NAC A - Des Moines, 2009

[tchwojko]

With regard to art museum, no disparagement intended, but I've got a 13 and 15 year old to entertain for a day - and that may not be appropriate - especially since they're going to be spending around 10 days in DC with their mom dragging them from museum to museum - they'll be museumed out by day 3 (if she's lucky).

Well, then yes, Living History Farms is a better choice. Two benefits of the Art Museum are that it is small, and it's in the middle of a large park. Nothing too exciting at the park, it's just pleasant.

Valley Junction is a nice little shopping area (antiques, art, etc.), and there's a huge mall in West Des Moines just off the interstate for the antithesis of different, but may be appropriate for teens.

[philly123]

Except the Barnes Foundation near Philly.

[flechewounds]

Southwest is running pretty good deals to Kansas City (3 hours from Des Moines). RT fare about $200 from LA... may also be cheap to Omahaha.

If you're renting a car anyhow, it may be worth looking at.

[fencerchica]

I'm flying in and out of Minneapolis-St. Paul on Midwest Airlines for $265 including taxes and fees. It's about a 2.5 or 3 hour drive down from MSP to DSM.

[labelle]

With regards to parking,
"Parking downtown is FREE on the weekends. Beginning at 6 a.m. on Saturday, parking in all City ramps is free of charge. Parking at meters is free all weekend, as well as after 6 p.m. during the week." Also, all but one city ramp is connected to the skywalk system, which is connected to the venue. (http://www.downtowndesmoines.com/i_w...arking_faq.php)

I figure most people won't have time to do much more than fence anyway. And no, the science center isn't anything special, but my little brother liked it when he was in elementary school, so other children that age might like it, too. Personally, I like hanging out in the parks, the library, and live music joints, but that's not everybody's thing. I did forget the farmers' market runs through October - good call. That would definitely be a good thing to do.

[Garrison]

Then do we know who the head referee is for NAC A to contact them directly? I assume many refs decision to fence could be influenced over whether they can referee as well.

Is anyone else having trouble with the pdf files on the USFA/NAC-A web site? Any suggestions as to where to get referee, vendor, entry, athlete's packet and the like would be helpful.

Thank you,

Mike

[oiuyt]

Just as a reminder, the regular-fee registration deadline for NAC A is Monday, August 24th.

-B

[AllezCat]

Just as a reminder, the regular-fee registration deadline for NAC A is Monday, August 24th.

Do you happen to know if the NAC B deadline will change to 6 weeks out as well, or is it staying at 8 weeks (September 7th)?

[Mr.MightyMouse]

Just as a reminder, the regular-fee registration deadline for NAC A is Monday, August 24th.

-B

Is it me, or it seems like at the same time last year there were a lot more registrations?

[oiuyt]

Is it me, or it seems like at the same time last year there were a lot more registrations?

Probably just you.

At the same time last year we were three weeks out from the registration deadline and probably didn't even have a "confirmed registrations" list posted yet.

For reference, I don't have any year-to-year comparative information on how we're doing with registrations. The reason I thought it important to bump the thread is that the deadline has been moved earlier and I, personally, am worried that a number of people won't have noticed, will go to register at their usual time, and discover that the fees are tripled. I'd rather find additional ways to spread the information and awareness so that doesn't happen. I recommend that people mention it around their club, just to help their club mates out.

-B

[teacup]

Maybe it would help if the USFA posted a notice in the big box on the front of the website that the deadline for NAC A is Aug. 24.

Was an email with a notice about the new deadlines sent out? (I can't remember.)

[Mr.MightyMouse]

Probably just you.

At the same time last year we were three weeks out from the registration deadline and probably didn't even have a "confirmed registrations" list posted yet.



-B

Personally, I won't be there, but...
after the updated list from yesterday, and given that the deadline is not on Friday as usual, a few categories I looked at were about 60% down from last year, can that many entries come in last few days?

[tdwg83]

So the day after the regular fee deadline, confirmed entries show about half of last years entries (in epee). Effects of the crappy economy or slow to update the list? Any ideas?

[fencerwallet]

So the day after the regular fee deadline, confirmed entries show about half of last years entries (in epee). Effects of the crappy economy or slow to update the list? Any ideas?

No one has any patience these days... The lists do not appear to be fully updated yet.

[passata_sotto]

I believe that even though the registration closed on a Monday that the updates are still done on Fridays as they have been in the past.

[oldguy]

So the day after the regular fee deadline, confirmed entries show about half of last years entries (in epee). Effects of the crappy economy or slow to update the list? Any ideas?

FWIW, this is the first year that my younger son is eligible to fence NAC A, and there are 6 SYCs in driving distance.

[KD5MDK]

My recollection is that most entries are received at the last minute (we certainly used to get lots of late triple-fees entries).

[fencerchica]

My recollection is that most entries are received at the last minute (we certainly used to get lots of late triple-fees entries).

Wow! I just can't understand how so many people can afford to do something like that, especially when a little bit of responsible planning can save a really substantial amount of money. Of course, sometimes unexpected things happen, so that accounts for a few late entries, but most entries... dayum. I totally believe it though, people are weird like that.

[KD5MDK]

Think how much responsible planning it would take to keep you from buying a new Mercedes...

[Allen Evans]

...or another dozen F-22's.