MAKR Logistics

Welcome to the Midwest Area Kitemakers Retreat Logistics page. Here you will find the nuts and bolts information you need while attending MAKR.

REGISTRATION:

Open to all interested kitemakers, age 16 and older. A registration fee of $125.00 payable to the Chicagoland SkyLiners, before February 24, includes registration fee, six meals, dorm-style housing for two nights (with towels and bedding), and use of all the classroom facilities and equipment. The costs of materials for workshops will be additional and payable in class. Registrations must be complete and mailed in. Registrants MUST indicate preferences ("1" being first choice) for each session: failure to provide alternate preferences may result in a delay of processing your registration. Completed registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until spaces are filled. Confirmation of classes will be forwarded to all registrants; and while we strive to place you in the classes you most prefer, we cannot guarantee your first choice in all the sessions. Cancellations made prior to February 25 will be refunded less $15. No refunds can be made for cancellations after February 25. Registrations after February 25th, if accepted, will be $140.00.

DORMITORIES:

The campus features numerous dorm facilities, most housing 4 persons comfortably. Men and women will have separate accommodations. We have no private rooms for couples, with the exception of some of our guest instructors and their spouses. Each room has its own bathroom and shower facility, also ample dressers and some closet space. Towels and bedding will be provided. Bring your own soap and toiletries. And earplugs, if you need them!

MEALS:

Simply the BEST! The dining Hall is a pleasant 2-min. walk across campus. A large outdoor dinner bell calls everyone to meals, which are served either buffet or family style, and ON TIME! Round tables seat 8, and we encourage you to mix with different people at each meal. Taft has a tradition of excellence in its meals - all home cooked, with "seconds" and desserts! Special dietary considerations can usually be accommodated with advance notice to the Taft Office at 815-753-0205. As much as we try, the food will not be to everyone's taste. Please feel free to bring whatever items make you happy and healthy, whether that be herbal tea or special cereal, and store in the frig at Eagle's Nest.

CHECK-IN & CHECKOUT:

Registrants may check in at Heckman anytime after 5:30PM on Friday evening. The campus will not be available to registrants until 5 p.m.; the dorms will not open until 5:30 p.m. Do go to Heckman BEFORE unloading; you will receive your welcoming packet and ID, dorm assignment, and other pertinent information. Raffle donations may be dropped off at the Dining Room after dorm check in. Dorm checkout is Sunday morning before 10 AM; leave bedding and towels in the designated areas. Classrooms will remain open and accessible all day Friday and Saturday, on Sunday until 4:30 PM.

TELEPHONE:

There are pay phones located in the upper hallway of Heckman Dorm and near the restrooms in the Dining Hall. Taft.s # is 815-732-2111, but it is requested that it be called ONLY IN THE CASE OF EMERGENCY!

SMOKING -SNACKS -DRINKS:

No smoking is allowed in the buildings on campus; it is restricted to outdoors only. There are no vending machines, but with the wonderful meals, no one ever has a chance to get hungry! If you wish to bring some soda pop with you, there are refrigerators both in Eagle's Nest and Poley. No alcohol is allowed on campus. There is also a microwave at Eagle's Nest for those late night popcorn fixes.

SPECIAL NEEDS & EMERGENCIES:

See Kathy Horn, Barbara Meyer, John Karel, or Tom McCune. Also the Taft coordinator can help. For late night emergencies, contact the resident assistant "on call", tho just about anyone will be glad to help if you just ask! The small town of Oregon is just across the river a few miles. Here you can get such things as film, toothbrush, medications, etc though businesses tend to NOT be open at just any and all hours!

WORKSHOPS & PRESENTATIONS:

Are open ONLY to those who are registered for that particular session. No wandering in and out of classrooms while sessions are in progress! All classes are pre-registered, not at site. Please be on time for classes, bring the necessary tools and materials, and be sure to pay the instructor for any materials he/she may have provided for you. You may return to classrooms to work on projects when no sessions are underway (Saturday evening), or you may move your materials (sewing machine, etc) to Poley, where you are free to work anytime. All projects are the property of the instructor. Please do not copy the instructions for others or teach the same class without their written permission. All instructions are copyrighted. For all your registered classes, please make arrangements to purchase the class kit, whether or not you choose to attend and participate. Our instructors invest a lot of time and money in preparation; it is only fair they be reimbursed.

WHAT TO BRING

Do take some time to look over this list. While the instructors supply many of the tools & materials, you will still need to plan on bringing a few things with you. Be sure to label everything just in case something gets misplaced or left behind. A small toolbox or tote makes an excellent carryall. BE ADVISED THAT YOU WILL BE MOVING BETWEEN CLASSROOM BUILDINGS, GOING OUTDOORS TO DO SO & GOING UP AND DOWN STAIRS! Plan for ease in portability (incl. Sewing machines)! A fold-up cart is very helpful in moving your toolbox and/or sewing machine from one place to another. If you need some assistance in moving up or down steps, please advise us & we will be happy to assist. (Don.t be shy, tell us)

PERSONAL

Birthday suit & other comfortably baggy clothes + Warm outerwear & boots + Toiletries + Camera & film + Sunglasses + Flashlight + Extra Undies (you never know) + Earplugs!! + Soda pop (there are no vending machines but there are refrigs in Poley & Eagle's nest) + Extra blanket (if you require more than the one provided) + Extra $$$ for classroom supplies and raffle tickets + Kite-related donations for the raffle + Any resource info that you may wish to share or hand out + Kite to display in the Dining Room + Name stamp to label raffle tickets

BASIC SUPPLIES

Notebook + Pen & pencil + Metal straightedge + Black permanent fine-tip marker + Scissors + X-Acto knife & extra blades + Cutting mat or surface + A sturdy little box for the safekeeping of miniature kites and /or wearables + Extra work-light

BASIC SEWING SUPPLIES

Sewing machine with which you are familiar, tuned for ripstop & in good running order for straight & zigzag stitching + Cord & foot control + Extension cord + Bobbins + Several pkgs. Of top-quality sewing machine needles, size 11-14 + Sewing scissors + Good quality sewing thread in black & white (other colors optional) + Fabric marking pen + Seam ripper (Heaven help you!) + Hot cutter (optional) + Rotary cutter & mat (optional) washable glue stick, dressmaker pins

FRIDAY NIGHT SPECIALS:

With people arriving at all different times on Friday evening, we usually keep activities group-oriented and loosely structured. You will want to select your bed in the dorm, get it made up and settle in with your personal belongings. Then you will want to move your sewing machine and/or kitemaking stuff into the classroom you will be attending first on Saturday AM. Then we urge you to wander about the campus, in and out of the classrooms, get familiar with this woodsy environment! A light supper will be available Fri. night beginning around 6:30 PM in the Dining Room. That is also a good place to visit with everyone, drop off Auction donations, etc. We will have a group meeting there around 7:30 PM. Depending upon which classes you are registered for, you may need to do some preparatory work prior to Saturday; Friday nite will be your opportunity. Some of the rest of you may be antsy to get involved in a project, too. Still others of you may simply wish to settle in, stroll around, or shoot the breeze. These are fine, too!

GETTING HERE

Chicago is the nearest main airport, although Rockford IL also has scheduled service. There is a shuttle from O'Hare to Rockford IL. With prior notification, someone can pick you up in Rockford and bring you to the retreat.

Coming from the east on Highway 64 JUST BEFORE THE BRIDGE (at Oregon) turn right on River Road and follow North to Lowden Park entrance on Left. Enter the park and follow signs back to Taft Campus. Park in lot. Come to Heckman and check in. Go to the Dining Hall to drop off Auction stuff.

Coming from the west, take IL Highway 2 south out of Rockford, to IL highway 64, go thru Oregon, JUST AFTER THE BRIDGE, turn left on River Road and follow North to Lowden Park, entrance on Left. Enter the park and follow the signs back to Taft Campus. Park in lot. Come to Heckman and check in. Go to the Dining Hall to drop off auction stuff

For the map and more directions: http://www.niu.edu/taft/location/index.shtml

Finding your way around the retreat site: For the campus map: http://www.niu.edu/taft/location/campus_map.shtml