State MathCounts
I JUST got back from doing food for state MathCounts and I have to gripe about stupid people. Firstly, MathCounts is a charity event. It relies on donations from companies to sponsor the competition. Everything-- tee-shirts, pins, food, paper for the tests, etc-- Everything is paid for by sponsors. The money we have is all we have.
I had a really fantastic time except for a few things.
There was some strange man with red hair who decided to pretend to do my job for me (food). He actually drove down to Quizno's (the place Jen and I coordinated with to do the volunteer breakfast and lunch) and asked if they were the people doing the MathCounts food. I know this because Quizno's told me. The guy drove down there to harass them when Jen and I had it all under control. Then, when he arrived at the competition, he called them again to tell them that they need to make signs for the food. Then, he came up to me and asked if I was in charge of the food. I, of course, said I was. Then he told me he just called Quizno's and they're coming and that he asked them to make signs for the food. I asked him if he was with Quizno's. He said he wasn't. I said I already made signs and had already hung them up. Then I walked away. Still... I was thinking, "What the hell? I'm in charge of food. What does he think he's doing?"
The other thing was lunch. We BARELY had enough Jamba Juice for the snacks for the volunteers, coaches, students... and parents. This was with 5 schools no-showing. Barely. For some reason, all the parents decided to show up for lunch. Not only did they decide to show up for lunch, but they decided to bring their whole troupe of children. We were short about 50-sandwiches. Where in great googly-moogly did these 60 extra people come from?! What we shout the word "food" and everyone comes running? Eesh. My husband put this into perspective, though-- adults don't think rules apply to them. I think he's right.
Next year, I'm recommending that we only feed students, coaches/teachers, and volunteers. The parents and all their little kids can fend for themselves. Afterall, this isn't about them. This competition is for the kids in it. It just so happened that we have had enough money in the future to be able to order extras. I wanted to smack the woman who said, "You're all out? You didn't have enough last year either." HELLO, LADY. If you knew we ran a little short, why didn't you bring your own lunch just in case!?!
The vendors were SPECTACULAR. I really enjoyed working with them. They were helpful and awesome. They came on time and had no troubles. It was the stupid, irresponsible, schmoozing parents that made me cranky-pants... that and none of them seemed to appreciate the hard work that went into feeding that many people. It was just "you don't have enough food" Meh!
Anyway. I'm NOT doing this again next year. I will, however, make notes for whomever gets the mountainous job next year. Hopefully they'll have more fun.
I had a really fantastic time except for a few things.
There was some strange man with red hair who decided to pretend to do my job for me (food). He actually drove down to Quizno's (the place Jen and I coordinated with to do the volunteer breakfast and lunch) and asked if they were the people doing the MathCounts food. I know this because Quizno's told me. The guy drove down there to harass them when Jen and I had it all under control. Then, when he arrived at the competition, he called them again to tell them that they need to make signs for the food. Then, he came up to me and asked if I was in charge of the food. I, of course, said I was. Then he told me he just called Quizno's and they're coming and that he asked them to make signs for the food. I asked him if he was with Quizno's. He said he wasn't. I said I already made signs and had already hung them up. Then I walked away. Still... I was thinking, "What the hell? I'm in charge of food. What does he think he's doing?"
The other thing was lunch. We BARELY had enough Jamba Juice for the snacks for the volunteers, coaches, students... and parents. This was with 5 schools no-showing. Barely. For some reason, all the parents decided to show up for lunch. Not only did they decide to show up for lunch, but they decided to bring their whole troupe of children. We were short about 50-sandwiches. Where in great googly-moogly did these 60 extra people come from?! What we shout the word "food" and everyone comes running? Eesh. My husband put this into perspective, though-- adults don't think rules apply to them. I think he's right.
Next year, I'm recommending that we only feed students, coaches/teachers, and volunteers. The parents and all their little kids can fend for themselves. Afterall, this isn't about them. This competition is for the kids in it. It just so happened that we have had enough money in the future to be able to order extras. I wanted to smack the woman who said, "You're all out? You didn't have enough last year either." HELLO, LADY. If you knew we ran a little short, why didn't you bring your own lunch just in case!?!
The vendors were SPECTACULAR. I really enjoyed working with them. They were helpful and awesome. They came on time and had no troubles. It was the stupid, irresponsible, schmoozing parents that made me cranky-pants... that and none of them seemed to appreciate the hard work that went into feeding that many people. It was just "you don't have enough food" Meh!
Anyway. I'm NOT doing this again next year. I will, however, make notes for whomever gets the mountainous job next year. Hopefully they'll have more fun.