the month of July. There will be a visit with Santa during the month of December and our wonderful new committee member Arlee Harris will be handling this event with Elizabeth Gordon. If you look thru the events for 2009 you will notice we have made an attempt to cover all ages groups this year including teenagers with the teen foam party.

    I urge all those interested in having a halloween parade and easter egg hunt to please join us at our next meeting!! We would love to revisit these events next year if you are willing to chair the event!!

    Thank you
     
  8. hornerjo

    hornerjo Senior Member

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    "The Halloween parade was not well attended and lacked volunteers."

    I have to differ on the well attended part. I had to look this up, the Tech Comm gave away something close to 300 cups of dippin dots last year. The year before we gave away about 270 fiber optic wands. But whatever, hope you all get things together next year.
     
  9. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    Are you kidding me? Wow. One of the most popular events of our community and you claim it was not well attended???

    Please enlighten us as to how you come up to this conclusion? If close to 300 people showing up is what you consider 'bad attendance', I'm speechless...
     
  10. hornerjo

    hornerjo Senior Member

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    Actually it was well over 300, a lot of people didn't take any ice cream. We started with 350 cups and had just one stack left. But... apples to oranges at this point.
     
  11. technosapien

    technosapien New Member

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    I will be recovering from surgery and so unfortunately can't help, but otherwise I would have volunteered again this year. May still be able to, if doctor clears me, but since I can't be counted upon, I won't say "yes".
     
  12. luftinarr

    luftinarr Member

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    You've got to be kidding me...not well attended? My husband and boys were there and loved it!

    I say do the Halloween parade anyway. Whoever thinks it wasn't well attended should just stay home.
     
  13. djv_sw

    djv_sw New Member

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    You know, it's really unfortunate that events like this one are left to die a quiet death. Given the response to both the Easter Egg Hunt and Halloween Parade disappointments, two things are fairly well established at this point:

    1. The advertisements for volunteers for these events are clearly inadequate. This is not an accusation, just an observation. Several people have offered to volunteer within this thread in just a few short hours; keep in mind that many (I'd venture most) community members don't spend time browsing these boards, so even with a limited sample the response has been quite good.

    2. The events committee is uninterested in organizing events for younger children. There has been an explicit expression of that notion within this thread, and I applaud the candor. Based on the tenor of the discussion thus far, I'd guess that this is a commonly held sentiment among committee members, and it may help to explain the advertising issue. Granted, I don't personally know the members and this may not be the case. However, the defensive ("nobody volunteers") and evasive ("the events aren't well attended") responses would suggest otherwise. There certainly haven't been any publicly shed tears from the events committee over the cancelled Egg Hunt and Halloween Parade.

    IMO, the role of an events committee is to do its best to equally support the established set of events, not to cherry pick events based on personal taste. As has been pointed out repeatedly (and apparently in vain), targeted advertisements for volunteer help, with spelled out consequences, will yield a sufficient number of volunteers to enable events such as this one. Again, there is a good bit of evidence in support of that statement within this thread.

    It’s harmful to carelessly cast off events such as these, as it’s precisely these events that have set this community apart from others in the area. They draw interest from potential homeowners (I know they contributed in our family’s case) and indirectly help to buoy our home values. While the numerous adult events are nice, let’s also face the fact that Broadlands is not Arlington; those who are interested primarily in adult entertainment are not our best demographic.

    Not to mention the disappointment my children and countless others will share upon learning there will be no Halloween Parade this year.

    PS My wife and I will be happy to volunteer for the weekend of the 24th. Thanks.
     
  14. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    VERY well said! Thank you for posting this the way you did.
     
  15. SarasMom

    SarasMom Member

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    Just a random idea I had while NOT sleeping.....how about having a local scout troop help out with certain events? (i.e. they can hand out the treats along the parade routes, start the parade, clean up afterwards)
     
  16. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    I would suggest that all those that have volunteered to run this event get in contact with each other and the Events Committee Chair and see what can be done. Her email address is published in the Newsletter.
    If there is enough support, we still might be able to accomplish it. The deadline for getting something in the Newsletter is Sept. 15.
    Our General Manager, Wes, can also lend support.
     
  17. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    ok folks- since I piped up i feel responsible for some of this thread so here goes:

    I am ONE small VOICE on the committee- I am the ONLY who said she doesn't have an interest in events for small children. I do NOT represent the committee decisions as i stated before- I am simply a VOLUNTEER. I volunteer for what interest ME- period. PLEASE do not take my opinion as one that represnets the committee because IT DOES NOT.

    i happen to know the committee DOES plan events that are for every age group- but again- if people don't step forward to make them happen, then they don't. i can't speak to the "lack of pleas for help" argument: i saw one ON THIS BOARD and answered it, so i guess i thought the request for volunteers was adequate. cliff- you were there at MY first meeting- apparently YOU got the memo too.

    planning for events starts several months in advance- the Oct. casino night planning began in June- maybe even sooner- that's just when I got involved. these things take more than just one or even 2 months to come together. many pieces have to come together for a successful event. if it was thrown together and then stunk, there'd be a NEW thread about the committee's poor planning skills...

    this is my first go round the events committee- before I was only involved with Broadlands Live. i see how hard they work and how much time they take out of their busy personal lives. the chairperson has a MASSIVE task as a volunteer- i could NEVER do that job. the organizing, the budget, the planning, the coordinating, the juggling and shuffling- she has a HUGE undertaking as a volunteer.

    i hope she doesn't take the criticism and piling on in here too personally, because if she quits, I don't know a single other person that would take on all the she does. I don't have the talent, time or desire to work as hard as she does- as a volunteer.

    and you are ALL entitled to your opinons- and criticism IS a good thing- it makes things change for the better. the tone seems awfully harsh toward volunteers working year round with a skeleton crew of volunteers compared to the number of and magnitude of the events. i hope what comes from this thread is more specific, more visible pleas for volunteers on future events so that the willing volunteers out there can get the word and jump in! :)

    no committee will ever please EVERYONE. someone will always have a suggestion on how it could have been done better or a criticism of what was planned and what wasn't, feel that THEIR group is being slighted. i hope those that piped up are serious about getting involved. even if it's too late for a Halloween parade (which i do NOT know whether it is or not)- they can help plan different event for small children.

    didn't mean to rant... but i did. :blahblah:
     
  18. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Volunteering in anonimity on the forums is one thing, showing up at an actual meeting is another.

    Not saying that everyone here who volunteered would not do so, but... ;)
     
  19. LKB508

    LKB508 New Member

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    Thanks Cliff. I'll send an email to the Events Committee Chair to see if it can still be accomplished this year. I know events (especially ones with 300 or more people coming as in years past) take months to plan and a lot of hard work but maybe it can still happen if we have enough help.

    I'll include beth10, djv_sw and luftinarr as people who stepped up to volunteer (Thank you!) Several neighbors of mine have also said they would be willing to help as well so I will include their names on my email to her. Great suggestion about a scout troup pitching in.

    If anyone else is interested in helping to "save the parade", please send me a PM. Thanks!
     
  20. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    LKB508, I just wanted to thank you for taking the lead on this and for caring. I appreciate your enthusiasm and your willingness to help get this event to happen, if we can. THANK YOU.
     

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