i am disappointed to see the stall fee has been jacked up to $450

l was planning to sell some simple stuff, but now don't think it's even worth it anymore as i probably will just about cover the fees in the end.

shame that local stall holders are kinda driven out now in favour of a more commercial approach to this community & fundraising fest...

I am sorry you feel the stall fee is too high. We will be providing tables to all stall holders this year and we have to cover our costs to hire the tables and transport them to Lamma.

I am also sorry you feel the locals are being driven out in favour of a more commercial approach, but the point of the event is to raise money for the Child Welfare Scheme.

You might have considered that the flair and spirit of the fest draws largely from the contribution of community locals? I paid $300 for a spot on the concrete last year - had no problem bringing along my own table and hangers.

Saves you work and costs, which you could input into other things... ?

By the way, I also quite enjoyed the home-made food offerings at some of the stalls - which doesn't seem to be possible again this year with catering services coming in...

I am saying it would be a shame if the flair of the fest gets compromised by driving away non-commercial local participants because of higher targets for fundraising

Yes, this has all gotten a bit out of hand.

I'm in support of Alan though on this one. When I saw the story about dropping stuff off in Central, I thought it rather absurd, as I certainly am not going to go all the way to Ice House Street with my contributions, that are going to be hauled back to Lamma. Didn't make much sense to me either.

So let all of us (all us volunteers that do a lot of good work for the greater good!) start again shall we

Misunderstandings seem to have been the order of the day, but as I said, I thought the same as Alan, so please don't pick on him for bringing up something so simple.

Alan... please don't resign!!! I like your posts I know you DO a lot of work for the community, and I for one are very happy to have people like you around!

HI Gargoyle,

Before I go on, I will explain that I am not sure how the 'fundraising' works, I am just the ocassional volunteer, and don't know how things work behind the scenes. I didn't realise that people had to pay for the stall space/tables, etc....

Instead of going to all the trouble of transporting tables, etc to Lamma for the day, wouldn't it be easier to put out a call to all Lamma residents,.. ie 'Tables and chairs and any form of shelter/umbrella needed on Lamma Fun Day???

Many people have outside furniture which I'm sure they would be happy to loan for such a good cause. This would mean more profit for the charity? I'm quite happy to loan furniture etc for the ocassion.

Tigger, Please keep in mind that Alan has edited his posts to make them less offensive.

Anyway, the reason we don't have a drop off point on Lamma is because we don't have enough storage space.

In previous years we have relied on borrowing furniture from Lamma residents for the sponsors stalls, St John's ambulance etc. But as the event gets bigger we are aiming to make it more professional as it's easier to attract sponsors who then donate more money.

I realize this approach does not please everybody, but that's life, I am afraid.

HI Gargoyle,

I don't know if Alan's posts are edited,.. I only go by what I read on the forum, and in my humble opinion, he brought up something that I was confused about, also.. ie.. dropping off stuff in Central. I'm not a rocket scientist either Just like most of us on this forum.. happy to volunteer, and also happy to bring up a misunderstanding.

Expanding awareness of the 'Lamma Fun Day' I'm also in to, and I thank you, and respect greatly your time, and are happy about people like you that are bringing this to the forefront of what the aim is, which is to raise as much money as possible. As a volunteer in other capacities, I know what a bloody headache it can be!! LOL I'm sure you have your hands full!!

From what I read from Alan's first post, and subsequent posts, I am sorry to say that I think that you 'jumped on his back'. As far as I'm concerned he asked a relevant question, one that confused me. OK... I shall take 'Lamma Gung's apology that it was a misunderstanding for maybe the "Lamma volunteer's"

In no way do I think that Alan was being sarcastic. OK he was after your subsequent post,.. but I would have done too,.. in a nice way of course,.. as I'm just a wonderful person (OK tongue in cheek!)

So lets all move on now shall we... after all we are all the same people trying to do the best for the HK community.

I want Alan to stay, and I want you to stay, and I want you both to put this behind you as a misunderstanding, as I think that this is all it was.

If you want.... I can start putting up flyers for any 'donations for the day' for the Lamma Fun Day, regarding tables, stools, chairs, umbrellas for shelter, etc....

Will this help?? I have now taken it upon myself to take on this volunteer job. I will start this afternoon if I have the OK. In my opinion (and I may be wrong) but we will have enough 'tables, etc'.... that we can do away with the fees for transporting from Central. Therefore, you have more money towards the Charity.

I'm offering my services to be in charge of this. What do you think?

No, I did not, unless you count adding a smiley.

I have no idea how you managed to find my original post offensive. Couldn't be anything to do with your long-standing grudge against me, could it.

I think Lamma Fun Day is Fantastic!!
But, I haven't been involved in Lamma Fun Day in the past other than as a casual consumer of food and beer and the purchaser of second hand books, so I know nadda about the organizational background. But it has seemed to me that, while this event aims to raise money for the children of Nepal, which is great of course, it is just as much about bringing people together as a community here on Lamma. If there's anything to this idea, then aiming to make the event bigger and more professional (so you can get large corporate donations) might not be the best approach.

There is a sign up in the North Lamma Clinic that I have appreciated for some time now:
We can do no great things - only small things with great love

The drive to continually make things bigger and glitzier is what underlies the corporate mentality that's responsible for the growing world ecological crisis. It would be no surprise to discover this mentality is so pervasive that it unconsciously infects even the highest minded community and social endeavors.

I'm amazed to hear that you are able to get storage space in Central but not here on Lamma.

Maybe Alan edited his post - great! Does he need to be held to what he wrote the first time? I've had my run-ins with Alan LOL! But I've come to feel after reading hundreds of his posts that ultimately his heart's in generally the right place and that he's a tremendous source of local knowledge. So, sometimes what he writes angers me but I respect him and the anger passes more quickly now. That's just who he is. And I'm just who I am with all my failings and strengths as well. If we are to get along constructively and grow together as a community then we must find a way to accept one another as we are. I would be sorry to see Alan leave the Moderating position on the Forums.

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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
----- Margaret Mead

this is all so much FUN

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wooooooooooooooooh

Don't forget the Lamma Fun Day Poker Tournament starts this Saturday at 12 noon in the Deli. See poster in the events forum for further details.

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I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!!

We have now secured storage space on Lamma so if anybody wishes to donate goods in advance please contact Pam on 6019-3364.

Tigger - thanks for your kind offer to help, but the event is only 9 days away so the arrangements for the tables have already been made.

Tavis - thanks for your input, it's always interesting to hear different opinions.

Tavis,

I don't think that making the event more professional by bringing in proper tables for the stalls is causing the world ecological crisis.

I can see what the LFD organizers are trying to achieve, every year this event is getting bigger and better due to the ideas (which are carefully discussed at a multitude of meetings) of the LFD volunteers. The bigger the event gets the more professional it has to be run and getting tables over (which is the right tool for the right job) professional stage, and superb auctioneers etc is making the event much more approachable for the people outside Lamma who will come and spend the money needed for the charity which is clearly the aim of the Lamma Fun Day, so the days when there were only about 10 pitches and people just selling stuff off the floor have gone, the event is much bigger than when it started so if that means more glitz then more glitz it is.

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I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!!

Oh Really?

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wooooooooooooooooh

I hear what your saying and I understand the importance of proper organization. I'm sure tables are appropriate.

I hope, as the Lamma Fun Day grows to become a major HK event that it will keep its local flavour and be careful to remain accessible even to the poorest and least influential of us Lammaites.
I hope it remembers its roots

_________________
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
----- Margaret Mead

Sorry to beat a dead horse, but I want to be very clear that the words there now are exactly what I wrote at first. No ex post facto censorship has been exercised. You can hold me to what I wrote the first time.

Some old sparring partners thought they could play it up as an attack on a children's charity. They smeared me here, and in some very ugly PMs and emails, and proceeded to berate Lamma-gung in person for promoting my vile opinions. Anyone who reads the posts can draw their own conclusions as to whether these actions were justified.