At the campgrounds.....

[DonaCatalina]

Nina,
I am very sorry for what your husband had to go through. But people have been complaining about problems at TRF camping for as long as I have been on this forum.
The reality is that George and his managers over the years see the camping fees as extra income period.
It took an act of supernatural proportions for them to require faire tickets in the campground. I am afraid that someone will have to die before any serious changes are made. And in that case the camping will probably be shut down. We resigned ourselves to this years ago and accepted the fact that we would not be able to go as often.

[Breandan]

I'll give Terre credit, he's already instituted some changes and is pursuing the matter further. Whether George backs him or not is an entirely different matter, and whether the LEOs do their jobs is also up in the air, but I'm optimistic.

[PollyPoPo]

It's Sunday morning, Oct 23.  Poor me; I've already made my one trip to TRF this year; motel at night.

Sigh.

Just curious – anybody camping bring their computers with them?  My family has a couple members (uh, computer geeks) who take their laptops everywhere.  The TRF RenFaire forum does go pretty dark from Friday night til late Sunday.

One of those things that makes me wonder.

[Riot]

We usually have access to internet everywhere we go (Laptop with air card), but not for the sake of playtime (sometimes for the fact that we keep it uber and super locked up).. The boyfriend keeps it on him for work in case there is such a big server or platform outtage at work the on call person calls "all team on deck" in which case he usually has about 5 minutes to be online even when he is considered "off grid". We have been known to check facebook or email once or twice during the weekend on it though. Both of our phones have access as well and we have those. It is rare when we are them usually though unless he is checking work status.

[Breandan]

I do for work reasons (writing, not being a bullet-sponge) and for music, but only at night after I've retired for downtime

[Nina]

DonaCatalina, thank  you for your kind words. 

We went back this weekend at the urgence of friends..who we camped with in a completely different section than we did opening weekend.  Though not in family area.  Let me say it was an entirely different scene.  We had a lovely time.  The place was litteraly crawling with cops.  Which at least for the time was a very good thing.  I don't just mean that they were driving around patroling.  They were circling the entire campground-all the gravel roads -on atv's and going thru the campsites on foot.  You could be standing in your campsite talking with friends and suddenly in thru your midst came 6 or 8 policemen looking around making sure everything was as it should be, shining their flashlights in dark tents checking things out.   And it got sort of quiet around 1am or so and then very quiet after about 2 or 3.  I may be oldy moldy but it really did make me feel much more at ease after what we went thru.  I saw some people were taken off and questioned/arrested after being smartoffs to the cops.  Not sue what happened but it was done quickly and quietly.  It may have been a bit much for some, but i think it was a necessary step at least until problem causers get the idea that it is no longer going to be tolerated.  And the awesome artsy camp sounds could be heard everywhere, acoustic guitars, mandolins, drums, and other instruments, and singing was going on every few feet.  It was like it was when i first started camping at TRF several years ago.

[KiltedPrivateer]

DonaCatalina, thank  you for your kind words. 

We went back this weekend at the urgence of friends..who we camped with in a completely different section than we did opening weekend.  Though not in family area.  Let me say it was an entirely different scene.  We had a lovely time.  The place was litteraly crawling with cops.  Which at least for the time was a very good thing.  I don't just mean that they were driving around patroling.  They were circling the entire campground-all the gravel roads -on atv's and going thru the campsites on foot.  You could be standing in your campsite talking with friends and suddenly in thru your midst came 6 or 8 policemen looking around making sure everything was as it should be, shining their flashlights in dark tents checking things out.   And it got sort of quiet around 1am or so and then very quiet after about 2 or 3.  I may be oldy moldy but it really did make me feel much more at ease after what we went thru.  I saw some people were taken off and questioned/arrested after being smartoffs to the cops.  Not sue what happened but it was done quickly and quietly.  It may have been a bit much for some, but i think it was a necessary step at least until problem causers get the idea that it is no longer going to be tolerated.  And the awesome artsy camp sounds could be heard everywhere, acoustic guitars, mandolins, drums, and other instruments, and singing was going on every few feet.  It was like it was when i first started camping at TRF several years ago.

With the exception of heavy patrols, that is exactly how camp should be (o:

[*Teach*]

DonaCatalina, thank  you for your kind words. 

We went back this weekend at the urgence of friends..who we camped with in a completely different section than we did opening weekend.  Though not in family area.  Let me say it was an entirely different scene.  We had a lovely time.  The place was litteraly crawling with cops.  Which at least for the time was a very good thing.  I don't just mean that they were driving around patroling.  They were circling the entire campground-all the gravel roads -on atv's and going thru the campsites on foot.  You could be standing in your campsite talking with friends and suddenly in thru your midst came 6 or 8 policemen looking around making sure everything was as it should be, shining their flashlights in dark tents checking things out.   And it got sort of quiet around 1am or so and then very quiet after about 2 or 3.  I may be oldy moldy but it really did make me feel much more at ease after what we went thru.  I saw some people were taken off and questioned/arrested after being smartoffs to the cops.  Not sue what happened but it was done quickly and quietly.  It may have been a bit much for some, but i think it was a necessary step at least until problem causers get the idea that it is no longer going to be tolerated.  And the awesome artsy camp sounds could be heard everywhere, acoustic guitars, mandolins, drums, and other instruments, and singing was going on every few feet.  It was like it was when i first started camping at TRF several years ago.

With the exception of heavy patrols, that is exactly how camp should be (o:

I just hope this is the way it stays. Sad that it came to this point but grateful indeed that management listens.
I am all about everyone having fun, but there are limits and as always, the few screwed it up for the many.

*I am old enough to have my rum right?*

[eloquentXI]

DonaCatalina, thank  you for your kind words. 

We went back this weekend at the urgence of friends..who we camped with in a completely different section than we did opening weekend.  Though not in family area.  Let me say it was an entirely different scene.  We had a lovely time.  The place was litteraly crawling with cops.  Which at least for the time was a very good thing.  I don't just mean that they were driving around patroling.  They were circling the entire campground-all the gravel roads -on atv's and going thru the campsites on foot.  You could be standing in your campsite talking with friends and suddenly in thru your midst came 6 or 8 policemen looking around making sure everything was as it should be, shining their flashlights in dark tents checking things out.   And it got sort of quiet around 1am or so and then very quiet after about 2 or 3.  I may be oldy moldy but it really did make me feel much more at ease after what we went thru.  I saw some people were taken off and questioned/arrested after being smartoffs to the cops.  Not sue what happened but it was done quickly and quietly.  It may have been a bit much for some, but i think it was a necessary step at least until problem causers get the idea that it is no longer going to be tolerated.  And the awesome artsy camp sounds could be heard everywhere, acoustic guitars, mandolins, drums, and other instruments, and singing was going on every few feet.  It was like it was when i first started camping at TRF several years ago.

With the exception of heavy patrols, that is exactly how camp should be (o:

I just hope this is the way it stays. Sad that it came to this point but grateful indeed that management listens.
I am all about everyone having fun, but there are limits and as always, the few screwed it up for the many.

*I am old enough to have my rum right?*

I don't know if you are old enough to have rum but I know I am this season!!!!! 

It makes me feel better to know that the cops are patrolling pretty regularly and dealing with what is needed. We're getting the follow-through that we've wanted...its hard to believe.

[xed]

It definitely was nice and quiet this weekend; though I didn't see a single police patrol through our camp. I did see them driving around on the roads and such, but no one bothered us at all.

[SirRichardBear]

Given this weekend is one of the big three it will be instructive to see how things are handled this weekend.   It will be great if everyone can have fun enjoy live music and camp fellowship without all the drama caused by a few bad apples.

[Breandan]

The heavy patrols won't be needed all the time, just long enough to get the point across, and then on heavy-traffic weekends when things might get out of hand. I am bloody glad to hear about the increase in security, it makes me feel more comfortable taking my daughter out there this weekend and camping.

[Lady Laura]

Huzzah and thank you Terre!  For this is truly the first time that action has been taken so swiftly and decisively on the part of TRF.

I really hope that this is a permanent end to the vermin infestation at camp!

[DonaCatalina]

DonaCatalina, thank  you for your kind words. 

We went back this weekend at the urgence of friends..who we camped with in a completely different section than we did opening weekend.  Though not in family area.  Let me say it was an entirely different scene.  We had a lovely time.  The place was litteraly crawling with cops.  Which at least for the time was a very good thing.  I don't just mean that they were driving around patroling.  They were circling the entire campground-all the gravel roads -on atv's and going thru the campsites on foot.  You could be standing in your campsite talking with friends and suddenly in thru your midst came 6 or 8 policemen looking around making sure everything was as it should be, shining their flashlights in dark tents checking things out.   And it got sort of quiet around 1am or so and then very quiet after about 2 or 3.  I may be oldy moldy but it really did make me feel much more at ease after what we went thru.  I saw some people were taken off and questioned/arrested after being smartoffs to the cops.  Not sue what happened but it was done quickly and quietly.  It may have been a bit much for some, but i think it was a necessary step at least until problem causers get the idea that it is no longer going to be tolerated.  And the awesome artsy camp sounds could be heard everywhere, acoustic guitars, mandolins, drums, and other instruments, and singing was going on every few feet.  It was like it was when i first started camping at TRF several years ago.

It looks like Terre has really followed through. He has earned my esteem for the changes.Nina, I'm glad your camping experience improved. I hope to see you closing weekend.