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Things have been difficult for the RKNet staff lately. Layoffs, drama, and general stress have contributed to some serious malaise (not to mention de-motivation, a critical factor in our recent lack of communiques). Now that the weather has officially decided to take a turn for the warmer, it finally feels like it’s safe to put away the winter and officially embrace the spring. In order to rally everyone together, celebrate our new paths in life, and enjoy the hell out of some sunshine, I’ve been putting together a picnic! The park here in downtown Dover (Henry Law Park, for those keeping score at home), is a nice little stretch of grass and pavillions down by the Cocheco river. It’s a central spot for most of us, and it’s a perfect location. Putting together events is admittedly not one of my strong suits, but at this point it’s safe to say that if I can do it, anybody can!

Tips:

Think ahead!

• Check the weather. I prefer wunderground for my weather reports, although it pays to check with your local news station, too. If you’re in a big hurry, you could always just check Umbrella Today.
• Scout your location ahead of time. If you’re having it at your house or someone else’s, make sure there’s room for everyone. Or, before you go rolling a keg into the middle of the town park, it might be a good idea to find out what that park allows.
• Let everybody know your plans as far out as possible. I’d recommend two weeks if you’re getting more than five people together. Bare minimum should be about a week, since most people should know if they have any seriously pressing engagements by that point.
• Phone them up! Even if you hate the phone like I do, be prepared to suck it up and make a few calls. More often than not it’s the fastest way to figure out what’s up.
• Harness the magic of the internet! Use all those social networks: Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter are good ways to tag people and establish a public invite list if you have friends that are active on those services. Email is great of course, but be prepared to do those follow up phone calls.
• Consider allergies. Chances are, if you’re friends with someone who has a major food allergy they’ve probably already mentioned it. If you’re up front with people about your menu ideas, they can help you keep everyone safe. Likewise, if a guest is a vegan or vegetarian, be prepared to work with them to balance out the menu.

Organize yourself

• Figure out who is paying for what early on. If you’re going to be Captain Generous and pay for the whole thing, then make it a point to figure out who’s coming. If you buy food for 20 and it’s really only 10 that means some serious leftovers, and a big food bill that you didn’t need to have.
• Make lists! Lots and lots of lists. Digital, paper, doesn’t matter. You’re going to at least want a list for who is coming, what you’re bringing, & what others are bringing. Don’t be afraid to just totally redo a list if it starts getting sloppy or confusing.
• Check your local store’s website or circular. Even if you end up hitting multiple stores, it could save you some serious cash in the long run.
• Make one shopping trip instead of several. Once you’ve got a handle on what and how many, do your main shopping run as close to the date as you can. This is one area where procrastination can be your friend.
• Identify early on if you’ve got a big food project. If you’ve promised to make enough of Mom’s Famous Potato Salad to feed a small army, then make sure you’ve really got the time and the resources to make it happen before you commit.
• Pack things up the night before. Put together all the stuff you’ll need as much as possible, so the next day you can just grab everything and go. I did all my shopping the day before, and made it a point to pack all the paper items and non-perishables away in the trunk. It’s one less thing to carry to the car and one less thing to forget when you’re getting ready to leave.

Don’t Stress!

• Get by with a little help from your friends. Remember, you started down this path because you thought it would be fun. If you start getting overwhelmed by putting the event together, then make some phone calls to see who can help you cook or prepare or contact people.
• K.I.S.S. This is a picnic, not a royal banquet. The goal is to get together with friends, have food, and enjoy life. You don’t have to do everything from scratch or cater to every taste.

Even if your plans do turn out to be a whole lot of work, it should be worth it! Getting together with your friends is often its own reward. Tomorrow I hope to take lots of pictures (if I’m not busy cooking up a storm) and I’ll be sure to share them.

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