Well, I'm feeling quite sure this isn't anything Phil would want to serve up on his plate as it's likely he has a full plate already!
Here is what would likely have to be done. A committee would have to be in place, preferably of folks who have connections to the hotel business and who could get a block of rooms reserved at super low prices for those of us who wanted to travel out to visit.
Then the committee would need to deal with dining prices (maybe the hotel has a restaurant/buffet that those attending the fest could get into for discounted prices).
Then the committee would need to deal with workshops and entertainment. You'd probably be able to set up workshops with finding those of us here at MC who build or work on puppets/puppetry more than part-time (thus excluding me). Entertainment? We could get permission to show the videos, or not if its something taped from television. Just need a large room with a big screen tv, vcr, and dvd player.
Then the committee would have to create a dealers room where the whole group could meet and greet and swap and trade and buy and sell.
One of the things I brought up about the next MFest would be that at our MC Family Reunion Dinner we would bring out our own puppet character creations (something WE created OURSELVES, not remakes of other characters). That would be fun. Maybe have the puppets visit and talk to one another.
Then, the Committee would be responsible for creating attendance forms, setting prices, dates, times, and a treasurer would have to collect the funds and apply those funds toward the rooms/food/rental space of meeting rooms/and hiring out someone from JHC to be a guest and whose trip, room, and food would have to be paid for.
FOZ