The second Iwamizawa international festival.  Organized by Anne Slattery, this festival attracted over 300 attendees, covered its costs, and donated 22,000 yen to HEC Camp.  The festival was held on June 21st, and ran from 12:00 until 4:00.

Countries and States Represented

Australia

Canada

Japan

Korea

Lebanon

New Zealand

Romania

Russia

United States of America

Comments

• Very enjoyable (more enjoyable than last year's)
• Attendees enjoyed the opportunity to communicate in English
• Better streamlined
• Good range of activities
• Good family atmosphere (a change of direction from last year)
• Non-native English speaking volunteers liked speaking in English in a real setting.
• Successful (more attendees, good experience, well recieved)
• It's a good size now 300-400 people attended
• Made money

Suggested Improvements

• Shorten the running time so as to run from 12-2.30pm
• Have an exact goal with the budget - and publicise it everywhere.i.e. "all funds raised aid the Hokkaido English Camp", etc, on posters, in paper, everywhere - so people know where the money is going
• Ensure both photo and video evidence is taken, so to advertise for the next year and also to keep a record of what went where, etc
• Mark out/Figure out some way in which people can line up outside booths
• Track the passports better, as this is a great indicator of crowd numbers
• Have a checklist/expectations outline for volunteers, so they know what to bring (i.e. sunscreen, water, ensure to eat prior to 11.30, etc)
• Assign one volunteer as a floater that can rotate between booths etc, to give small breaks
• Have set up fully completed by 11.30 so we can have a quick brief before event starts and everyone can eat.
• Have a stronger volunteer force with exact roles and times they are required and also allocate a 'go-to' person who is in charge.
• Food - more tacos and sausages, more muffins/biscuits/pie, and more softdrinks with English writing on it
• Less beer
• Better contingencies for weather conditions, e.g. rain, wind, pollen (perhaps need to be held in early June to get away from large pollen/flower problems)
• Ensure 2 people are on each booth at all times.