San Diego Chicken meetup and Chat thread

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I'd like to make some suggestions for the meet ups and get everyone's input. I've only been to the one in Ramona. It was great because so many attended and I was really excited about it. I'm afraid that people will lose interest with monthly or even bi-monthly meet ups. Also, I know it's hard for people that work and have families (that usually aren't as into the chicken thing as we are) to devote one day a month to attending the meet-up. In order to keep the meet-ups fresh, exciting and something that we can anticipate as well as plan ahead for, I'd like to suggest that we have one every three months, or 4 times a year. Maybe two closer when there is more hatching activity and two spread out more when things have slowed down.

I'd like to suggest that we take turns hosting the event. Whoever hosts it picks the date, place and time. The host would be responsible for making sure that if it's at a park they get permission, that they arrive early to secure the spot. They can pick a theme or have some activities if they want. People would have to contact them to offer assistance, or they can see if someone wants to co-host, etc... If we have many people wanting to host then we could draw names. If, for example, I host the first one then the next time around my name would not be included in the drawing. This would continue until all persons have had a chance to host or until there are no people wanting to host.

Okay, what are your thoughts?

 

[wwmicasa1]

Quote:
I, for one, think this is a great idea. Personally, since Chickens are my business, I find it very difficult to attend more than a few times a year. My weekends are usually booked with clients who want to view my flock & purchase birds. We are busy during the year tending the flock & growing veggies, herbs & fruit exclusively for a restaurant in SD. Since we are a labor force of only two, it is hard for one of us, in the busy months, to be gone for a full day.

I also want to be able to contribute hatching eggs & birds but I am limited to what I can bring because I need to service my existing clientele. I do, at times, have excess that I would be glad to share but I can't on a monthly basis.

Also, having different venues would be great for all of us since the cost of gas is sky rocketing. If the location is too far away, we can opt to skip one & attend the next if it is closer. We all keep in close contact through this thread, so if we would like to share something we can always post here so no one is left out.

I've only attended the meet-up in Ramona but it was wonderful meeting & sharing ideas & seeing each others different breeds. Whatever everyone decides to do is fine. I will come whenever I can & continue to get all the news from this great thread

 

[enzolove]

I think a quarterly meet-up is a good idea also. It took so much will power on my part to not come home with any chicks last time! Since I'm not normally that strong, I can just see me coming home every month with more and more and more chickens . . . probably best to space out the meetings.

Also, taking turns at hosting is a good idea - I felt bad last time leaving before it was over, knowing Tigerlily has to do all the cleanup.

I vote for keeping it fresh

 

[SunnyCalifornia]

I'm good with anything! I would certainly volunteer to host or co-host too. Its so much fun to see everyone and their chickens!

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Good ideas! I agree!

 

[tigerrrrrrrlilly]

I also like these ideas, especially the hosting part. I have no issues with monthly meetups, but I think your right about it staying fresh and being difficult for some to keep up with. A quarterly planned meetup would be great, and if all dates/locations and hosts could be planned and setup for the year so there is no last minute problems or issues up in the air -that would be even better.

For those of us that would still like to get together monthly, I could easily start a club and we could meet at a place I know in El Cajon where we can rent a room with kitchen (at the park rec. center) for a small fee. It's equipped with tables, chairs, tv for presentations or whatever and a nice kitchen.
We can just each pay a few dollars in "membership" dues to cover the cost. I go to San Diego Gamebird breeders meetings there so I know they allow chickens and other birds - they just can't run around the place. It could be in the evening or whenever on a set day and time each month. Another way to raise money (which is what the gamebird breeders do) is to hold a raffle, and members bring something (anything) to contribute as a prize. The tickets are 50 cents and that alone raises enough to pay for the room and put a little in the treasury for other club expenses, like supplies etc. I believe it's only around $15 to rent it. The club also charges an $18 a yr membership fee to cover cost of their monthly printed programs with classifieds and member's articles. It's nice for all members to list what they have to sell and to keep in touch with eachother. We could do that too. I can be "president"

and manage it all so nobody else has to worry about it unless they want to!

 

[LALASD4]

We could have regular quarterly meetups and monthly meetup also for whoever wants to meet.

 

[tigerrrrrrrlilly]

Quote:
Thats what I was thinking. A little club meeting monthly and the big potluck picnics quarterly.

 

[dfdesigns]

I like that idea. It will be easier for people to just show up to small monthly meetings if they don't have to worry about bringing food to share...

I hope we can work out a good schedule for another Modesto Milling order; my chickens & horses are loving what I got. (So are all the darn squirrels, unfortunately!)

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Quote:
LoL mine too! I joke that I have the nicest looking squirrels in San Diego... they're all fat and happy and their coats are oh so shiny!