writes:My wife and I went down to the hall at 9am this morning where we met with the whole Bocce Club committee and Mr 'Lonely Grape'. An excellent meeting. I feel rather overwhelmed at their efforts to help us. The individuals are all tied up in wines, accommodation, food and other businesses in the area and quite overwhelmed me with their enthusiasm to support us. A couple of them are working on getting more government and local government help and expect that if we put on a good show this year, they will open their funds up for us next year and help promote interstate and here. They expect we should be able to get one of the large wine companies to sponsor us as well, possibly this year, and certainly next.
One very helpful thing is that instead of only having access to the hall the day before, they decided we can have a key from the Tuesday prior. That means myself and anyone who can help, can spend some evenings setting things up, instead of having to race about for a few hours before the event. It also means that if any traders are coming over early to look around, they too can put their things in the hall in advance should they wish.
Having the key so many days in advance also opens an opportunity for the clubs that if they really want to put on a spectacular game to attract attention and perhaps help recruit new members, they have can have a ton of time to set it up. I know it will assist me with one or two games I am providing as I can do much more with a bit of time, than rushing in at the last moment.
The Bocce club bar will get in lots of iced coffee and more soft drinks than usual, as well as potato chips and other snack items, tea, coffee, biscuits etc. The kitchen arrangements seem well under control. They will have a static display at the hall showing the wines of the companies that support the Bocce Club. They will provide an information table on which there will be maps and guides of the area and its wineries, as well as recommended eating places for those who want a more fancy sit down meal. Vaccarelli's will be convenient as it is so close by and has a large seating capacity. But there is another associated as well.
They were not keen on Mr.Lonely Grape showing any other wines in the hall as it might upset their supporters. But were happy with other ideas he had and he went away with various things he wants to explore for that weekend. That includes re-instating our gourmet barbecue, that could not be done at the hall and the winery tours. He told the meeting that since we put his link on our site, his web hits had gone from about 30 per week to about 60 per day. As he hasn't done anything else himself, he can only put it down to us.
Generally the theme of the meeting was along the lines that although the visitors are coming to a wargames event, they really want them to go away knowing they have been to a prime wine producing area, and having had a hell of a good time. There will be a bottle of wine for each trader as we had already said and they took down the estimated number of our officials and game conveners, so they can get a bottle of something nice for each of them too. Plus of course, some bottles for prizes.
The Bocce People will tidy the hall up the day after their next event and remove all the round dining tables other than the ones I have requested to use. Actually some of these may well suit some traders as they would be excellent for anyone who wants an area that people can walk around to look at stock. They are 8 feet across and very substantial tables. It may relieve a problem that there are only 22 of the long 8 foot tables. We will be able to provide the clubs with a recruiting area near the front door.
I have at last got the full dimensions of the hall. That will enable me to do a floor plan this evening. Lighting is very good and the north wall has numerous areas where traders can plug into the electricity for their card machines or computers. They agreed to my plan to block off one side of the hall....and the rear...to give traders and officials an exclusive parking area and a door especially for their access in and out. In fact they were as quick to suggest it as I was to offer the plan. That should give traders and those involved inside some security about their vehicles and knowledge that they have easy access if they store anything in them.
Bus stop 92 is around the corner in the main street. Anyone coming by bus would need to walk around the corner to the 'Dennis' Winery corner to get to the hall. McLaren Vale is still so much of a country town in attitudes, that I had forgotten they were linked to the city bus network these days. How times change! But it must be at least an hour by bus!
The air down there today was really heavy with the smell of grapes being crushed. I think you could have failed a breathalyzer just breathing the air! Everyone was happy because its a good harvest and its mostly all picked without weather damage. That seems to have helped with the good cheer of the Bocce Club committee, all of whom rely on the harvest. We put up more posters, did the same at Willunga and the people present all took some to put up about the place.
So at present all the planned things are coming together very nicely. If the SA clubs play nicely together they should gain membership out of the weekend! Only one remains that wont commit to attend, but I think that will be to their detriment. Once all have seen that this really is a very neutral, no politics, no favoritism event, I'm sure they will come in too.
I've received communication from several interstate clubs that are looking toward 'next year', but I also know from email that some of their members are coming anyway.
Our two overseas traders are still unclear. One is confident he will get his entry visa in a few days, the other still doesn't know. Goods for most of the overseas companies running stalls by proxy, have arrived and people allocated to represent them.
Unless anyone has any problems to report... we don't seem to have any!