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[RGRatSea]

My wife and I put on a games for our community and it was quite a learning experience. As a run up we planned a Rabbie Burns night complete with Scottish dishes (explaining "cock-a-leekie" was interesting), and live entertainment including readings of the works of Burns. That was for starters - to get folks thinking Scottish.

Planning for the games began about 16 months out by setting a timetable for what needed to be done and when. A rough schedule gains additions as things develop. I have a little experience in organizing, as a result my wife and I found ourselves doing the bulk of the work. Creating periodic news articles related to our direction kept the concept in the media and saved us from spending on advertising. We even got a write up in a London paper.

A check list of things to include, activities and amenities including food, drink vendors, the games themselves, awards, piper and dancers, sheep dogs (no trials for us, we had demonstrations as trials were not approved by the local folks with working dogs), clan tents and accommodations for participants and attendees. The previous posters all had good suggestions and your planning list will vary depending on location. We had combined county fairgrounds and a little league field with bleachers, lots of parking in an adjoining field and a building with beer and food, restrooms and a place to get out of the sun. Additional porta-potties we set out for the clan tents, the athletes and the vendors and guests.

Our grounds were fenced and we had a small entry fee. By careful management we started our games with $10,000.00 in the bank and at the end, with all the bills paid we still had half that left for the Games Association. I still have the recipes for the dishes. A local chef cooked everything as a test in advance of our events to understand the dishes. We even offered samples of Haggis.

If I can assist let me know, but I must say, we are leaving home soon and I will not have my materials available once we hit the road.

Best regards, don't let the list alarm you, you will make the right choices based on your circumstances and timing. A small, well run event is better than trying to do to much and being driven nuts.

Ryc