We went to RTD last night (Friday) but didn't get to go today. The crowd was awesome and the music was even better than last year. I got to hear Salvador, Toby Mac & Third Day. I'll have to admit, it worried me when RTD was moved away from the local park and was no longer a free event, but judging by the crowd, people (especially teenagers) are still very much on board with it. I also have to admit I sometimes wonder about the teenagers there - are they there because of the Christian music or just to hang out with their friends... but either way surely something positive can soak in (did you get the pun? This year the theme is "Saturate"). There have been weather problems in the past, but Friday night the sky cooperated by keeping the rain all around us but not on us. I give the event an A+.

Suzanne

Suzanne, thanks for the update. I would have loved to have heard the three groups you named (especially Salvador).

I, too, wonder why some of the kids are out there, but I figure if they've got to hang out somewhere, that's as good a place as any. Like you say, who knows what they might absorb!

We got a pretty good downpour last night in town...very brief, but it still would have bummed everyone out at RTD, so it's a blessing indeed that you guys stayed dry.

I went Thursday at 5, and just got home. I'm too exhausted to remember much. Friday's lineup was great, the worst (to me, at least) was Third Day. The energy built until them. It's tough to follow Salvador and Toby. Saturday was much of the same. Jeremy Camp rocked! And he seems to be such a genuinly nice guy. I stood in front of a speaker, and the crowd noise was actually louder than the speaker. The weather worked out perfect, and I hope everyone had a great time. You skipped RTD to blog? Well.........I probably shouldn't tell you this, but Clearwire was a sponsor. And DMAT was there, and had open wireless links too. I was glad for the number of non-christian looking kids there. I hope they have the kinds of bands next year that attract more. That was the original whole point of RTD.

Joe, good report...thanks for sharing it.

You skipped RTD to blog?

Or, you could just ask, "You skipped RTD to fulfill your commitment to a local ministry and the scores of pledgers who are donating almost $2,000 to it?"

I probably shouldn't tell you this, but Clearwire was a sponsor.

Now, see...that's the kind of thing that I'll never understand. Nowadays, things like that are important to people, and yet it's like they're some kind of trade secret or something. Had I known that free WiFi was available onsite, I may well have set up blogshop out there.

...non-christian looking kids...

Um, what does that mean? ;-)

This is why I don't usually write on these things.....seems like everything gets taken wrong. Or maybe everyone is just waiting to be challenged. It's a lot harder to tell when someone is being facetious online, and my comment was an attempt at tongue-in-cheek humor. Anyway........I think raising money for Fair Havens is awesome, and it's a great thing you did. They're on my donor list. If I can figure out why my debit card quit working this weekend, I'll donate to you. As to why word didn't get out on Clearwire, I can't say. I guess I'd blame it on volunteer help, spread way too thin, and a learning curve. How cool would it have been to have had a Fair Havens both, and done the Blogathon from there?

"Non-christian looking kids"? Ok.....so I don't elucidate my thoughts so well, and that doesn't even make sense to me now. The point I was trying to make is that RTD was originally planned to reach out to un-churched teenagers. I'm glad any teenagers come onsite, for whatever reason. All you can do is sow the seeds.

I've looked back thru your blogs on RTD, and it seems to be positive. Thanks for that.

Joe, I probably came across a little more stern in my reply than I meant to be...so the misinterpretation can run both directions. That's why a smilie every now and then can work wonders! ;-)

Your suggestion about blogging from a Fair Havens booth at RTD is exactly the kind of thing that would have been possible had someone thought to publicize that aspect of the event.

If there's a knock on RTD as a whole it's that it still needs some maturity from an organizational perspective. It's no longer just some local event put on by a few folks from the neighborhood. It's an internationally known event and it is getting scrutiny from all parts of the globe. But it sometimes seems that it's being run like that initial neighborhood project, in certain areas.

Had I not been Blogathoning, I would have been at RTD operating a TV camera. I was contacted and asked if I could volunteer to help, as I did last year. But, guess when I got that call? The evening of Tuesday, August 2. Three days before the festival and they haven't even finalized the tech crew?! That is, frankly, disappointing. Now, I realize that the punchlist for an event of this magnitude is overwhelming, and also that 99% of the plans were implemented without a hitch. But, there's always room for improvement and this is an example.

The point I was trying to make is that RTD was originally planned to reach out to un-churched teenagers.

I knew that; I was giving you a hard time. But, keep in mind that people visit here who don't know what RTD is all about, who aren't necessarily Christians, and who might not be as perceptive about your intentions.

I think RTD is a positive event, both for the attendees and the community at-large. I refuse to be cynical about motives or any other aspect of it. And, I hope it's not on the same weekend as Blogathon 2006!

I agree with your comments about organizational maturity; what a great way to describe that. Can I use that phrase? I personally feel that it is due to the volunteer nature of the organization. I believe there is only one paid staff member, and she does office work, for the most part. The event is organized by committees, and the level of organization is a direct reflection of the individual committee head. Sometimes it works, sometimes you get called 3 days before the event. Two local guys took over the Stage and Production committee to save the cost of the high priced stage manager from Nashville used the last two years, and the locals did a much better job. This was the third year my wife and I did band hospitality, and I think it was the first year we felt comfortable with our planning, progress, and performance. I look forward to the maturation process, and you're right, it's getting big, and needs to happen fast.

Disclaimer: I'm not trying to make the video guys look bad. I know they worked hard getting all the equipment together, and getting set up, and I'm sure (hopefully) that there were extenuating circumstances regarding your late call.

Joe, I don't have a copyright on "organizational maturity"; feel free to use it. ;-)

I'm sure (hopefully) that there were extenuating circumstances regarding your late call.

Um, second year in a row that it happened...

But, you know, in the end everything got done, so it's no big deal. God has a way of making that happen!