REPORT of
the CHAIR
53rd Annual
Old Timers Reunion
OTR
2002
A Look Back
OVERVIEW
It’s
over six months now since OTR 2002 was put to rest and in
the history books. Seems like a gazillion years and milestone
events have gone by…
There’s
been much time for reflection since Harny and I departed
the site on Wednesday after OTR. After a quick 4-hour beeline
for home to drop off sound equipment and tons of totes filled
with ties and togas and whatever else it is that OTR chairs
accumulate, an even quicker turnaround found the “Batfangmobile” southbound
to the Outer Banks where neither of us saw a solitary soul
that we recognized for four sun-drenched days. Such
a change from one week earlier when, from camp to camp, all
of us reunioned with so many OTR old and new friends.
It’s
been said repeatedly it was a quiet and FUN OTR … now that’s
good! Thursday certainly got off to an excellent start when
so many cavers and their guests arrived to share their space
at the campsite at the designated opening time – 12 Noon.
The collective efforts of the pre-OTR workcrew under Kelley prepared the site to
receive our guests with such ease and was so appreciated. It
was a first that we were “ready” on Tuesday, not idling our
thumbs but definitely in welcome mode.
-
The
teams who crafted the pyro Premier (or was it a plastic
Justrite?) and the
photo-op Welcome Bat were so creative in their energy
and artistry -- thank you to Charles, Sasquach, Tommy,
Don & Darrell
and to Charles (again!), Kathy, Judy and Diva.
-
Carol and her landscaping lads and lassies
designed the Path of Ol’ Timers Past at The Lutz
Rock while down along the Sauna Road Brian, Kimberly,
Barry and others
evolved a walkway into the flowers for quieter
reflection and meditation.
-
As always, the registration crew – and especially
Tim! – delivered their ever efficient welcome
while the dynamic duo of Kim and Trish took
on gate this year and learned a
whole new perspective of OTR management.
-
Tom bravely stepped
to the plate as our new (and challenged)
electrical wizard.
-
We
had water – HOT water – and plenty
of it, thanks to Doug!
-
The
great team of Scott and John’s most important task seemed
to be keeping the chair’s radio
in fresh batteries.
-
Security
had a relatively peaceful
event, thanks to Lizzie and her deputies.
-
Sauna crew under P.D. and TiNy kept the fires
burning and the crowds
happily bare at the hot tubs.
-
Tyne, showing her more administrative side, expertly
organized contest
crews and their results.
-
Barlow and his
team ministered
to those in need of medical attention including my little
friend E.B. who took a decidedly wrong turn over
a haybale – thanks,
guys!
-
Ralph probably got the medal for
meeting the
most OTR attendees as he dealt out ice cubes for a buck.
-
Carol
kept
us informed of breaking news
through
daily editions of Coot n’ Holler.
-
The
talents
of the three S’s (that’s
Shack,
Scotty & Sharon) and the COOTers crew replenished many an empty Guinness
mug
(is there any other brew?).
-
Kelley uttered his 25th and
final (hmmmmmmm ….) auction call.
-
Standing Stone and TAFO
lay in defeat for the 1st time
in 15 years at the victorious orange-fenced, slightly
inebriated
doo dah
debauchery of RASS.
-
fufu and
Tom made OTR’s stage shimmer with patriotic elegance in red,
white & blue
at a time when we really
needed it.
-
Weasel,
Ruth and the brewcrew teams labored long lonely (ha!)
hours at the new brew draws while up at the DJ booth Johnny
and
Nick @ Nite kept spinning those tunes to the crowded dancefloor
after the “live”lier entertainment closed down.
-
Nigel and
Diva kept the lengthy (almost Academy) Awards ceremony
energized.
-
And
once again, Loyalhanna, under the guidance of Paul and
friends entertained us up to the last possible nth hour
with their
noodling, front row viewing stand, and mighty fine cigars.
-
No
major fireworks, folks -- it was a quiet FUN OTR.
Friends
we bid fare thee well to at The Lutz Rock on Thursday evening:
| - Mike
FitzPatrick |
- Grayson
Harding |
| - Mike
Friedenberg |
- Larry
Richardson |
| - Charles “Charlie” M.
Gillie |
- Rose
of RASS |
| - Les
Good |
- Millie
Stabler |
ATTENDANCE/REGISTRATION
Tim Brown,
Harry Fair and the shifts of volunteers welcomed 2,108 on a
nearly round-the-clock basis for most of OTR. Attendance has
actually declined over the last several years since the 50th. Along
with Charlie Williams, the registration team continues their
work on a method of on-line pre-registration, possibly in place
for 2003. Improvements to the Registration pavilion are expected
for the summer of 2003.
EARLY ARRIVALS
Advance notice
to 2001 attendees and promotional efforts prior to OTR 2002
through website (thanks, Weasel!) and e-mail notifications
were obviously successful. Members adhered to the Early Arrival
Policy and were appreciative that we stuck to the designated
opening timeframe. Parking was adequate for Thursday arrivals
at the opening. No incidents occurred. Thanks to everyone
for your support in effecting this change to everyone’s advantage
and especially to Larry “Batman” Rohr for entertaining those
waiting in line to register at the onset of registration.
T-SHIRTS/HATS
260 hats
and 258 T-shirts were distributed and a lot of staff beer consumed
by volunteers and staff who helped make OTR
2002 a success.
SECURITY
All indications
were that it was a quiet and peaceful OTR. In large part,
this achievement goes to the efforts and calming influences
of the Security team. Thank you once again to Lizzie Molina
Deem, her deputies and staff for keeping our members and guests
safe and secure. No disciplinary actions were recorded.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Togas were
Friday night’s theme and drapes were everywhere, even under
the limbo stick. Saturday was a Mardi Gras theme
with beads and masks. And Sunday, the TRA Board entertained
OTR attendees by dishing up root beer floats following the
briefest TRA Members Forum in recent history – thanks to all
who participated. This was also the first year that live entertainment
was featured on all three nights, Friday to Sunday. A few
old awards were revived and some new ones added – Granny Award,
GranPOOPa Award, Life of the ParDee Award, and the Little Brown
Jug Award (thanks, Shack!) – Bobbi, Anthony, Lynn, and Tori & Friend
were proud recipients.
BUDGET
Insurance
went up. And so we didn’t run out, a few more kegs of beer
and porta potties (receptacles for that beer!) were called
for. We trucked in another bin to haul away the trash. Funds
were allocated for future pavilion improvement. Reference
the Treasurer’s Report.
SOME RECOMMENDATIONS
- The permanent
parking in the overflow campground worked well and was used
to capacity. Space could even be expanded.
- A recycling
center is just around the bend in Dailey. Let’s use it even
more than we currently do.
- Continue
the Early Arrival Policy and the Share the Space (no roping
off) concept. They worked well this year with few complaints.
- Folks
in the outer regions of the campground appreciate the wash
basins. Let’s continue to provide these.
- Advertising
the Lost & Found contacts at OTR’s close would help folks
retrieve their misplaced possessions.
FINALLY
The years
2001 and 2002 were destined to be FUN, and they were! Thank
you to all who made it happen -- who took the theme ideas and
made them their own. Thanks most especially to Hoke, to Weasel & Ruthie,
to Tim, and to Bro Mark for all their contributions and support.
As OTR looks
forward to the changing of the guard and many more wonderful
years of Old Timers, we wish The BEST of Luck to Mike
Oatney and Standing Stone – they’ll do great things in 2003
and 2004.
Respectfully
Submitted by
Chris “FANG” Kramer-Harnage
^V^ Madame Chairma’am ^V^
(P.S. – Thanks,
Harny!)
