Washingtonians

[RonB]

I VOTE 12-7pm I don't get off work till 11"00am. Your not going to start without me are ya ???

Kim if ya want to look at the place, I'm up for it in the afternoons. didn't it say Thur nights like 6:30

 

[weaveagarden]

You might want to include at least an hour for set up prior to the party and an hour after the closing time because most places require that you put things back to the way your found them.... Sweep, take down chairs, move tables back ...etc.

I love the idea of a kid friendly non-alcoholic potluck. Anytimes you set are fine with me. At only a little bit per extra hour..... better to err on the side of extra time, not less. If most everyone is willing to kick in $5 per person it shouldn't be a problem.

I have to say that I can't imagine that there is anybody on here raising chickens who is more broke than me, living on an extremely small fixed income. I don't think that it's much to ask people to pitch in to help defray the cost of the hall. Maybe if they are bringing multiple extra heads you might consider a little bit less for smaller kids. But parties cost money, and a few dollars isn't much to ask. Unless someone is feeling particularly flush and doesn't mind paying more so that some who have less can come even if they can't afford the smaller amount. I hate to see anybody get stuck footing the bill for this. It can add up fast, and there a million horror stories of just such circumstances occuring. Any extra can go toward the next party, or to the fund to help chicken's in need of food. (My two cents worth, hope I didn't offend anybody

)

Now on the issue of chickens in the cage. What do you think?

 

[KMHunter]

Weaveagarden,
I love my chickens, and would love to show them off, but I don't want to bring them around other chickens. Biosecurity. I have heard that if you show your chickens, you have to quarantine them when you get back. I think I am just going to bring pictures.

If you are kidding, just ignore this post.

I am Ok with 12-7, but that would include set up and clean up. So the party would actually start at 1 and end at 6. But anyone who wants to show up earlier, that's fine. Or you can show up anytime during the time we have the hall. I can get the paper plates and cups, and napkins. Everyone can bring a liter or two of pop with their dish, and if a couple of someone's are willing to pick up a thing of 20oz water bottles at costco, that would be awsome. Any other detail ideas?

Kim

PS- I know I asked all of you for your email addresses, but when I look at the list, it is a little overwhelming, Could you all send me an email, from your email address, to mine so I can just add them from the email? I would really appreciate it. My address is [email protected]

Thanks!

 

[kristenm1975]

Hello all! I have a feisty Penedesenca cockerel in Oak Harbor who's needing a new home. He's been menacing the other roosters in the flock and needs to have a place where he can have is own ladies all to himself. He was sold to me about 8 months ago as a week old chick purchased from Penny's Little Gems Hatchery which specializes in Penedesencas, Barnevelders and other dark-egg layers. I'm not sure what kind of Penedesenca he is, but he's a beauty.

I have a friend keeping him for me as I have had to move into the city and am not able to keep chickens at this point. As a result, I don't have any access to pictures right now to show off his new pretty feathers. I have asked my friend to take a few shots for me so if I get those I'll post them.

I'm asking for $20 cash for him, or best offer. You would need to go to Oak Harbor and pick him up yourself. Thanks!

 

[justbugged]

Quote:
I have a few thoughts on the above observations. Who ever gets the liquor permit maybe fully liable for anything that could happen at the party concerning alcohol consumption including all the time up to, and until everyone has arrived back to their homes. Yikes!

I would not want that liability, and DH said H#$* NO!

I also have a thought about the children.

I don't think that if I still had small children; that I would bring them to this first gathering. I think that because I am going to be meeting essentially total strangers for the first time, and that there maybe be other people coming that have never posted. As parents we should probably not expose our children to possible child predators or really odd duck people. (I am not trying to say that anyone falls into that category, but maybe someone that has not posted maybe.) Also consider the mentally ill. Nothing prevents these people from owning chickens.

Then by the next time we meet that we bring the kids and we will all have a better knowledge of who to be leery of. The camping trip would also be a great time to teach the children that some people maybe ones that we all must be aware of including ourselves. And for whom the children should not be alone with. We could all then watch out for the kids then with a better sense of at least a little knowledge of who we are meeting.

We should also probably set a minimum excepted donation for the gathering. It would be awful for the person that rents the hall to be maybe having to pay a big chunk of the cost because there were not enough donations. We don't have to enforce the donation because I know there is a few that can't afford anything extra. But by posting a minimum I think most people would feel the need to donate something.

Also we would need someone to watch the donation can, so that no one would be tempted to walk away with it. (Once again it's that total stranger thing.) We could take turns with just a few of us needing to handle the matter. If we have extra money we then could start our fund for help others in need. We also need to make this cash only unless we get a bank account set up first.

I see that while I have been typing this up that others are making the same connections about the liability too. I might twi late at night, but I rarely ever drink in public, and I sure don't want to drive while intoxicated. We lost our next door neighbor to an impaired drive less than three years ago. He had a wife and 2 young boys that desperately miss him everyday

Kim I am with you on the chicken thing. I was kidding originally about bringing a chicken. I think pictures are a great way to share our birds, and safer to. I can pick up some bottled water at my Grocery Outlet for 3.50 a case. I also have a really big cooler to put them in with ice. I love water, and drink a lot of it during the day. Plus I never drink pop. I just have never liked it. 12-7 works for me. I will also send you an e-mail. Well enough for now Christina

P.S. I have nothing against having the kids attend.

 

[KMHunter]

Quote:
I want to let you all know, that even though I offered to host this party, I am open to all opinions. Please don't feel like you are stepping on toes or anything. I want opinions and ideas. I don't always think of all of the little details like some do. Any help I can get is appreciated. Plus this party is being put on by multiple people, so I hope I am speaking for those that helped come up with this idea and are helping to put it together.

If I'm not you can slap me later.

ETA- I think I have everyone in my contact list except for a few that I just emailed thru BYC. So if you are just finding out about the party, just email me at [email protected] and I will add you to the list.

Thanks!
Kim

 

[weaveagarden]

I totally agree about the biosecurity thing and my chickens. I was just going on someone previously saying they wanted to bring a couple. I wouldn't bring mine because I don't let them near any other birds, except unfortunately the ones that fly over head or into my yard. They are probably more likely to have something, but that threat is hard to control. I have gotten the biosecurity certification. (Easy process at the Washington State Agriculture site).

So just to not beat around the bush, and knowing that nobodies toes are in the way. Here is what I propose. Feel free to disagree.

Totally non-alcoholic, non-chicken, potluck get together. If you plan on bringing your kids, they are welcome but do feel like you need to monitor them and keep them safe and not bothering anybody that may be a non-kid type person. Changing babies should be taken care of in the restroom and cars.

That last part because any get together I have gone to with over 100 people of all ages (which with kids we are likely going to have) there is always one who thinks it is OK to change a diaper on the bench in a room where people are eating. I know we all do it at home in a pinch, but it is really not a nice thing to do.

Since it looks like the Maltby club has an extra area, we might want to consider having one area for younger kids (maybe under 6) with their families to sit and visit together if safety is a concern. Easier for those parents to keep tabs on multiple kids. Just a thought.

I do think that we need someone who is not afraid to ruffle feathers to act as host. Hopefully it isn't needed. But someone here needs to just decide things. Set the rules and be prepared to handle any problems that may arise from someone that just doesn't want to do what is right. To my mind, Kim is the likely candidate. But if you want to have someone else do it, maybe Ron wouldn't mind. Again. May not be needed, but better safe...... Needless to say that persons decisions would get support from this community as a whole. We just need a voice of authority to handle disagreements, or anyone who is acting in an unsafe or difficult manner.

edited to clarify a few things.

 

[Tailfeathers]

Hi Guys,

It's been several days since I've been to the thread. I went back thru several pages but may have still missed some comments already made, so if I'm beating a dead horse, I'll ask for forgiveness in advance.

Potluck sounds good. I like the No Booze idea. I have the occasional drink so I'm not a prohibitionist but allowing booze just invites an increased risk of something unseemly having and the possibility of an otherwise great experience turning into a nightmare that folks won't forget.

Children is ok with me. In fact, I think this is a great way to introduce kids to a social network that has a truly positive influence contrary to what other introductions and influences they may have already had. Why not show kids that it's hip to be a Feather Fancier and you're not a square if you love poultry? As for worrying about possible child predators and such, my comment on that is to just exercise the same judgment, caution, and supervision that you would if you took them to the zoo, park, mall, etc.

If you're going to rent a Hall of some sort, then I would recommend the host or whoever is in charge of getting the Hall reserved and putting the deposit down, ask for a RSVP with a suggesed donation amount. Otherwise you're likely to have a bunch of people showing up and nothing put in the donation can. Then the host is left with footing the bill. If that's something they are willing to do and any support is welcome, that's great but I'd hate to have someone left hanging with hard feelings because not enough was contributed. Trust me, I know from way more previous experiences than I'd like to think about that you can't count on someone doing what they said they would just because they said they word. Unfortunately, a person's word is no longer there bond. For what it's worth, I have not made one penny this year at my job but if I'm gonna be able to drive to a chicken party, another $5-10 bucks ain't gonna prevent me from coming.

One last suggestion. I didn't see a date that folks were considering. For the future, planning something like this around a WFF scheduled show would be a great way to kill two birds with one stone. The Winter Brisk will be held in Chehalis on December 12-13. The Cascade Spring Show will be next April - I think. Coop in for the Shows is usually Saturday morning with Coop-Out on Sunday Morning. Having a get together Saturday evening after a show would be a great way to meet everyone, see everyone's various poultry, and support the WFF shows. Just something to think about maybe for the future.

That's my two-cents.

God Bless,

 

[justbugged]

I think the date for the party is tentatively set for Feb 28th 2010. It is a Sunday due to some of the parents having soccer practice on Saturdays. If anyone else has a opinion feel free to post your idea for a date.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Well I tried to post this earlier but for some reason couldn't post. I think it would be best if people could send their "donations" in advance. That way whoever rents the hall doesn't have to foot the bill until the gathering. And rather than have a "donation" can, have 1 person who can take donations on site. That way there is no concern or the donations walking off. Just some of my silly ideas.

I think I have been ratted out with reference to water foul and padded rooms.