[Robotgroup] Armadillocon etc.

[Don Colbath]

Here here!

Yeah, flying in roboticists from all over the world and trying to be 
world class was a bit more than we were really prepared for.  My idea of 
a Robofest is more like the Saturday Night  parking lot at the Sonic 
version of a car show and less like the Austin Auto Show at the 
convention Center.   You want to show off your stuff, whether it be a 
commercial venture or DPRG you're welcome but don't expect us to pay 
your air fare and hotel.  I dont remember being paid when I drug a bunch 
of bots to Albuquerque to show off.  Maybe they did comp me the hotel 
room but the rest was just the fun of it.  That's the main point that 
some have been missing. This is for fun. If we an do things that will 
contribute to that and help financially with building things and having 
fun I'm all for it.  When it becomes a business then I'd rather just 
work more overtime or start a real business that will make real money.  
That said I think that more venues like what we've done recently with 
Childrens Museum, Boy Sprouts etc.
are good enough.   You're all welcome to disagree with me.

Don

Glenn wrote:

>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
>
>
>
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