Posted on 29. Nov, 2005 by Brian Reid in General
Convention noodling continues: I’m done uploading photos tagged with “rebeldad”. By all means, if you have convention photos, upload ‘em and tag ‘em (Jeff’s are already there). And if you don’t, I believe the comments are open on all of them, so feel free to add names, captions, etc. Next up: video. The wiki is also getting robust. There’s only one thing lacking — I’d love to hear from someone who didn’t attend the event. What’s keeping you guys away? Post to the site or just e-mail me.
I finally did it. Traffic was up enough that I blew through my allotted bandwith. I’ll be moving to new servers over the next 48 hours, so I am completely responsible for anything that disappears (temporarily) between now and then.
Jim
30. Nov, 2005
Congrats on the well-deserved boost and good luck moving to the new server! Cheers!
Mark B.
30. Nov, 2005
RD,
You asked for a response from SAHD’s who did not attend the convention last week. Here is my take.
It seems by what I have read about the convention, most of the attendees like the part of just hanging out socially with other SAHD’s the best. The part about sitting in a room while some person “preaches to the choir” does seem to be a waste of time. Add to that , most SAHD’s non-family get away time is pretty limited for both reasons of time and money. When the opportunity presents itself, I would much rather do something for myself to “recharge my batteries” from being around little kids all the time (ie. golf, sporting events, visiting family and friends, ect.) I am certiain I am speaking for a vast majority of SAHD’s. For the guys who did attend and plan to continue, knock yourselves out and have good time.
I was wondering about a few thing concerning the convention. How many attendees were there? How many of them fit the U.S. census definition of being a SAHD? How many were not from the Chicago area (driving distance) How many of them are Bloggers about Fatherhood/Parenting?
Hogan
01. Dec, 2005
Mark, I agree with you. I’ve attended the convention seven times. Would have been eight but I had to return home Friday night this year. However, I had a chance to mingle and party with the early arrivals.
I’m the person responsible for changing the format from what was once lecture based to the current open discussion. It took me two years (1998 and 1999 if my memory serves me right)to convince the convention committee to make the change. In 2000, they gave me permission to demonstrate the open discussion format. It worked great. Better than anyone expected. Got great feedback from the attendees. Since then the open discussion format has become part of the convention program.
The current format, however, is not the original one I proposed. It is a version of it. I would like to see the committee use the one I originally proposed.
I’ve also suggested changing the convention from a full day to a half-day event. Don’t even need a motivational speaker. But if you did want one only give the person thirty minutes to speak. Then break off into groups. End the convention at 1:00 pm with a late lunch. Then schedule an afternoon event (Something everyone can participate in - like frisbee golf. Might be a little nippy in Chicago but I think most of the dads would be up for it),
dodge ball in the gym, or just let the dads mingle for a couple of hours. Then dinner and party into the evening.
I’ve also suggested that we open the convention up to All Dads. I’ve conducted six of these half-day open discussion events with 80 to 100 dads (not just at-home dads - all kinds of dads). Works great. Dads love the format because it gives them opportunitites to share their thoughts, hear and learn from other dads and more importantly build a brotherhood with other dads.
Keep On Daddying,
Hogan
Mark B.
03. Dec, 2005
Hogan,
Glad to see that a long time SAHD promoter agrees with me. All due respect, I don’t think frisbee golf is going to draw more SAHD’s to the windy city. In addition to my previous comments, I think having it a week prior to the Thanksgiving holiday hurts turnout also. That is probably something the school controls since they help with a venue. take care.
Mark