In this mailing:
Org List
Beginning the follow-up
Confirming and clarifying some roles
Vote Of Confidence
Issues, incidents, complaints
Art Tour Summary
Activity reports
Off The Strip comments
Shooting report
Still missing in action
Administrivia
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Org List:
This is the DLV 2016 Organizational Mailing List (dlvorg_at_geekbabe.com)
Replies to this message will be forwarded to the DLVORG list and not
the DLV-Announce or DLV-Discuss list.
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Beginning the follow-up:
First of all, major thanks go out to our volunteer team who put together
our recent event! It was very well executed and very well received with
very few issues!
Good job well done, gang!
. . . . .
Second of all, some reminders. :)
If you attended and have not yet taken the follow-up survey, please do
so.
It is on line here:
http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/2016survey.html
If you've taken it and wish to add more comments, please re-visit the
URL above, go directly to the comment section (do not pass GO, do not
collect $200) and say what you wish to say. :)
And, while you're at it. :) Please be sure to rate the vendors you used
during the event:
Photos. Please keep them coming, gang! :) We would like to suggest that
you try uploading them via the Photo Upload function on the Attendee
Information Portal. It's been stress-tested with some larger batches
(20-60 and more) and seems to be working fine.
This is the link you received when you registered. If you lost it,
please say so and we'll resend it to you promptly.
. . . . .
Here's a brief run-down of some of the things we'll be taking care of
over the next few weeks and months:
1. Final summarizing of the 2016 event. High points, Lessons learned,
etc. We'll start that now, or rather a week ago. :)
2. Activity reports. Thanks to those whose reports appear below. Please
keep them coming. :)
3. Clean-up of the ORG mailing list. This will begin in a few weeks. We
will need to be a bit more thorough this year, as two of the "big four"
free email providers are getting even more picky about bulk email of any
type.
4. Reviewing of the DLV 2016 survey results. (Closes April 30.) If you
attended and have not yet taken the survey, please do so. Link above.
5. Clarifying roles, confirming leadership positions. See below.
6. Election of the "Even Year" Administrative Committee member. This
will occur in July.
7. Addition of the DLV 2017 volunteers. This will most likely occur
in June-July.
8. Preparing the DLV 2017 electorate (voting status) list.
9. Preparing the DLV 2016 follow-up web pages. We'll be rolling out the
photo staging area within the next few days.
10. Beginning the planning of the 2017 event!
If there are any other items which need our attention in the immediate
future, please don't be silent. :)
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Confirming and clarifying some roles:
Annie writes:
During the course of the event, I received quite a bit of very valuable
feedback, far more than in any recent year. Most all of the feedback was
highly positive. Volunteers, rank and file attendees, and newcomers were
eager to let their thoughts be known.
Specifically, three individuals had requested "one on one" sessions to
comment and suggest. Two of these happened, the third did not simply due
to the hectic nature of the event.
All three are on this list and they may identify themselves if they
choose to do so. :)
I would like to touch on a few of the raised points now.
One point that was raised, and this was all positive in tone and a very
legitimate concern, not a complaint, was the carrying over from year to
year of the various leadership roles, giving the perception of some kind
of an "insider status" or a permanent appointment or "squatters rights"
to the positions.
If one person brought this forward, obviously others are thinking of it.
I want us to address this one as quickly as possible and put it to rest,
as in now. See the following item below.
. . . . .
Another similar concern was the role of the Administrative Committee and
exactly what good it does.
My response was along the line that when things are running smoothly,
the Administrative Committee has a very light load.
Known (but not thought of until reminded) to the individual was the fact
that during the last year the Administrative Committee did have its
first really sensitive item to deal with. This was very intentionally
"soft pedaled" to the volunteers and not even mentioned to the rank and
file and was a very awkward "personnel" issue which was handled very
well. It was agreed that there would be no useful purpose of
highlighting this issue.
Another issue, not as serious, is currently being taken up off line by
the Administrative Committee.
JoAnn and I have discussed involving the Administrative Committee more
in key decisions and seeking their input more frequently.
. . . . .
A related concern passed on to me by one of the others on the PM Team
was to the effect of "what good is voting status if we never vote on
anything?"
We had few votes this past year simply due to the fact that almost every
decision was quickly and easily made by consensus. If anyone here in the
ORG group wishes to see a vote on almost anything, instead of a decision
by apparent consensus, a raised motion and second will do just that.
One very important vote, which occurs yearly since it's seldom decided
by consensus, is that of the dates for the next annual event. The date
vote has historically been one of the most contentious of our votes,
since often times attendees, including active volunteers, may be "locked
out" of attending depending on the vote results. The date vote has often
been very close.
A motion on about anything can be brought to the floor. However, in the
past the PM Team (we do have the authority to do our job, that is to
manage the project) :) has declined to bring to the floor any motion for
an "unvolunteered mandate" meaning we won't vote to do anything for
which we do not have a willing volunteer. We've also declined in the
recent past to accept "spoiler" nominations for proposed dates.
. . . . .
Another concern which was raised in person and was also noted in one of
the ad-hoc mailing lists was the lack of true back-and-forth discussion
in this ORG list due to the relatively slow turn-around time of one week
between mailings.
What we'll try is to have a separate "Org Chat" area on MyDLV for just
this, for volunteer discussion of a more informal nature than occurs
here in the weekly mailings.
This is intended to be rolled out in the next week or so.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vote Of Confidence:
You may consider this to be a motion by one member of the PM Team
(Annie, Beverly, JoAnn, pick one) and seconded by another (pick
another). :)
We will be holding a "Vote Of Confidence" (or of no confidence) for all
of the named leadership positions we have.
We want to immediately settle any questions of anything and to allow
those of voting status to confirm, and if circumstances warrant, remove
and replace any of those currently holding named positions.
Everyone of voting status can expect to receive a special "ballot" email
within the next few days. Please watch for this and please yell if you
do not receive this by Friday at the latest.
Yes, one sensitive issue is obvious. Three of the individuals named on
the ballot normally have access to anything sent to or replied to the
dlvorg address, including who was the person sending or replying.
For this vote, it's been set up so that if the ballot email is edited
EXACTLY as specified (see example below) and returned without additional
text, it will be directed into a special queue and tabulated without
being seen by a human. You'll have to trust us on this. (If we, the PM
Team, cannot be trusted by the volunteers, we have a much greater
issue!)
Example of response:
0. Shall Fnordia be retained as Dictator At Large?
Yes
As usual, polls will remain open until no further votes are received for
a 48 hour period. (Vote early, vote often!) :)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Issues, incidents, complaints:
Annie writes:
First of all, unfortunately, we probably will not be able to get a true
and accurate headcount in total for our event this year. One of the
paper sign-in lists was accidentally discarded, and there does not
appear to be enough other information to accurately reconstruct the
sign-in data.
The best I think we'll be able to do this year is to take the actual
counts for our two largest activities, extrapolate them using the recent
years' attendance percentages, and average them to get our "official
estimated" turnout count.
We know that we had at least 102 at the Welcome Celebration, rather we
stopped counting at 102, so that's a realistic conservative number. We
also know that the headcount at the first major gathering has been
roughly 70% of the total turnout over the years.
We know that we had at least 81 in total at the 20th. Annual
Celebration, which came from counting those at tables, those seated at
the bar, and those milling around not dining or seated. We also know
that the attendance at the second major gathering has been consistently
around 60% of the total turnout over the past few years.
Using these numbers, based on the first major gathering we get 145.7 and
135 based upon the second major gathering. Splitting the difference and
rounding we get 140, which is probably as close as we will be able to
get. This agrees with my personal observation that we had "slightly
more" than we did last year. (Update, it appears that the numbers will
converge to a value right around 140 if the responses to the straggler
counts continue as they are expected.)
Also due to the loss of data, we'll probably hold off as marking anyone
as a no-show for the event this year, giving everyone the benefit of the
doubt.
. . . . .
On the technical side, it was reported that the activity reminders were
two hours off. This was very easy to fix and it could have been fixed
earlier if somebody would have reported it. System logs show many very
early reminders going out prior to the fix.
. . . . .
Now off to the "fun" ones, BDR issues. :(
Overall, there were very few this year. :)
I received one (quick, fleeting, when leaving) complaint about cigar
smoking again this year. I did not even have time to ask if they wanted
me to intervene.
{Crossing fingers and knocking on wood} No restroom incidents this year,
at least none reported so far. (This is what I thought last year too
until one came in on the survey.)
One other dress and behavior issue, raised by an activity Coordinatior,
is being handled off line. It's the intent to resolve this as discreetly
as possible.
. . . . .
One minor injury was reported, that being a fall downstairs at Off The
Strip. My personal conversation with the person involved appeared to
indicate that minor contusions occurred but no permanent damage.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Art Tour Summary:
Sarah (with the "h") writes:
Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art - Wednesday 2:00 PM
Attendance - 16
After a few years of lower turnout this was great and we were treated to
an excellent exhibit.
Our timing allowed us to take part in either the self-guided audio tour
or follow a guide as she discussed the various images on display.
As far as I am aware, there were no issues and everyone dressed and
behaved within DLV suggested guidelines and each of us was treated well.
In the future with this kind of attendance we could get a bit more of a
discount as a group, but at $14 for Seniors and locals or $16 otherwise,
it's still quite the bargain.
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Activity reports:
Vera writes:
Bavarian HofBrauHause Dinner - Wednesday evening:
I had made the reservation for 18 but the final count was more like 30.
However, the total number that showed up was 15, just shy of the
original 18.
One DLV attendee had seen the place many times while in Vegas but had
never gone in. She decided to try it with the group but did not enjoy it
as much as she thought she would due to all the loud noise.
I got no other negative feedback from the other attendees and it
appeared everyone was in good spirits.
Thanks to Barbara who stepped in to act as my co-hostess (she earned her
DLV organizational voting status).
. . . . .
Shiloh Horse Ranch:
Small group of 14 traveled down to visit Shiloh.
Unfortunately the trip was scheduled on a day when Jill Curtis was not
going to be at the ranch. But who I spoke to her she said that the DLV
ladies were welcome to come in and wander around and visit with the
horses. She was going to call one of her workmen, Diego, to attend to
us.
It was a beautiful morning to visit the country and feel the country
breeze. Thanks to Eydie who brought a 25 lb. bag of carrots to feed the
horses.
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Off The Strip comments:
Michelle (NV) writes:
The Linq Off-The-Strip Bistro was outstanding! Loved the way they
handled it. This should be considered for a repeat performance for the
Gala.
. . . . . . . . . .
Annie writes:
Off The Strip was a winner! That venue is a keeper! I agree with
Michelle and others that it should be re-used.
Big thanks to Marisa for checking it out for us and coordinating the
affair!
The evening turned out very well. We packed the place! Everyone seemed
to be enjoying the evening. The group gathered rather quickly, imbibed
and dined, and lingered! The facility was gracious enough to keep the
bar open longer than had been planned.
The management appeared to be very optimistic and forward looking, with
language such as "well, next year we can ..." so they obviously want us
back. I'm hoping that they don't have a management turnover which causes
more restrictive terms.
I heard no complaints about the food or service. There was some
confusion over payment but I heard no vocal complaints. LOL, I figure
that if people are truly having a great time, they will be less likely
to complain about things like that. :)
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Shooting report:
Vanessa writes:
Thursday morning Shooting at Discount Guns went well and we were
finished by 11:00 am.
We had 12 participants and Gina furnished the bulk of the guns and ammo.
The Annual Annie Oakley Competition was held with a .22 cal Smith &
Wesson Semi-auto pistol and our high score was turned in by Chrissie
from Utah.
. . . . . . . . . . .
Gina writes:
Hi All,
This years Rifle and Pistol Shooting event went off without a hitch.
The venue, Discount Firearms and Ammunition was an excellent host as
always, I stopped in the night before and warned them of our group and
they were thrilled to have us. I was greeted with open arms. We have had
this event there 5 or 6 times and some of the same people work there and
look forward to seeing us every year.
We had about 15 people show up over the 2 hours, we started out with a
brief safety lecture, and moved into the range.
This year was especially good for the new shooters as we had three first
class trainers available to help, as Crisse joined our trainer ranks,
she has extensive experience teaching all kinds of shooting along with
your normal(? regular might be a better word) hostesses Gina and
Vanessa. Thank you Crisse!
We had our Annie Oakley shoot off and Crisse won with a perfect score,
she will abstain next year as Gina and Vanessa have been for years. The
other scores were really good this year, I think we will move the target
out a few more feet next year!
Thanks to all that participated, as always it was as big a pleasure for
your hostesses as it was for you!
Gina, Vanessa, and Crisse your DLV Shootist team
From a tee shirt I love "Yes, I shoot like a Girl.... want a lesson?"
Girls rock shooting!
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Still missing in action:
Annie writes:
Thanks to all for the reports of those sighted.
Let's call the final count 140 and concentrate our efforts in more
pressing areas. :) I do have a feeling that more will report in when
they realize they have not received a photo staging link. :)
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Administrivia:
This is the Diva Las Vegas 2016 organizational list.
One address for all items regarding this list, additions, removals,
changes, submissions, questions, etc.:
dlvorg_at_divalas.vegas <--- NOTE: New address, all lower case
Diva Las Vegas 2016
Mon, March 28 - Sat, April 2
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Archives of this list appear on the web at:
http://www.geekbabe.com/annie/org16arc/
To unsubscribe: Simply reply to this message with the word UNSUBSCRIBE
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To send material to this list: Send submission as regular e-mail to
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Received on Wed Apr 13 2016 - 07:07:50 CDT
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.2.0 : Wed May 11 2016 - 05:54:23 CDT