2008 Diggins Schedule

Here is the schedule for the entire year. Mark your calendars, now, for a year of fun and excitement!

Important Diggins Dates

December 8th- 9am Work Crew Meeting, Eagle Cotage
January 11th, 6pm Planning Meeting Eagle Cotage
Map the site
Confirm venue locations and heads (as possible)
Identify additionally desired venues
Discuss venue expectations, deadlines, purchasing, reporting
Construction needs and
Brainstorming period
January 12th- 9am Work Crew Meeting, Eagle Cotage
March 1st, 6 pm Planning Meeting Eagle Cotage
Share venue development status & ideas
Venue needs lists (staffing, materials, construction)
Theme and scenario developments
Brainstorming period
April 12th 6pm Planning Meeting
Venue development reports, themes and scenarios for web sharing
Staffing considerations
Construction
Publicity needs
Brainstorming
April 26th-Sacramento area Diggins Interpretive workshop
May 10th- (Docent Meeting)
Columbia Diggins Interpretive Workshop
May 11th Canvas Up
May 17th
School Program guides & trailers planning meeting
Weekend tour guide meeting
May 27th- 7am-Diggins Move In
May 27th & 28th-Event set up, work days
May 28th- 6pm-Final Education Day walk-thru, including tour guides and venues
May 29, 30, 31, June 1-DIGGINS!
June 2nd-Clean up and packing
June3rd-Diggins Move Out
June 7th- 7am Canvas Down!
August 9th 10:00
Recap (survivors meeting)
October 11th- 6PM
Start planning it all over again!

November Construction Schedule

The following dates are planned for construction at the Diggins Site.
November 15, 16, 19, 20, 26, 27, 29 & 30. Most days will start at 8am.

This afternoon, the crew (John H x 2) Bernie & Larry & John G were working away, getting the front facade of the Theatre up, as well as part of the floor.

There will be a work crew meeting on December 8th at 9am, at the Eagle Cotage.

Notes from the planning meeting

In attendance: Mac, Dave & Judith, Amber, Sandy & Jerry, Jim K., Bernie, Yvonne & Gary, Floyd & Dannette & Chris, Vince, Diane M., John H., Doug, Kim.

Notes from brainstorming: We should consider more/Different cultures, maybe via home/tent life? More (planned) spontaneous interactions on the street, less of a booth atmosphere. More tents, especially on the new street. How about some "Dung" (aka trash) piles? We should look at the interpretive content of the event from weekdays, vs. weekends, should we have more planned content for the weekends? How about if we planned for a building to be constructed during the event, as part of the content? More benches for visitors to sit. More applications on hand for the following year participants. We should have people moving in or out of the event, during the event, using handcarts, etc. Interpret people entering/leaving the diggins, selling off their tools, etc. Do the same for the stores, have wholesale deliveries being received and unpacked. More period items for sale. More information distributed ahead of time as to what characters and activities are occuring, so more interactions can be planned (maybe use this blog to help distribute that info?). We agreed that this type of brainstorming should be a continuing part of the event planning.

Meeting dates: Park staff will be scheduling all meeting dates for the event, within the next couple of weeks. They will be posted here. Feedback from those present felt that having meetings on Saturday evenings would be more convenient for those who worked days, and those who had to travel to make the meetings.

Construction: It was discussed that it would be great if construction could be started now/soon. Lumber has been delivered. Since Larry is on a trip with Susie, Jim, Lindy, Dwain this weekend, we would talk to him and set up a meeting soon to see what could be started while the weather is nice. Some venues have requested changes/improvements which might be able to be implemented now.

Next Meeting: We would like to have venues committed in January so people can start working on them. Everyone was asked to give some thought to planning changes/new venues.

Staff proposed changes: Amber suggested that having routine tours of the camp on weekends would help visitors have a better introduction to the event, and have more confidence to interact. Improved venue scheduling and scheduling docents to "rove" during the event were also proposed improvements.

Communication: Improving communication is a big committment from staff. This blog is new idea to implement communication improvements. Volunteers and staff are encouraged to submit idea, research sources, photos and costuming sources, etc, to be shared. Character bios & scheduled interactions during the event can also be posted on here, as well as registration paperwork, etc.

Thanks to those who were able to attend and help get planning off on a positive note. Staff will post the planning schedule soon, so watch for it here.

Agenda for Oct 26th Meeting

Slideshow of 2007 event will be shown just prior to meeting, for early arrivals.
6:00- Introductions
6:25- Review Mission of the Event
6:30- Brainstorming Period
7:00- Staff Identified Issues and Solutions
Communications/Blog use
Planning Schedule
Set next meeting date, topics
7:30- Meeting End!

Planning for Columbia Diggins 2008

Just 7 months to go! Its time to start planning. Our first planning meeting will be Friday, October 26th, 2007 at 6PM at the Eagle Cotage in Columbia. This time will be to brainstorm new ideas, find out who is "on board" for this year, and start generating some discussion and excitement for the upcoming event.

We hope to be able to use this venue to update participants on developments, big and small, as they occur. Look for access to registration forms, easy contact info for staff, and subscription information to come soon.

Thanks for being a part of Diggins!