Let me explain how the MKT operation goes:
0500 am Mike and I get up and fire up the stoves/grill and for the next two hours cook the breakfast items with our corp group of volunteers. We are not professionals so chow is called when it is ready. The last two days of the rally I cooked until everyone was fed even though it meant opening rations for the next day. Mike and I had to do a ration run to get supplies so we could serve breakfast on Sunday. We could have easily just closed shop but we went the extra mile to ensure that no one goes hungry at the GA Rally.
Lunch/dinner is usually sandwiches/hot dogs/hamburgers with chips and fruit cups. If we have leftovers from the night before we heat them up as an option to cold cuts. We provide sack lunches to those that want them for trail rides. That usually lasts from around 11am until 2pm but if you ask we can usually scrounge up something. We keep peanut butter and jelly for the small ones if requested.
Supper (this is the South the last meal of the day is supper, always has been, always will be) is called when the entree is done and the line has been set up. We try to have food that everyone enjoys and to throw some old military favorites in for veterans or those who want to try them. It is not cost effective to have more than one entree unless we charge more. I'm not sure if Durhamtown's cafe was open this year but the next option for hot food is about 15 miles away unless you bring your own rations.
We will discuss meal options in the After Action Review (not open to the general membership).
Mike owns the MKT and Sanitary trailer. This is a labor of love with him and he also does disaster feeding if the need arises. We do not make a profit on the MKT operation. No one who works at the MKT is paid for labor or supplies they donate. If we do have money left over after expenses we use it to make improvements. Over the last few years we have purchased the tents, hand washing stations, tables, chairs and other items that make eating outdoors more enjoyable.
We offer good food at reasonable prices for our fellow Green Iron Addicts. We are not allowed to serve Durhamtown's customers since they have food on site occasionally.
We will look at all suggestions and if we can incorporate some of them into the plan we will.
It was a pleasure serving you all this year.
Oh....concerning the PA system: The system we have used for the last several years was purchased by me from Government Liquidation. It is a 50's vintage set up and is old school. This year one of the tubes in the amp (yep, it's that old) took a dump and I'll have to find an old school radio restorer to get it repaired. Durhamtown loaned us the one we used the last few days of the rally and if I can't get mine fixed they may loan it to us again. I was told by several people that the bugle calls were missed and I promise that next year they will be back.
