Frustrations to the Very End

Well, I am guessing we should have looked at all of the clues leading up to today.

Today was the first annual Parkesburg Community Day.  It was originally going to be a few fun activities in the afternoon after some races when the bile race that goes around in Chester County did not return to Parkesburg this year.  So a group of hardy souls began to plan a replacement event to bring our community together.

I am a Lion and our club had decided that what we would like to try to do is put on a Kidsight screening as our project for the day.  It has been a project that has been a constant struggle.  Just a couple of weeks ago, the committee had no idea that we were coming even though we had copies of email communications going back to June showing our plans.  So a couple of weeks ago I sent an email to a friend who was on the committee telling him our plans and our frustrations.  They all responded quickly and we were added to the roster of vendors.

Our plan was to use a Motor Coach of one of our members as the area where the testing would take place.  We had trained Lions from the West Chester chapter coming to do the work.  All was set.

Monday we had a call from the Motor Coach owner.  They had been out in the vehicle last weekend and it broke down.  Might not be repaired by today... so we began to look at a Plan B.  Calls were made and pleas sent out for another vehicle.  None seemed to be coming.

I put together a plan C, a popup canopy, tarp sides, tables and chairs.  The lady who had put the original plan together was not too happy, but we at least had a workable plan to be at the event.  I dusted off the tables and canopy from the house I sold in Maryland and brought home instead of selling or giving away.  The rain that was supposed to be in the area this morning poured overnight and cleared out by morning (the only positive of the day) and I headed off to the park.  We were assigned a spot, arranged for the power, got everything set up and the West Chester Lions arrived.  That is where the wheels came off the bus!

The poor Lions from West Chester could not get their $10,000 camera/scanner to work.  They tried everything but standing on their heads, but it would not scan.  We are having to turn children away.  PDG Lion Nancy made some calls and headed out to meet some other Lion who had a similar setup to get their equipment.  But, alas, the same result.  Turns out, our makeshift eye clinic was not dark enough to allow the camera to work.  We tried and tried and tried to get it to work, but to no avail.  So we through in the towel about 1:30 PM, packed everything up and headed home.

Nancy was very upset.  She really wanted this to be a wonderful event for the Lions.  And she was upset because I had done so much to make it work.  But, it was all that could be done and sometimes things do not work out the way we want.

So I came home.  The stuff is still in the van.  I will get it out tomorrow or Monday.  No hurry.  Winston got out of the crate a few hours early, so he was happy.  And hopefully we can figure out how to make it work or find another event for next year.

I was excited to see the number of people who came out to support the Community Day.  They just kept coming and coming.  I will take Winston back into town and we will sit at the church and watch the fireworks at 9:30 PM.  I will find out if loud noises really freak him out.... maybe.