Thread: The 5th Annual Toledo Bend Gathering the last weekend of February

Originally Posted by Tracker123

I responded to G's phone message this morning saying I would check on here between classes.

The pavilion won't be a problem because I never tell them the exact number how many is in our group, the same as I have done in the past four years. In which I'll do again. What became overwhelming for me is the massive amount I have to cook for a large number of people. I don't want to fry by myself on Saturday with my small cat iron dutch oven. Dwayne, Deacon, etc. we haven't heard word from. I've PM'd a couple of folks and they said they would think about the food/supply list and post then. It's getting close, and I didn't want to be in the position saying "what now?" two days before the event.

Deacon will NOT be there b/c he has an event with his brother in the following month or two, this is an event that he has been going to for YEARS! I haven't said what I will bring or not bring (except that there will not be shrimp) because I am not sure that I will be making this event. After doing these events for years, maybe it is time for some others to step up and help out so the ones that have been doing them will NOT get burnt out. I will NOT be doing the big fish event either IF I go, so if somebody wants to take that over, it would be appreciated. I only have a fry daddy that is NOT good for cooking for a large number of people so I will NOT be bringing that either. Now with all of that being said, I will be glad to help anyone that needs it. Now you have heard from me and Deacon. Bruce, feel free to edit or delete this post if needed but he mentioned me and Deacon, I only felt it right to respond. Thanks

Sorry so late jumping in here guys, I've been on the road all day....from what I have read, I don't see any problems here that we can not work out....I have to agree with Slab and "G" that eating is not the reason we are coming and should not be the center focus of our meeting....I say lets do away with all the things that are making this so hard or causing all the stress.....so, please feel free to comment on my ideas below....

1)....Lets not do any fish (or other) frying period.....this is the hardest and most time consuming thing we do for eating...not to mention the clean up afterward....everyone here is a fisherman and eat fish at home plenty and cook them under the best of conditions and cooked in a way that you like....much less work...leave the fryers, oil, lights and canopies at home....lets use that time to fish, mingle and have fun...

2).....Lets skip the auction this year....why, just trying to make this year less stressful....I have some items that Danny gave me that I will hold for next year.....if we want to continue the auction next year then someone will need to take it over as Danny has moved to Tennessee...

3).....The pavilion....it has been really nice to have it....first we need to find out if we will have to pay....if I read Randy's post correctly, he just may come and we may not have to pay....sure hope we can take some stress off him and get this wagon back on track....

4).....One of our sponsors, Bobs Jigs, (CDC Snakeriver) who is always very generous supplying us with jigs purchased plane tickets for he and his wife last November 2 to fly here from Oregon for our event...he has been to several of our events.....Randy has already received jigs from him for our gathering.....we should make this event happen.....

5)......Lets skip the big fish pot this year.....why, remove more stress.....I never win any way....LOL....we can always start it again....

6).......I notice we could use more help cleaning up the pavilion....it seems that a small few always carry the load...

So, it looks like we will have a smaller group this year....no big deal....