Post by Len Philpot on Apr 2, 2018 21:45:35 GMT -6
[ originally posted 11/18/2017 ]
This year, as we have had in other years, and inevitably will have in future years, we had several no shows at the DSSG for a variety of reasons, but in particular, the weather. I guess it is no real consolation for those that did not come on Friday or Saturday to know that the weather, particularly at night, was very good on Tuesday and Wednesday nights and ok, at least early on, on Thursday night.
In truth I would rather the second half of the star gaze have the good weather and the front half have the poor weather simply because we have more people registered for the last few days. The weather however is something we cannot control and we have to adjust for the hand that we are dealt. The policy that we have in respect to refunds and cancellations is pretty much standard for all organized star parties and is pretty much dictated by the contract that is in place with the venue (the Feliciana Retreat Center). For the fall DSSG we have an exclusive, they do not rent the log cabin or space we do not use to anyone else. They depend upon the revenue from our reservations and pulling back on the numbers we give them going in just does not work.
So is there a better way to attend with less risk of losing your money that could be spent on other things if for some reason be it weather or something else affects your plan? Here are some contemplated changes that will likely be put into place for upcoming events - future Deep South Spring Scrimmages and the Deep South Star Gaze:
1) Registration - essentially remains the same ($30 per individual and $40 per family) but there is no higher registration fee for registering late. Registration though will close on the Friday before the event. If registration and fees are not received by then, you will have to register on site. I cannot promise meals and I cannot promise lodging, particularly lodge rooms. I can say that we have had plenty of cottage space available the past few years, but this does not give one the privacy of a lodge room.
2) Lodge Rooms - we have been filling these up every year for the past few years. Priority has to be given to those that are reserving lodge rooms for the full duration of the event, be it 3 nights for the Spring Scrimmage or 5 nights for the Deep South. Accordingly we will revert to what was in place a few years ago, with priority given to those that have 2 people in a lodge room for 3 nights or more or for 1 person for the duration of the event (all nights). Those that register for just one person in a lodge room and for two people for 2 nights or fewer will have their registrations held until 3 weeks before the start of the event and lodge room reservations will be given to them at that time based upon availability. So the message here is - Don't get too complacent thinking that you will have a lodge room because there are 2 in your party and you will be reserving for 3 nights or more or you are 1 person staying for all nights. At the very least get your reservations in before the "3 weeks out" deadline. The message for those wanting a room to themselves - find a friend to share it with.
3) Cottage space - plenty available. We have gotten spoiled. This is basically all we had at Percy Quin State Park and much, much better than the very primitive cabins at Camp Ruth Lee. They are actually quite nice. Also less expensive than a lodge room.
4) Meals - let me say that I thought overall the meal quality fell off a bit this year. I especially did not like the reconstituted "egg thingy" they served for breakfast. We will not get that again, I will make sure of that. On the other hand Mel wanted to accommodate us as best she could. I was able to add meals up to a point so while I cannot promise, if some do register late (after the deadline), I will probably be able to add meals. However I cannot promise this.
So, for those whose attendance at our events is highly weather dependent, do not register before the event. You will not be penalized with a higher registration fee. Note that I cannot promise that you will get a room in the lodge for either event. In the spring we do not have an exclusive so only 1 wing in the lodge may be available to us for the Scrimmage, and on-site registration in the fall is likely to find no lodge rooms available. However for both there should be cottage bunks available and you can always tent or camper stay. Late arrivals by campers for either event may preclude being able to tie into 30 amp breakers.
However by waiting to see what the weather is doing, your attendance will mean that you know the weather is favorable, and if you decide not to attend, you will not forfeit any money that you have spent.
Questions? Let me know.
(on behalf of) Barry Simon
This year, as we have had in other years, and inevitably will have in future years, we had several no shows at the DSSG for a variety of reasons, but in particular, the weather. I guess it is no real consolation for those that did not come on Friday or Saturday to know that the weather, particularly at night, was very good on Tuesday and Wednesday nights and ok, at least early on, on Thursday night.
In truth I would rather the second half of the star gaze have the good weather and the front half have the poor weather simply because we have more people registered for the last few days. The weather however is something we cannot control and we have to adjust for the hand that we are dealt. The policy that we have in respect to refunds and cancellations is pretty much standard for all organized star parties and is pretty much dictated by the contract that is in place with the venue (the Feliciana Retreat Center). For the fall DSSG we have an exclusive, they do not rent the log cabin or space we do not use to anyone else. They depend upon the revenue from our reservations and pulling back on the numbers we give them going in just does not work.
So is there a better way to attend with less risk of losing your money that could be spent on other things if for some reason be it weather or something else affects your plan? Here are some contemplated changes that will likely be put into place for upcoming events - future Deep South Spring Scrimmages and the Deep South Star Gaze:
1) Registration - essentially remains the same ($30 per individual and $40 per family) but there is no higher registration fee for registering late. Registration though will close on the Friday before the event. If registration and fees are not received by then, you will have to register on site. I cannot promise meals and I cannot promise lodging, particularly lodge rooms. I can say that we have had plenty of cottage space available the past few years, but this does not give one the privacy of a lodge room.
2) Lodge Rooms - we have been filling these up every year for the past few years. Priority has to be given to those that are reserving lodge rooms for the full duration of the event, be it 3 nights for the Spring Scrimmage or 5 nights for the Deep South. Accordingly we will revert to what was in place a few years ago, with priority given to those that have 2 people in a lodge room for 3 nights or more or for 1 person for the duration of the event (all nights). Those that register for just one person in a lodge room and for two people for 2 nights or fewer will have their registrations held until 3 weeks before the start of the event and lodge room reservations will be given to them at that time based upon availability. So the message here is - Don't get too complacent thinking that you will have a lodge room because there are 2 in your party and you will be reserving for 3 nights or more or you are 1 person staying for all nights. At the very least get your reservations in before the "3 weeks out" deadline. The message for those wanting a room to themselves - find a friend to share it with.
3) Cottage space - plenty available. We have gotten spoiled. This is basically all we had at Percy Quin State Park and much, much better than the very primitive cabins at Camp Ruth Lee. They are actually quite nice. Also less expensive than a lodge room.
4) Meals - let me say that I thought overall the meal quality fell off a bit this year. I especially did not like the reconstituted "egg thingy" they served for breakfast. We will not get that again, I will make sure of that. On the other hand Mel wanted to accommodate us as best she could. I was able to add meals up to a point so while I cannot promise, if some do register late (after the deadline), I will probably be able to add meals. However I cannot promise this.
So, for those whose attendance at our events is highly weather dependent, do not register before the event. You will not be penalized with a higher registration fee. Note that I cannot promise that you will get a room in the lodge for either event. In the spring we do not have an exclusive so only 1 wing in the lodge may be available to us for the Scrimmage, and on-site registration in the fall is likely to find no lodge rooms available. However for both there should be cottage bunks available and you can always tent or camper stay. Late arrivals by campers for either event may preclude being able to tie into 30 amp breakers.
However by waiting to see what the weather is doing, your attendance will mean that you know the weather is favorable, and if you decide not to attend, you will not forfeit any money that you have spent.
Questions? Let me know.
(on behalf of) Barry Simon