I AM SCREAMING HELLO AND WANT YOU TO SCREAM TOO!

[silkkat813]

Dude... I just got dumped from the man I thought I would spend forever with.

So I personally give up on this camp.

I plan to show up. Saturday if allowed. Sunday if not. I will help build this camp. But sorry.... I am over stressed out with trying to semi-organize shit. I have been given SOOOOO MUCH to this camp the past 2 month and it seems SPikes and Sofaking don't give a shit. Right now I am in the slums and negatives and SOOOOO SO sick of trying for a camp I feel I can't help.

I have tried to help with motivation.

I have tried to help with communication. I am sick of people emailing me about info that I have no access to! Just because Sokaking and Spikes won't answer emails!!!

I know they have private lives and business. BUT DELEGATE!!!! Find someone else to help out! THe lack of organization here is one of the reasons I quit being an ambassador for Couchsurfing. WHERE IS OUR MONEY GOING???? What are the fees paying for?

I joined this camp again because I loved the people I met there. But now.... it seems like such a unorganized pile of MOOP!!!!! Biggest pile of MOOP i have ever seen. OH MY GAWD MY FEET ARE COVERED IN NASTY MOOPP!!!!!!

I want some response from Spikes or Sofaking or to DELAGATE or I am out of this group. I will camp there since I paid my fees but not sure of overcommitting.

[Vítor Oliveira]

WOW, that was a scream alright!

Kerri, I'm sorry to hear the news about your relationship.
Hold on tight and the next thing you notice you'll be meeting someone else.

Ok, so I guess it is time to put it all out now and scream as well.

I totally understand how Kerri is feeling. She's been holding things during the last months and trying to keep the vibe and camp alive.
I'm also totally pissed off.
Not because of the $150 dollars that I might have lost, but because I had such a great experience last year at Couch Surfing camp, met amazing people, and decided to go back this year and meet them again.

Truth is, there's no transparency about this camp at ALL.
No finances are published, no infrastructure inventory is maintained updated and published as well, no positions are assigned to different people.

We must have at LEAST 30 surfers signed up. 30*$100=$3000. This money plus the infrastructures acquired during previous years can do a lot for a camp.

I've been wondering about leaving the camp as well, but Kerri kept me going.
Gosh, these supposed organizers are being so childish!
Guys, be a MAN and step up to your responsibilities. Speak up, give away the controls, pass it on to someone else who's up for the job.
30 people are counting on you?

And give me my money back!!!!
Not event the $50 discount I got back.
This is ridiculous and is totally being a bad start for the trip that is getting closer.

[Vítor Oliveira]

Ok guys, I'm done with this.
I was going over the planning of my trip and decided that I don't want to deal with this anymore.
I'm just a couple weeks away from getting on the plane and will be on the road from then on. I really want to have my mind at ease.

If the camp still goes forward I'll stop by for sure and give a hug to everyone.
I'm tired of wandering what's going on and post after post not seeing the organizers stepping up.

I'm contacting SofaKing hoping that he will be man enough to give me my money back, in full.
I'll try to contact Spikes as well for the same matter.

Sorry guys, but I'm not up to this.
Might as well camp solo!

Good luck to you all and sorry for putting up the flames of this fire.
Cheers,

Vítor.

[Spikes]

Vitor - Within 6 hours I have refunded your camp fee in full, no paypal fees that we incurr, YOU HAVE A FULL REFUND - pls check your email for your paypal account credit.

Vitor - pls respond publically here on this post to confirm you have your refund.

@ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS ASKED FOR A REFUND - HAVE YOU GOT IT BACK?
PLEASE POST HERE IF YOU HAVE ASKED FOR A REFUND AND HAVE NOT GOT IT BACK - PLS POST HERE TO STATE YOU HAVE YOUR REFUND.


I have refunded every fee that has been asked to have back.
Silkkat you are free to leave camp and would get a full refund.

I will print out the PayPal account transactions and they will be at the CS Camp for inspection by ANYONE.
CS Camp is NOT CONNECTED with COUCHSURFING.org and changed its name to CouchBurners and Couch Burning Camp.
(We are listed as Couch Burning Camp with BM Org)

Any concerns with CS Ambassadors and the processes around that group and the CS Admin team are NOT CONNECTED OR KNOWN OR UNDERSTOOD BY THIS COUCHBURNING CAMP.

[Panda33]

Kerri
Please stay, as i am sure it will all work out. boards are done and ppl are starting to be more active now. First order is to make a post on ppl to be camp leaders. I look forward to helping you out, and now that spikes is now back and active we will be back on track soon.

[laloperez123]

yaaiikss. this is realy bad publicity... guyss.. slow down...

Sorry for your lose Kerry... We come to this world alone, we should learn to live and not depend on anyone, because after we borrow this energy, we leave this place alone. BUDA SAY: "BUT IF YOU CAN'T FIND AND INTELLIGENT COMPANION, A WISE AND WELL BEHAVED PERSON AS YOUR SELF, THEN GO ON YOUR WAY ALONE, LIKE A KING ABANDONING A CONQUERED KINGDOM OR LIKE A GREAT ELEPHANT WALKING IN THE DESERT."

AND ..In to the Desert we GO..

I'll STAY IN THIS CAMP... FUCK YEAH(!!A WEBO!!!)

This is just a board.. and YES, we need answers to most things, but in the end, it's all about getting your hands in work at the right place in the right time... We are assuming to much about negative results, I don't think is the right pad of thought. I say positivism is what created this earth gathering for the last 25 years.

If you all are capable enough to bring your ass into BRC, with all your self reliance, then you dont have to worry about it, you are more than half the way there. Anything else related to camp setting up will be taken care off. We will encourage everyone to participate on those task. We will find the volunteers to take care of duties. The spiral of events it's getting closer to it's vortex, the spins will come faster. and in 4 weeks we will be on the road heading to The PLAYA. Isn't it beautiful ..

COME On PIRATES... get in position.

[KlairewithaK]

Nicely put, Lalo!

Kerri, I really appreciate all the effort you have been putting into this while the rest of us were off doing other things (whether or not those were our choice or imposed on us) or snoozing . You were right that we were slacking... but we're trying to get on the ball now! This camp in particular is a whollop of a thing to put together with all of us spread all over the world, globtrotting. But it *will* get put together... by campmates, as always! From what I remember from year 1 to now, there has never been any specific delegation... whether or not that is a good or bad thing. Campmates have had to step up to the plate to offer themselves, their help, ideas, etc. I'm no angel, I certainly haven't been involved enough myself this time around. Also, It's no suprise that we are lacking with motivation, there are 3/4 less of us in the pool! (which is a good thing to me)... and I see ALOT of newbies.

I'm in 110% for whatever needs to happen. Playa knows I've had issues with things here and there... but I love, love, LOVE the people and community that *some* (obviously) of camp has nurtured over these few years. We're also not that old of a camp, with new people(and sometimes borrowed equipment) rotating all the time... Its a learning curve, for sure. Each year, our camp is hit with something huge that we eventually overcome. This year will be no different. Each year brings on needed improvements, IMHO.

Ok, I'm gonna stop going on.... just wanted to toss in my two cents. I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't forget that mounds of LOVE and a huge dusty group hug await you playaside!
... and dancing, and colors, and biking, and artwork, and more hugs, and fun in the sun, and ...well, you know...

[PrairieKiwi]

Hey guys

I'm new, and don't know any of your personally. But I've come to know your personalities a lot over the past couple of months and I see a lot of strong people here who believe in a vision and a community. Please keep positive here, things will fall together. I certainly appreciate the work that's gone into making the camp what it is so far!

I think the board will get more active as we head into the final month. I'm willing to help out where I can, and if I can get to Reno a few days early (depends on rides from Saskachewan) I'm all up for helping organize from there. I'll be at the site post-festival a few days to help take down.

See you all very soon

cosmic love
Alina AkA PK.

[silkkat813]

Sorry for my negativity. I was really hoping this would be a great year for our camp, but I hated people emailing me about information they assumed I had because the admins weren't responding. I was trying to plan out how quickly I had to drive out there and see if my traveling partners could leave early, but then I didn't know if should bother since didn't know anything about early passes.

Last year we had too many people that didn't help with the camp. Too many newbies that came just to party and sit around. That was one of the reasons I wanted some organization this year. Have rules. Have teams so people know to participate. Last year many of the Camp Leaders didn't even know what they were supposed to do. We signed up and then were not sure what being Camp Leader meant. A lot of people left without taking trash. I am so glad our camp will be smaller this year!

And I thought as a placed camp, we were supposed to give back to the city? But no one was coming up with ideas for events or what we give back. (Besides a mutant sofa, but I thought last year we were told that providing shade for relaxing was not considered enough of giving back?) Last year we seemed to have a lot more planned with drum circles and fire shows and parties. This year when the deadline for posting events came, we had only a Meat and Greet. I made up a bunch of events to get them submitted on time so that we had something to offer and hopefully get placement again next year. People started to ask me what our fee went to, and I really didn't know.

Part of me doesn't even want to go anymore.

[KlairewithaK]

You're right, and that's totally understandable!!

I can only venture to guess that some(if not a big part) of the problem is that some of the members who are not returning were also the ones that played a bigger role in previous years' activities. I loved the drum circle, fire spinning, and open mic last time... but do we even have anyone in camp that has those interests/available instruments/whatnot? Do we have any fire spinners? Anyone who is going to commit themselves to bringing and building a volleyball court? Those were all thought up an organized by campmates. I'm thinking we're all feeling the downside of a small camp.... as well as dumb border crossing issues. We are beyond lucky as a camp to have Kerri and Brooke who have been on the ball, contributing to camp in a responsible, timely matter. You are a cornerstone of this year's camp, and it would definitely not be the same without you. It has not gone unappreciated.
I can't erase what we all didn't do... all I can say is that there are at least a few of us who are late in the game, but are trying to pick up some slack. Maybe we can corral newbies with a letter asking for more assistance with camp? I'd be happy to do so(just making sure it hasn't already been done and I'd just be beating a dead horse?). Maybe with specific ideas of ways to assist/what they could bring(if possible) that would be helpful/relating that, though LEADING something in camp probably isn't comfortable for newbies, PARTICIPATION in camp is mandatory? Maybe we can mass email the camp members with the camp rules beforehand(since they probably don't check the boards much?).

Like I said, If it hasn't already been done, I will be happy to try to help get others in gear. Better late than never.

Stay with us! It will be fantastic, due in a very large part because of you.