Welcome to October everybody. This newsletter is going out to friends, wannabees, burners with benefits, and members of Barbie Death Village. It’s our first annual post-burn retrospective. Let me start off by thanking you all. We ended up (for the very first time) solid green on the BRC MOOP Map. Which means we will not be on double-secret probation as far as placement and awarding of early arrival passes for 2012. Also let me start by saying if you are receiving this newsletter and were a member of our Village in 2011, you have not been expelled for 2012. Not everyone made the cut. Bounced checks will do that to you.
Last night a dozen of us got together in Folsom to reflect on 2011 and see how we can improve 2012. It was one of the better meetings we’ve had, and not just because we met in a brew pub (though that certainly helped). There will be some changes coming for next year, most of which are for the better. First off, and most importantly, we will be sharing the responsibilities as far as logistical support and decision making. We haven’t finalized who will be doing each item, but we have the basics. There will be one person in charge of shade structure set up and tear down; one person in charge of exodus clean up; one person heading up art truck details; and one person heading up garbage hauling and carpet disposal. None of these people will be me. I am happy to report Wildman will be the go-to person for garbage removal. We are going to actually have a Village dumpster so hopefully little that you bring in will be hauled away by you. That’s quite an advantage over any other camp on the playa. Now that creates another situation: Since the very large garbage bin (which will need to be locked when we are not using it) clearly costs money to rent and have hauled away, everybody in the Village regardless of camp affiliation will be required to pay dues in 2012. We are not raising dues. They will remain at $60 until June 1.
We will have 100 early entry passes again this year. We will have a protocol for them which we have not had in the past. With the exceptions of those who haul out the camp infrastructure, here is what we are proposing: If you arrive Saturday or earlier, you will be required to help set up the camp, shade, carpeting, and Barbies. You will not be asked (though feel free to do so) to help with major clean-up on Sunday after the burn or MOOP control on Monday. If you arrive Sunday morning you will be required to stay through Sunday and into Monday (or Tuesday if possible) and do the clean up and final tear down of the camp. Our rational is as follows: Since the “heavy lifting” was done prior to your arrival, but you still got to skate through the check-point and greeters in just a few minutes, then in order to justify your existence we need you to work after the event.
All members of our Village will be asked to help out with something during the week. It could be pouring wine for the Naked Bike Ride, clean up after the Meet & Greet, making pancakes and bacon for the Pancake Pork Out, pouring me mimosas, and so on. Katie M’Lady will be the go-to person for this assignment.
Another change this year is that all hat and shirt requests, along with payment, will be done through Frank. We have had duplication of work and it just did not work out very well this year. He will be in charge, or will assign someone, to order and pass out the shirts and hats.
Laura and Stu have the absolutely say-so on their vision of the camp’s infrastructure. This includes the camp shower, water, and dust abatement. What they say goes.
So you may be asking yourselves just what it is I’m going to do this year. Let me try to summarize: I am going to be more of a CEO than omnipotent ruler. I will continue to write the newsletters, collect dues, and pay the expenses. Felony and I will decide on new members or expulsion of members. We will decide on who gets the early arrival passes. I will be in charge of ordering the minutia, such as BDC stickers, glowstix, and general Barbie crap. I also will be the liaison between the heads of each camp. What my duties will not entail include working on the art truck (I’ll be doing the Barbie art instead), restoring order on the playa (each camp head will do it themselves), and “be in charge” on the playa. Nope, not me. I will be “in charge” up until the time we hit the Black Rock Desert, but from that point forward each camp head will take on the responsibility.
A few house cleaning items. We are going to purchase a double-axel open trailer. They can be had at places like ironplanet.com for around $2000. We will be using if need be some of our dues money for that, but what we’re asking (much like we did when we purchased the art truck) are donations from you to help defray the cost. Consider it a gift to the camp. If we can get a dozen or so people to commit as little as $100 then we will have enough in our treasury to make this a reality. So if you’ve ever wondered what you can give back to the camp, now’s your chance. Secondly, Laura will be hosting in late January a meeting to begin discussion on what we want the art truck to look like this year. We are not going to wait until late July to get working on it. That was a real bitch. If you want to help with the art truck, please contact Laura.
And finally, we have already had several inquiries from newbies or envious burners who were forced to camp with an inferior camp (namely any other camp besides ours) to join our little slice of paradise on the playa. We will introduce our newbies in our January newsletter. Have a wonder fall everybody.
The man burns in 330 days.
Doc Pyro, MOBDV )’(