Arlington lays some eggs

wrote in message
oups.com...
You are more than welcome to come volunteer and help out in the setup,
running and teardown of the Fly-In. The only way this even happens is
buy the good graces of 300 volunteers. People who give up free time to
hopefully make your weekend fun and pleasurable.

I volunteer at several fly-ins already, Arlington would be a little
problematical for me, but I'll see what I can do. I will be donating to the
new building, FWIW. Your volunteer efforts are much appreciated.


1. Your comments on the signs will be sure to be forwarded to the
appropriate organizers. They should have been by the freeway. That
being said, in the 12 months between events, holes have a tendancy to
get filled or destroyed by road work. Property owners change and
suddenly we can't use a spot we've used for years. I've done sign
setup, it's not an easy task to get every single one put up.


I do sign setup as well (and have a sign making business). Since the Fly-In
folks are on such good terms (I think?) with the City of Arlington, maybe
the city could provide permanent sign locations/tiedowns. Maybe the city
would even be willing to store and put up the signs. Can't hurt to ask.


2. No comment, I never made it to the parking lot this year.

3. I'd suggest directing your comments to the Warbirds. No other EAA
division gets money to attend a Fly-In, why should they? If they want
to buy a million dollar airplane, they should be able to afford the
gas. Otherwise you, the attendee, will end up footing that fuel bill.
The organizers are trying their best to fill in that particular gap.

I see both sides of the issue, and I may kick myself for suggesting this,
but the cost of admission could be raised. I burned about $36 worth of gas
to drive in, and an extra $1 per ticket, if it would help with the Warbirds
and the airshow, wouldn't hurt that much.


4. People come and go all the time during the Fly-In, constantly
changing what the overall parking aisles look like. When a group comes
and goes together, that will often leave gaps in the parking areas. We
try to fill those as quickly as possible. Or perhaps they were in the
flyby pattern? I know when all the amphibians went up it made that one
row look very empty. And they were gone for a while over to Lake
Goodwin for the Splash In.


I think the lack of the CAP hurt here. If they were there, they could have
help move the planes around.

5. Ah... the CAP kids. I suggest talking to the Canadian Air Cadets
legal department. They made a determination that the cadets should not
be around spinning propellers. Brilliant, eh? Well we did have some
Boy Scouts this year to help fill the gap, but yes, there were not
enough kids to help out. The CAP needs to grow their membership in
order to fill that gap left by the Air Cadets. We are also open to
suggestions to other youth groups that show a level of responsibility
and can help out.

I plan on joining CAP this year. Another poster mentioned aviation programs
at colleges (good idea) and I'll mention Seattle's aviation high school.
I'll be writing a letter to the Canadian consulate and Mr. Harper as well.


6. Who did you ask for information? (As in which department, not
which person) Where did we have a break in communication?

Again, I think this was a "lack of CAP" problem. The volunteers on "the
promenade" were the ones people were asking and who didn't know.


7. I thought, foot traffic was up. But last year I was in a totally
different area. So until I see gate numbers, I really can't say.

8. That's the trouble with those tents and the reason for the new
building you mention later.

9. Thanks.

10. Good comments, and they will be forwarded.

snip

Another poster mentioned the forum schedule signs, excellent point. The
display board is already there, making the sign as big as the board, putting
them on both sides, and probably limiting the info to that day's forums only
would be a big improvement.

Again, if you have time, volunteer. That is the ONLY why this Fly-In
happens. Offer up your ideas to the organizers, not just in forums
like this.


I kind of figured if I posted them here, they would make their way back to
the organizers! ;^)