I may be crazy- thoughts on Culinary Symposium 2010

[raffaellasworld]

This year's Culinary Symposium hasn't even come and gone yet, but I'm thinking of Organizing next years.  I went to a non-SCA function out at Millislyvannia State Park and I think that it might be a great site for this event. The cabin capacity is only 150 people, but there are RV accommodationsavailable, either for just parking, or parking and hook up and there was quite a bit of interest in that last year (but unfortunately it wasn't available at the otherwise wonderful previous site).

This site is in the Olympia area, and I believe had long ago been the site for Madrone's Staggering Hedgehog events.

Millersylvania Environmental Learning Center (ELC) is a reservable rental facility for groups of up to 150 people. The ELC includes a dining hall/ kitchen, 19 sleeping cabins, two restrooms/ showers, one amphitheater, one private swim area, eight canoes, two rowboats, three ballfields, plus a volleyball and a horseshoe court. Prices vary depending on size of the group. For information or reservations, call the ELC office at 360-902-8600 or toll free at (800) 360-4240.

The current numbers look workable, but it would be more than what we expect for a typical camping event, but we would be providing sleeping accommodations in cabins. It would be 9.58 per person, per night, and 3.50 per day for those not sleeping over. I imagine we would also be arranging food so that students wouldn't have to worry about it, or leave site to eat and could focus on the classes offered. I'm thinking the overall site fee with cabin and food included for the weekend will need to be around $70, but more number crunching still needs to happen. Day Trip fee would be 50?

I just sent a tentative message out to the B&B of that area as well since the site is in their lands, and I want to make sure they're okay with someone outside their group planning an event in their area.

Here are some reviews of the site
http://www.stateparks.com/millersylvania.html
And some further information: 
http://www.parks.wa.gov/elcs/#Millersylvania

Now I just have to wait to hear back from Glymm Mere, and send an email to the nice park ranger to arrange a site visit if it's a go.

Should I change the date? Is there a date that would work better for everyone? The original one was chosen because of the difficulty finding a date that had no other schedule conflicts and a site available. :) 

So just looking into an idea still at this point, nothing is even set in tissue paper yet, much less stone. It's still more than a year away.

Comments

[copper-oxide.livejournal.com]

I'm delighted you are thinking about it this early. My schedule fills up so fast that it is difficult not knowing well ahead of time.

My hope would be to keep it in November, but an earlier weekend. End of November is busy because of Art Fairs and possibly weather concerns.

[ayeshadream.livejournal.com]

That's the idea, it would give lots, and lots and lots of time for planning and recruiting awesome teachers from everywhere.

The date is currently open. It's been the second weekend of November, but we could move it to the first weekend in November if that works well for people- I want to check the west and possible Caid calendars to make sure they don't have anything big going on that weekend.

[derekl1963.livejournal.com]

So how to hold multiple cooking tracks there?

(Edit: Yes, you're crazy. But we know that and love you anyhow. Or maybe because of. :)

[ayeshadream.livejournal.com]

I'm going to check further into how many kitchen are available or if it's just the one main one.

There are also other options as well- we could really encourage things like the brick and sand oven that was build onsite at AnTir West, and Eduardo has an awesome camp stove and oven that he did a roast in at Crown.

[lapioggia.livejournal.com]

What would the date be? (did I miss it in the text???)

[ayeshadream.livejournal.com]

The date last year was the Second weekend in November, that's what it's set for this year as well.

Next year, 2010, hasn't been set yet, but it's been suggested that we do it the first weekend of November. I just need to double check the AnTir, West and Caid Calendars to make sure there is no major conflict.

[j-i-m-r.livejournal.com]

At some point I'd like to see this event travel up and down the coast ... my long term evil plot of developing the left coast historical food community. But, I think most likely Western participants for 2010 will be involved in running the PPF2 next year, so I doubt we're up to organizing one in the West until 2011. Sounds like a lovely site.

[ayeshadream.livejournal.com]

Yes! I was just thinking this weekend that I may have jumped the gun and should perhaps ask if anyone further south might be interested in taking it on next year.

If your planning efforts will be focused on PPF2, but you'd be interested in attending then reversing the following year, that sounds perfect all around. :)

Is this years PPF Spanish, then the following one in two years Italian? I totally love the concept and would love to help, and to try it up here too!

[daedin.livejournal.com]

Glymm Mere has used this site a bunch of times, and we used it for the Admin Retreat twice. It's pretty nice. If you need more lowdown on it, send me a note.

[ayeshadream.livejournal.com]

I would love more information and your experience with the site!

I think I've still got your email somewhere from emptybowl=fest last year. :)