So who's going to HybridFest 2k8?

rhwinger · #21 08-12-2007, 09:52 AM

Like some of the others, I'm going to have to figure out how to include the family in on HF08. My youngest has his birthday on the 20th, and I felt like a bit of a heel when he got upset when he found out I would not be able to attend his party.

I know there is a fair, and when I showed pics of it to my oldesest boy, he expressed interest, but I know after an afternoon out there, he'll be looking for something else.
This will take some forward planning.

Is there a way to ask the HF organizers to incorporate some family stuff to help sell the idea of attending to spouses?

efusco · #22 08-12-2007, 10:13 AM

I hope to go again next year, but will definately make it a family trip. It would be great if there were some family activities planned (besides the fair) to keep them entertained, even organized trips to the children's museum and other spots...perhaps taking advantage of the GM Hybrid bus or something during the MPG challenge. An evening kid's movie during the screeinings of the 'boring' movies for the adults. And some sort of kids banquet would be cool during the adult banquet.

My son had a nice time, but there were clearly times where he was bored out of his skull while I drooled over the PHEV conversion and sat through some of the talks and such. Were his brother and sister and mom there that would have helped, of course.

tbaleno · #23 08-12-2007, 10:42 AM

One thing I'd like to do is put together an outing or something for a few hours where all the online folk can meet. It is kind of hit and miss with nothing organized. You kind of have to hope you bump into the people you want to meet.

Anyone up for that idea?

diamondlarry · #24 08-12-2007, 10:48 AM

Sounds good. Pizza party in Wayne's room?

Seriously though, maybe a time could be set up where we could meet for lunch on Saturday?

tbaleno · #25 08-12-2007, 10:55 AM

maybe next year there could be a meeting room at hybridfest that a group could rent for a few hours

efusco · #26 08-12-2007, 12:43 PM

My daughter's birthday is on the 21st and I was in pretty hot water for not being home for that this year....hence part of the reason they'd be coming next year.

ericbecky · #27 08-12-2007, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhwinger

Like some of the others, I'm going to have to figure out how to include the family in on HF08. My youngest has his birthday on the 20th, and I felt like a bit of a heel when he got upset when he found out I would not be able to attend his party.

I know there is a fair, and when I showed pics of it to my oldesest boy, he expressed interest, but I know after an afternoon out there, he'll be looking for something else.
This will take some forward planning.

Is there a way to ask the HF organizers to incorporate some family stuff to help sell the idea of attending to spouses?

Tell you what... I'll give you a budget and you head a co-chair a committee set some stuff up? I have contacts you can work with through the convention and visitors bureau that would be glad to help you. I just don't have time to do it all with the people we have ont he committee so far.

Seriously, let me know if you are interested. (email me or PM me.)

Some things off the top of my head that are in Madison
Dane County Fair runs all days of Hybridfest
Children's museum
Saturday Morning children's programs downtown
Farmer's Market on the Square on Saturday
Tours of the Capitol
Shopping downtown
State Historical Museum
Veterans Museum
University of Wisconsin

ericbecky · #28 08-12-2007, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbaleno

One thing I'd like to do is put together an outing or something for a few hours where all the online folk can meet. It is kind of hit and miss with nothing organized. You kind of have to hope you bump into the people you want to meet.

Anyone up for that idea?

Tom, are you volunteering for organizing this. If so, let me know so we don't plan something else on top of this. Perhaps coordinate with rhwinger.

Quote:

Originally Posted by diamondlarry

Sounds good. Pizza party in Wayne's room?

Seriously though, maybe a time could be set up where we could meet for lunch on Saturday?

One idea would be to expand the hospitality area. Maybe have more tables set up and distribute lunch in the hospitality room?

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbaleno

maybe next year there could be a meeting room at hybridfest that a group could rent for a few hours

So something other than an expanded hospitality area?

tbaleno · #29 08-12-2007, 02:38 PM

I didn't make use of the hospitality area. Mostly because I didn't really know what it was. I'd be interested in setting up a luncheon or something for internet people, but organizing it would have to require no traveling or anything on my part since I'm moving even further away. Maybe as things get going on the hybridfest planning I can flesh something out.

ericbecky · #30 08-12-2007, 02:50 PM

Hospitality room could be a great place for meeting with people who are from the net without being mixed in with the public. It was pretty spartan this year and (as with most things) we learned a lot from our first foray into the concept.

As far as setting up a luncheon we could talk more about this and "flesh out" the idea. If people just want to have a big pizza party instead of boxed lunch, we won't stand in the way. It's your guys' event, too you know. almost like a big "family reunion".

Most of organizing occurs via email, a private yahoo group, and phone/phone conference. It's easy to add you into the mix. We probably only met face to face less than a handful of times and definitely not all of us together.