It looks like we've decided to provide Lunch on Friday. The assumption at this point seems to be that we will not provide lunch on Saturday. We certainly do not have the budget at this time.

I recognize the budgetary concerns and want us to be fiscally responsible. I think that Lunch on Friday was a legitimate priority. But, I am concerned that asking everyone to leave for Lunch on Saturday is going to break up the flow of the day in a detrimental way. Let's get creative and think about how to handle lunch during the Unconference.

Options:

1) If registrations and sponsorships keep coming in and we decide that we're meeting/exceeding our goals - maybe we can simply ADD Saturday lunch to food order for Saint Thomas.

2) I'm assuming that we can not order Pizza or take out food delivered to Saint Thomas. Is there any loophole? If it's a nice day, can we order pizza delivered outside and eat in the court yard?

Can we schedule a food truck to come by and offer lunch to to participants at their own expense?

3) Rather than sending everyone off for lunch on their own. We could schedule "lunch sessions" and break everyone into groups and then send them off as groups to each lunch (at their own expense).

4) One week before camp, we send a call out to all participants asking for an extra $15 donation to help us cover the cost of Saturday lunch?

5) Is the Saint Thomas cafeteria open on Saturday. Can we suggest that everyone eat there together? Is there anyplace else in the area that could accommodate 100+ of us as a group on a Saturday afternoon (each person paying themselves).

My main goal is to find some way to prevent the unconference from loosing all momentum and falling apart in the afternoon after everyone leaves for 60-90 minutes. If we do send people out for lunch on their own, I would ask that we keep the break as short as possible to avoid this loss of momentum.

Comments

stpaultim created an issue. See original summary.

minneapolisdan’s picture

minneapolisdan commented

It's a good question to consider, and you offer many great thoughts. So I want to say thank you before I seemingly argue against them all :)

1) I'd say the option of a camp sponsored lunch for Saturday are almost zero, unless some unexpected (and large) new sponsor shows up.

2) Great idea, but I'd rather not risk our relationship with our host in what could be viewed as skirting their rules?

2b) I don't see many food trucks downtown on Saturday, if any, and I would guess they'd want a guaranteed minimum to show up for us?

3) Maybe? I don't know how how people would feel about this, and it seems like it would be hard to control. Wouldn't it be better to have everyone be gone at the same time, and just be done with it (lunch)?

4) Not a bad idea, but I don't see that happening, especially for an unknown quantity like the unconference on a Saturday. If it were just a small group of Drupalers who all know each other, I think it would be more viable (e.g. the user group).

5) I thought it was? I like this option. Can you find out what's possible?

stpaultim’s picture

stpaultim commented

Just to clarify what I mean by "Lunch Sessions" in option #3. The idea is that at 12:00 we schedule a round of sessions with the idea that each session will meet at a designated point and then go somewhere for lunch together. These would all happen at the same time and would be voluntary.

One difficulty is that each group would have to come to some kind of lunch choice on their own. We could have a list of options available - and then ask each group to pick one from the list. Individuals would always have the option of skipping this round of sessions and eating on their own.

Again, the goal is to keep people engaged during lunch and to encourage them to come back afterwards.

I'll try to look into option #5 as well. But, I'm hoping someone else might have ideas. I have it in the back of my head that the cafeteria was closed on Saturdays during past camps.

eojthebrave’s picture

eojthebrave
he/him
Primary language English
Location Minneapolis, MN
commented

One difficulty is that each group would have to come to some kind of lunch choice on their own. We could have a list of options available - and then ask each group to pick one from the list.

Alternatively we could maybe select topic/facilitator/location in advance and provide a list for people to choose from. I know it's maybe a little more structured than we might want but it would potentially make the lunch block more efficient. Plus having a facilitator who is also sort of in-charge of getting everyone back on time might help. Having someone say, "Hey come on, it's time to head back." Might help stave off some of the attrition during lunch.

stpaultim’s picture

stpaultim commented

I think that Joe's suggestion in #4 could work. Let's think more about this.

Another idea (still brainstorming) - Just break everyone into groups of 4-8 and give them a discussion topic and tell them to go find lunch, discuss the topic, and be back by 1:00 to take a quiz ;-) (or something along these lines)

wylbur’s picture

wylbur commented

I called Dancing Ganesha restaurant, which is across the street from the venue. They have seating for over 100. so they could probably accommodate our whole group. The Saturday buffet price is $11.99, but with our numbers I bet we could get them to come down to the weekday price of $9.99

Could we tell people that is our official unoffical lunch spot and direct people over there? Maybe we could set up lunch discussion sessions by table there?

Will pursue this with a manager there this week!

jerdavis’s picture

jerdavis
Location Minneapolis, MN
commented

I heard back from Brits and they do require all food to be on one tab, they also would need it ordered in advance - so I think that's out for this year.

jerdavis’s picture

jerdavis
Location Minneapolis, MN
commented
Status: Active » Needs work
jerdavis’s picture

jerdavis
Location Minneapolis, MN
commented
Status: Needs work » Fixed

Status: Fixed » Closed (fixed)

Automatically closed - issue fixed for 2 weeks with no activity.