Tim and I are just back home from Palm Springs Pride weekend event at the wonderful Emerald Desert RV resort. This year we had 78 rv's and 184 members expected Saturday night. Papa Dans restaurant catered Friday night and Saturday night Dinners and most of the members stayed thru Sunday Night. about 25 of the total guest were members from Palm
Springs who broke bread with us on Friday and Saturday evening. The event was drawn around Palm Springs pride weekend where we had a contingent in the pride parade. More than 30 members marched with the RainbowRV van and the Priscilla Bus. Check out these Wonderful Images fromCandy Koogler
Tim and I usually arrive at the rv parks a day early but this time we decided to take Michael and Mark up on an offer to stay at their lot at Out Door Resorts. What a beautiful place, We pulled into the resort un hooked the rainbow van and set up for the night. The shoe was mounted on the bus but in the down position 14 foot to clear overpasses and traffic lights.. It was not 5 minutes when some of the park long term rvers asked about the shoe. Word spread quick and within an hour we had an audience of about 100 residents encouraging me to raise and lower the shoe. Fun, even a warm applause and well wishes from many of the folks curious to meet Tim and learn about RainbowRV. The happy mood was briefly paused when one resident protested to our display, for what ever reason. Oh well what do you expect, maybe she cant walk in heels? or maybe her husband does? Friday we moved out of Michael and Marks spot and headed for Emerald Desert Resort.
Can you believe Tim is really a shy Guy!! Sandy, second in charge of the parade details,
This year at the rv resort members were treated to social hours on the Bacchic Ball Court and Dinner in the 3,000 square foot party tent. Weather could not have been better. Mid days were around 90 deg and nights got cool enough to require a jacket or sweater. Victorville motors and Mike Thompson RV helped out quite a bit with the last minute preparations so there was little for Tim and I to do with setup other than Sound. Sandy and Tim greeted guests with site and park information and a complimentary bottle of wine. Wine gift at check in is our hope that members will bring the bottle to one of the dinner gatherings and share a relaxed social evening with new and familiar folks. We are not able to give members wine at the meal, and caution not to offend members who object to alcohol.
We plan activity's to foster new friendships and Meet and greet is appropriately named. Looking around at the crowd most had name badges on. Tim remembers everyone's name but I usually forget names 5 minutes after we meet. Name Badges help me out and prove to bring comfort to casual conversation. Some times I think Tim prints all the badges just for me.
Saturday Morning the tents were too cold so we opted to make and serve coffee in front of our rig. I wish I had thought to move some chairs out to the site but we were not sure how many would attend. It seems that in the past when we did coffee in the meeting rooms the early morning walk kept participation to a minimum. Coffee and beagle hour is the first of the planned opportunity to meet and my favorite. Everyone is awake, relaxed and it feels less formal and most genuine. Nice crowd, fun conversation. I did see a need to make several places for coffee with large parks but I don't see how I can do it and keep up with the clean up.
Tim and I hung around all day Saturday. I worked on a website for a super graphics sign company for about two hours and spent the balance of the day catching up. Papa Dans Catering arrived early to set up. Ira the owner of Papa Dans is so attentive and ever present and involved with detail. The tables, serving stations, serving staff and entire production was world class. We once again started serving at 6:30 but opened the appraiser station earlier as the crowds arrived. We ordered a dance floor for the tent but didn't utilize it. I think setting up a dinner dance will require more planning as we learned that members simply enjoy gathering back at their rv's. in micro groups. I am sure we would have great participation in a after dinner dance but maybe an hour later and a special reason to stay. Since after dinner micro parties work well, they could be the activities to help encourage. Our only fear is leaving new members or any members out.
I will post Parade stuff later