2009 DeKalb Kite Festival, Sept 13

[Mike]

DeKalb Kite Festival
September 13, 2009
11-4
http://www.chicagokite.com/se17deil.html

Barb Meyer, who's running for AKA president will be attending this fest.
Also, Jeff Hale and Paul Fieber who we don't get to see at many of our Illinois events.

How about a roll call?

[Babbman]

I'll be there

[RadarRider]

Aiming for this one as well!

[Knoted4ever]

Very good chance that i'll be there!

[Jynx]

Same as Mot's in Milwaukee... You guys do this on purpose so I don't mess up your lines!

[Mike]

Same as Mot's in Milwaukee... You guys do this on purpose so I don't mess up your lines!

We didn't have any say-so on the dates and we tried to talk them out of this day. Maybe we'll alternate years and do Mots next year.

[Draftchick]

I'm delighted with the line up of kiters that are coming! Sorry you won't make it Jynx, I look foward to catching up with you on the field one of these days.

If you all would be so kind once again to send me bios, it would be greatly appreciated. Just a short blurb, who you, where you're from, and whatever you'd like to share with your audience. OR! You could go really high tech and record your blurbs yourselves and have them to go with your music. These will broadcast from the sound booth. They will be read or played, which ever you'd like to prepare. The audience appreciates hearing about those flying the kites.

Please and thank you!

TTFN,
Chris Overmann - Draftchick

[Draftchick]

Fresh back from a kite festival meeting and things are rolling along smoothly here. I'm happy to report that efforts and interest is expanding again this year thanks to the great folks working on this. The city is excited to have it's kiting friends back to enjoy the day together again.

This year's festival is in memory of Chuck Sebrasse who was the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce manager the year this festival took flight. His enthusasim for the festival was a major contribution to it's success. Chuck lost a battle with cancer in the last year, and is dearly missed.

One more ding for bios folks. Please don't be shy. I've been known to make stuff up in the sound booth and turning in a bio will ensure I don't do something goofy like tell the DJ what color you're undies are! <kidding>

Thanks in advance,
Christy

[chicagokite]

Hi Guys and Gals

Chris needs bios for you if you can please let her know
Dave

[Mike]

I'm now a maybe for this fest, but I hope to still make it.

[Jeepster]

Draftchick,

Will miss this one ... grand daughter's birthday. Sorry!

Tom

[Pkrekel]

I will be there

[Draftchick]

Sun Times and the Daily Herald will have blurbs about the festival this weekend.

[goldenarrow]

Christy,

Dumb question since I am a newbie to kites. If the wind speed is projected tomorrow for 5-6mph, will that be enough to loft the kites at the DeKalb Kite Festival?? I am bringing three guests as a surprise to them and would like to know how much activity there will be if the wind is at that low level. Seems obvious to those who fly kites but I have no clue about such things!

[highlight=#FFFFAA] Thanks for any help![/highlight]

Goldenarrow

[Mike]

Hi Goldenarrow, and welcome to our club.
Three things about wind:
1. The forecasts for wind are almost always wrong. They do OK on temperature, so-so on rain, but they can't do wind at all
2. There will be kites in the air with 6 mph.
3. The forecasts for wind are almost always wrong--ignore them.

[Jeff]

If I could get a guaranteed 5-6 mph, I'd take it. That's plenty to fly.

[RadarRider]

Alas, the wind god blew a few breezes here and there and flipped and flopped in direction but it seemed a blast was had by all. Hopefully September 12, 2010 will be more blessed by the movement of air and the barrel can spin freely in the joy of flight......

[Babbman]

Great venue, great event, great crowd....

but the wind forecast was dead nuts on...

way way light and from every direction at one point or another, all the other points? There was none..lol

[Draftchick]

DeKalb had an amazing crowd. The first time I walked up the hill and looked back to see how many people were out, I nearly fell over. I spoke with an older couple that were making plans to come back next year with their grandkids and entire family. Many families that had been out other years and said it was a tradition for them and they'd be back again. Others make DeKalb Kite Festival a tradition and are becoming frequent kite flyers. YEA!

Everyone enjoyed the festival despite the low wind conditions. Although we had a time getting the fancy kites up, the kids kites flew well no matter which direction the kids ran. The event, was dedicated to Chuck Sebrasse who loved the way the kites brought families together and put a smile on their faces. They were smiling yesterday and I'm sure Chuck was too.

Al Stark made my day complete when he showed me what he'd been flying. A swallow kite from China. A very appropriate kite for the day. It flew wonderfully in the wind conditions, and in China these kites are flown with symbols to bless families.

Many, many thanks to everyone who worked yesterdays wind to keep their kites up. DeKalb and I greatly appreciated your efforts.

TTFN,
Christy

[Babbman]

BTW, Christy

awesome way to cover us when the wind completely and totally died 1/2 way through our routine...