Non-profits only have so many fundraisers that they can do a year, so I am told.

NSG,

Would it be possible to add a couple of named positions to assit the Greenpot roster? Not true Greenpots but a "Former Student Liason to the Green Pots" so to speak?

Also, utilize the news section of the site saying "WE NEED GOOD SOUND!" or "TELL FORMER FB PLAYERS TO CALL US!" Donations and equipment needs are grand, but some Fromers are able to help a lot more at getting former BQs together or advertising on Facebook (O.C. Hogs!) than donating chainshaws and tractors.

Had this expanded list existed and I known, I would've used a few contacts to get you a much bigger sound system so I could've actually HEARD the Good Bull story and known why my parents (standing much closer to the truck) were embarassed. (Not that I care. When my dad told me, I laughed long and hard.)


Also, I agree that an order of events, even if only on the website or a sandwich board and without actual times, as minimal as that may be, would still help educate those not in the know about what happens when. I've only been to Bonfire '98, '02 and '05. I couldn't remember what part came when and I was the "Bonfire Authority" in my family of Ags.


All in all, I'm still a huge fan of the Greenpots and all you do! Let us know how we, the Former Students, can help. Help me help you.

Daniel '02
O.C. Hogs / ASB Donor

Yet another sign that someone needs to dedicate themselves 100% to public relations.

this is a tough one. Keegan, should this PR person be a former student in the know, or a current student, not as much knowledge, but more free time.

Current student, but they would have the following responsibilities:

* Liaison for all media requests, including setting up appearances and interviews with Greys

* Handling all emails and phone calls from former students and other supporters

* Maintaining content and message on the web site

This individual would need a consistent big picture view of the goings on, and be in touch will all members of the leadership on a regular basis to keep the message to the public correct and on target.


The motivating factors are increased responsiveness to queries, increased accuracy of information, and increased bandwidth of communications.


For example, the posting on the Student Bonfire listserv on Friday about the burn ban contained several major factual errors (calling it the 'Bryan County Courthouse', saying the injunction was 'filed by the Brazos County Sheriff's Office').

A good PR person that was always on top of things and in the loop wouldn't let that happen.

[This message has been edited by Keegan99 (edited 11/21/2005 6:05p).]

Keegan - all responsibilities that were mine until the powers that be reassigned them in August.

The problem is that the guys don't have much time to focus on much else than getting Bonfire built but didn't recognize that they were taking on too much until it was too late.

IMHO, this is how things should be split up - as it was planned before August:

Greys - in charge of the big picture - policy-making and direction - delegate ideas to be put into action to the subordinates directly below them (the Browns and Greens)
Browns - in charge of enforcement of the Grey's policies and assistance in motivating the crews to get the job done
Greens - paperwork and other administrative things including event planning for burn night. We were set up to be organized with 3 Senior Greens and 2 Junior Greens. The Head Green would oversee the Greens as a whole as well as fundraising. One Senior Green would be involved with Burn night planning and one senior green would be the PR liaison. The Jr. Greens would take care of paperwork and take care of tasks delegated from the Seniors. We'd work as a team, helping each other out, but when it comes down to it, there'd be one person in charge of each of these aspects.

In any case, I just turned in a project today for my managing projects course which outlines each step needed to plan burn night. Over Christmas Break, I will take it and turn it into an instructions manual, which will make it VERY simple to make it come together.

There's a concept that I tried outlining to Chance after I took one of my small business management courses last semester... the concept is putting job responsibilities and tasks in writing so that a person with minimal skills can still successfully accomplish responsibilities.

The instruction manual is an implementation of that concept.

We'll see if it's used. As with several of my projects from my management courses that I have devoted to Bonfire, it has good intentions. It just depends on whether or not the person(s) in charge will listen.

In the words of several former Red Pots, who used this phrase towards a few of us a few years back...

Don't talk shop on campus, walls have ears.

You want to defend (I don't know how you can, but okay) yourself after Saturday, okay. That's fine. You want to defend the organization, that's fine too. But you want to go in a PUBLIC forum and rake your "fellow Bonfire leaders" over the coals because "they took the job away from you, and it would've been great if you'd been allowed to keep it."

This thread alone, given the fact that many on this board see you (NSG) as the Bonfire spokesperson, would make me very leery to donate.

Don't ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever turn your fellow pots to blame in a public forum - especially one where you had the audacity to pop off a "we really could not have done better" bomb.

Is 5 greens enough? Seems like there is an awful lot for 5 people to accomplish, without even considering going to school/working other jobs at the same time.

I've got to say I agree with AB2.

quote:

---

One Senior Green would be involved with Burn night planning and one senior green would be the PR liaison.

---

One person to handle burn night?! (with help from a couple of juniors?)

Wow.

If that were their full time job, maybe that could be done.

Our Coach's Night in Austin is a much smaller event with not near the challenges, and we have a committee of nearly a dozen committed Aggie graduates with real world experience that are needed to pull it off.

[This message has been edited by Keegan99 (edited 11/21/2005 8:51p).]

I parked on site so I didn't have any transporttion issues, but here's what I'd like to see for next year as far as the actual event.

1. Get some sort of raised platform for the last corps trip reader/story teller/special speaker. It doesn't have to be super high or super big. I don't think it is unreasonable to rent some scaffolding and I'd be willing to bet theres some construction Aggies that could get their hands on some.

2. Will's story was great. Still, there's not enough interaction with the crowd. In additon to the story there needs to be a speaker to get up and get the crowd motivated. In the past the coach/players would do this. We can't have that, but any average Joe can get on a mic and talk about how Vince Young eats his boogers and he's gonna be eatin Kyle Field dirt, etc... (Dion comes to mind) This can really get the crowd going.

3. Working PA. The sound this year wasn't terrible but could be better. Maybe it is worth spending the money to rent a professional quality PA?

4. I think a former student band would be great.

5. Make the necessary changes to make sure the stack gets lit.

In general I'd say not to forget that Bonfire is a pep rally and not just the world's most awesome camp fire. Try to get the crowd worked into a spirited frenzy, then wow them with the fire. Right now there's wow, but there's no frenzy.

1. Bonfire is about students, by students, and for students.

2. The practicalities and environment has changed so much that this is much different than when students spent 99% of their time on cut and stack without having to worry about anything else.

3. No Former Student wants to take anything from the students (no decent FS, anyway).

4. Not involving Former Students to assist with a lot of the periphery is pushing the rock uphill, needlessly.

I believe the goal or mission of Student Bonfire management should be this:

To maximize the probability that the cutting, stacking, and burning of Bonfire will continue, with maximum student involvement in those three areas.

I spoke to my old lady last night.

He is now an Audio Engineer here in Houston. We're 99% positive we can get a professional quality PA out there. It's the rig we used in college for BYX's Island Party, a Chilifest side stage and a David Allen Coe show. More than adequate for a crowd of 8,000 - 12,000.

Cost would be minimal... possibly even donated if we call in some markers and favors. We'd be able to run it flawlessly with a couple or six guys to help with setup.

Have a green contact me at daniel02@danieleggert.com.

Awesome Daniel!

hell yeah

-----------------------------------------
OC Hogs Build The Hell...

Sweet! A free/cheap PA system adequate to the task would be a great addition to next year's burn. A stage for the burn night festivities can easily be created from one of the trailers used to haul logs. Keep the ideas/suggestions coming!

Tom "DYG" Ellis '93
http://hogs.tamu.edu

Like we said... Hogs build Bonfire.

Some general advice -

I've been doing event planning for 6 or 7 years now. If the customers have problems with the way something was done, it COULD have been done better. That may have required earlier planning, better logistics, more structure, etc... but in general I'd say if people are thinking something was wrong, then it probably CAN be improved next time even if it was done to the best of your abilities this time. Criticism can be tough to take but with something this large you have to listen with open ears. It's easy to get defensive.

More specific to Bonfire - Building was entirely student run. Logistics wasn't. Bonfire had the army of the administration to help deal with transportation, security, vendors, power, speakers, planning, organization, you name it. Don't think that you have to take this all on yourselves without help from alumni. With an event this size I'd suggest at LEAST 6 or 7 people that ONLY plan things going on that night and nothing else.

[This message has been edited by NoACDamnit (edited 11/22/2005 7:49p).]

I agree with NOAC. Using former students to mentor and even donate event planning is only sensible. Seriously there needs to be a transportation system that can more large numbers of people relatively quickly.

And I love you guys and girls, but the event issues are keeping the crowd down. I know burn is not why you build it, but the reality of a long term off campus fire is that burn will be what pays for it.

The cash cow so to speak, like football is for the athletic department--and you have to take care of that cash cow.

From the photos, this years stack had a perfect look and feel. It was obviously so well build it did not even burn.

So now get the event part as well constructed.

There are many who would help without dictating--just like the offers of legal assistance and now a sound system.

I would have that burn committee early make a wish list--you might be surprised what would be donated.

3GA - you hit on an interesting point re: revenue.

SB is leaving 5 figures on the table each year by not commercializing the hell out of Burn Night.

Now, of course, the MOST important thing is safely building Bonfire. All of us that love Bonfire want to see that tradtion continue forever, and the only way that can happen is continual focus on safety above all else.

Creating a new line of pots that do NOTHING with Bonfire, and are willing to make that sacrifice, and focus entirely on event planning is the only way to have your cake and eat it too (having a GREAT Burn Day event and keeping it entirely student run, with only minimal input from a Former Student advisory council).

[This message has been edited by AB2 (edited 11/22/2005 11:26p).]

Better than creating line of pots and having responsibilities continue to blur between the different leaders, create a committee with an official name.

Pot colors are for people that need to be visually recognizable in the woods or at stack. (try telling that to BCS)

Besides, "Event Planning Committe Chair" looks better on the resume than "Sky-Blue Pot".

Agreed - ditch the "pot" designation for the people arranging this. Also little need for this to be made up entirely of students. If you can get an alum to donate their time, do it.

Totally agreed with Real and NoAC - I only brought the "pot" thing into it because, despite what anyone says, the capacity for distinction or glory may be what pushes a "maybe" to a "yay."