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RE: Convention St. Louis Memorial Day Weekend 2002
Bill,
I like the ideas you presented here.
I would suggest one refinement that might get us the best of both worlds,
which is a group of random bags of fish in predictable block order, or in
reality, a semi-random order [is there such a thing?].
All that would have to be done at entry time would be to sequentially assign
an additional "box number" to the fish as well as the usual class #,
species name, and tank # within the class. Then at bagging time, a bunch
of pre-numbered boxes [box #1 for numbers 1-25, box #2 for numbers 26-50,
etc.] would be ready and waiting to receive the bagged fish. Actually, it
would not matter if each box contained a different number of bags of fish [
20 in box 1, 33 in box 2]. The boxes/blocks of fish would then be auctioned
off in order: box 1, box 2, etc.. This way the auction order would be
known as soon as judging started and the show was closed to new entries on
Saturday, and if know, it certainly can be printed for all to see.
Notice that this suggestion gets around the "shoulder-to-shoulder" bagging
problem you mentioned as people could work anywhere knowing which box was to
receive the fish they just bagged.
Another approach might be to sequentially number all entries in the show
with tank numbers, i.e. Class 1-Tank 1, Class 7-Tank 255, etc.. This in
effect would provide you with box numbers, but now you would have to
randomize the box order presented for auction.
This would allow the 'random' guys to spread some Krazy Glue on their chairs
before they sit down for the auction and the 'class order' guys to pepper
the 'random' guys with conversation while they are waiting for their
boxes/blocks to come up. Yet each would know what is coming.
Given the above, I am sure some scheme can be devised for N & R species,
donations, etc.. In fact, you could pre-designate boxes/blocks 2, 4, 6, 8,
etc. to this stuff.
-$.02
mike
> -----Original Message-----
> From: William Vannerson [SMTP:William_Vannerson at ama-assn_org]
> Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2001 8:20 AM
> To: killietalk at aka_org
> Subject: RE: Convention St. Louis Memorial Day Weekend 2002
>
> RJ wrote:
> >>>Killie people are especially intelligent and therefore should have
> little problem with putting bags in numerical order.<<<
>
> At 3:00 a.m. all of the numbers begin to look alike. ;-) The biggest
> concern is just getting the fish bagged and the tanks broken down and
> packed. In practice, just making sure that all of the fish from a given
> class end up in the correct boxes for staging is a challenge. To try to
> sort hundreds of bags while dozens of folks (hopefully there are dozens of
> volunteers) are continually adding more bags in random order is hoping for
> too much. One could offer that if the classes were bagged in entry number
> sequence it would be easier, but it's impossible to have several folks
> standing that close together to bag entry 1, then entry 2, etc. You
> usually spread out a few feet to give each other some working room. Also,
> tanks are not always benched in entry order. Entry 1 in class 5 may have
> registered first thing in the a.m., but the owner benched all of his or
> her natives in class 1 first. Then maybe the first dozen tanks in class
> five are filled already.
>
> Bar code labeling of the bags is a real possibility. It would allow the
> runners to scan the fish coming up for auction to be displayed on a
> projection screen. This does not provide much advance notice, but it does
> reduce error and helps ensure folks don't miss the fish they want to bid
> on because they didn't here the auctioneer call of the entry number. But
> as Mike points out, any computerized solution can't be whipped together
> fifteen minutes before the show. In fact, if anyone wanted to see such a
> program, now is the time to do it.
>
> Here are some random thought so on that subject.
>
> The best way would be for the AKA to sponsor development of an official
> show management software package. There are several out there already
> that have been used by various clubs. The features should be inventoried,
> evaluated and chosen (i.e., attendee registration, show fish entries, name
> badges, auction list, bar code scanning option, etc.). The registration
> component would include cover letters for sending out registration packets
> and track receipts at the convention for late arrivals.
>
> Microsoft bashing aside, several AKA functions exist on the MS Access
> platform already so that would seem to be a logical choice. That would
> also make pre-populating the membership data into the system easier.
> Valid names and location codes would be in lookup tables to reduce
> nomenclature errors. Any entry fish being registered under an unknown
> name would be held out for evaluation to determine the correct name.
>
> The design would have to be flexible enough to allow use for several
> years. In fact, it should be flexible enough for affiliate clubs to use
> it for their local shows. That may help affiliates report back results to
> the AKA for awards. The system would have to work both in a networked
> environment for conventions where multiple workstations would ease show
> management, as well as stand alone for local show use.
>
> Aside from computer tools, I believe that class order auction makes the
> most sense. That makes it easier for folks to make sure they're paying
> attention when the fish they are interested in come up for bid.
>
> Bill Vannerson
> McHenry, IL
> http://vannerson.home.att.net/
>
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