[Robotgroup] Armadillocon etc.

[Glenn]

Thanks for the good work done by all for Armadillocon.

There are many definitions of success.

The different shows that RG has been involved in have all had their
pros and cons.

The 7 Robofest shows we did,,  grew larger each year until it became
much like putting on a small trade show.  We got art grant money as
seed money, and tried not to loose too much by collecting donations
at the door.

After there were questions regarding how one group (not RG) receiving
City of Austin art grant money, had spent the money - the City began to 
require
an "audit" of how the money was spent. 

Some of those asking for an audit
were not accountants.  To an accountant, an audit is on par with a military
flight physical for a pilot.  Very detailed, and very expensive - in 
fact an actual
audit would have cost more than was given in most if not all of the City 
art grants.

Still that was the rule, so having lost enough putting on Robofest over 
the years,
we decided we could not afford the expensive these grants any more.

Last time I checked, the Boy Scouts of America, as well as the Girl Scout
organizations, were non profit groups - with large budgets.  So is the 
American
Red Cross.  So you can have millions of dollars of cash flow - it just 
has to be
properly accounted for, in the case of the RG, a 501(c)3 non profit 
corporation.

There is plenty of info available on the rules regarding a 501(c)3.

Donations are fine, you just have to help folks that would like the 
group to show up,
understand how the expenses need to be covered.

One thing that will, of course be simple, is that all members and 
hanger's on of the
RG are of one mind as to how things should be handled, so the challenge 
is simply
one of informing those outside the group ;-)

Any group is largely defined by the currently active members.  Lots of 
things can
be organized and done.  I have had a lot of fun with the group over the 
years and
I would like everyone involved to have some fun as well.  People's spare 
time depends
on their schedules, that can change.  Organizing things can take a lot 
of time and effort,
so someone who wants to do this sort of thing needs a lot of time and 
energy.

After every Robofest, most of those doing the organizing wold say "Never 
Again!"

To have some degree of success, in doing a show, you have to do some 
serious resource
calculations and find a way to cover them.  We could do another Robofest 
if we could
find someone who had the talent and time to organize a small trade 
show.  Otherwise,
none of the robot builders are building robots, they are spending months 
working with
the City, and endless phones calls as out of town guests expect you to 
be a travel agency.

I would encourage folks to do a variety of activities, simply work out 
the resources needed
to make the happen and find a way to provide them.

Keep up the good work!

-Glenn