Dear all
Just wanted to keep you all in the
loop as to what has been transpiring this past week. Apart from the
updating the mail list continually, (the response has been awe
inspiring! a lot of people love Hammond Hill, as well they should)
I have been scrambling to address three pressing issues:
Insurance, Setting A Date, and Money. Plus we need to think about
planning for how many people we will be attracting.
First, Insurance:
I have learned so far that anyone
working on the trails is covered by DEC's "Adopt A Natural Resource"
program. As for the programming held off state land, ie, anything
on Camp Earth Connections property, the AANR insurance doesn't
cover that, nor does it cover children of workers who are "just along
for the ride." Susan Rausch's camp insurance MAY be able to cover
us in a limited way if she is able to sponsor our "block party."
There would be a cost involved, but it should be fairly minimal. She is
researching this further for us. Also, I think that each group
putting on a program, eg, the orienteers, the runners, and so on, can
provide Susan with individual certificates of insurance to cover the
individual activities, hence orienteering insurance covers anyone
orienteering and so on, which I THINK would reduce her costs, but we
are waiting feedback from her insurance company on that matter.
If anyone has knowledge along these lines I would very much
appreciate your input.
Second, Dates:
Susan and I are collaborating which
dates are available for both of us, and then I will send those out to
the group at large to settle on a date, with a possible backup
date, should something unforeseen come up.
Third, Money, Money:
I have been struggling to decide how
best to raise the funds we need both to offset costs of putting on a
party of this magnitude, and to purchase the trail repair materials in
advance so as to have them there ready for us to utilize. A few ideas I
had were :
1) Advance ticket sales (for how
much? sold where?) This has the advantage of letting us know how many
to expect for the event, but may scare off others who don't want to
commit ahead of time. In which case, how to we handle day of "gate
passes" ?
2) Alternatively (or in addition?) do
we just ask for donations? Would this bring enough? And who best to
handle getting donations and handling the money?
3) Some brave people approaching
various businesses and asking for funds or materials (who? ask for
what?)
A few more excellent points were made
to me concerning this endeavor.
1) There will be no alcohol at this
event.
2) No Smoking on Camp grounds, either,
please.
3) For safety's sake, our canine
friends need to stay home, yes, even Pippi and Petie (my dogs) An event
of this sort is too much for most dogs to handle.
Susan, I wonder about an exception for Seeing Eye Dogs, on
the job or in training?
4) There can not be any pony rides,
for liability reasons, mostly. Sorry.
5) If we do decide to have horses
for the public to pet, there can only be a few really sane ones, and
they have to be on my land, (hence covered by my insurance)
So!!! If you all would get back to me
with your wonderful, sane and thoughtful input once again, it would be
much appreciated, and I will brace for another flood into my email
in-box (I love it, actually, why else would I be doing this?
) Note to my loving hubby: No, it's not because I am
certifiably insane, sweetie! =)
Cheers!
Ann
