Help Don at the Farmer's Market!

[mikeroddy]

Hey Bikerowave,

Since I was there last weekend, I can attest to what good company Don Strauss is and how spectacular an experience staffing our booth at the farmer's market can be. Alas, as good as it is, I'm going to be out of town.

Who would like to keep the dream alive and help man, the third week in a row no less, Bikerowave at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market?

Meet at Bikerowave 8:30-8:40. Market opens at 9.

Many thanks. Merry Christmas.

[rach]

I can be there for as long as needed but the more the merrier.  I'd like to get back to the Sunday shift at some point so if anyone wants to show up for the second half then that would be awesomeness on toast.

[dpstrauss]

I think we need to pull the plug on the Farmers' Market tomorrow unless there is some miraculous change in the weather.  So, Rach, Thomas, whomsoever else was planning to show up, let's can it.  I no longer own any foul weather gear, and I don't think we are going to get a lot of bike traffic even though the market is open rain or shine.  Any thoughts?

[rach]

My humble opinion:

In the interest of establishing a reputation for reliability and commitment, it would be nice to eventually set up a consistent presence at the market, rain or shine.  However, we are finite and I also think it's important to balance expended effort with results.  So yeah, let's can it for tomorrow.  I am tired of being soggy.  Not having done a market shift before (poorly timed vacation), I'm unfamiliar with how many people we could expect to serve, and the amount of effort needed to get the equipment down there and man the stand.  Perhaps we could start to inform potential volunteers that the market shift is also in need of help (if it is).

[dpstrauss]

I totally agree that we should establish a consistent presence at the MVFM, but I don't think it has to be rain or shine.  I'm fairly certain there are some vendors that don't show up when it rains.  It's one thing to show up rain or shine when your livelihood depends on it, but I can't think of a way to kill a volunteer effort faster than to demand participation regardless of weather conditions.  I'm happy to collaborate and show up on a regular rotation, formal or informal, but I'm not going to show up when it rains.  I haven't owned foul weather gear since I was on a crew that raced sailboats, and I have no plans to reinvest so that I don't get soaked and stay soaked for five hours at a clip on the two or three rainy Sundays that happen every year.  I would rather open up the shop two hours earlier on those rare occasions and put a waterproof sign in our spot at the market directing people across the street if they need a repair or have a donation they want to make.  I'm happy to discuss this with the rest of the members who have shown an interest in staffing the MVFM effort.  If we can get a rain-day crew out of that, great.  But I would recommend we let Diana know that we won't be there when it rains.  I don't think she will have any objections. Anyone else want to weigh in?

And, yes, I think it would be great if we had five or six people who wanted to split the duties.  I'm happy to take on the set up and first two or three hours on a regular basis.  It would be great not to have to be responsible for the entire six hours from setup through breakdown, but I could even do that on the rare occasion.

[rach]

I would count a sign directing people to an open Bikerowave on rainy mornings as a presence at the market.  Good idea.