Pelikan Hubs 2018

[penzel_washinkton]

This will be the 5th year of the Hubs event occurring during the companys 180th anniversary year. Swag has varied over the years but has always included a full bottle of the ink of the year for the hub attendees. Other swag has included pen cases and notebooks.

 

Definitely dont need to bring or even own a Pelikan. Ive had people attend who used the opportunity to explore the brand and see what they might like prior to jumping in.

 

The growth has been amazing. The Philadelphia, USA hub had about 3 attendees year 1 and now we have 53 registrations and that kind of growth is across the board. This year has 31% more registrations than last year. If anybody is interested in the breakdown of the registration data, you can follow the link in my signature below.

 

I will take the opportunity in this forum to voice my concerns about this event. Its getting bigger every year. Some hubs have 100+ registrations. Venues arent routinely free. Hub masters are getting burdened with non-reimbursed cost. My fear is that this awesome event will be crushed by the weight of its own success. Not sure what Pelikan can do to mitigate this going forward. Just food for thought.

 

That's actually a valid concern for the hubs that is growing rapidly.

I think it won't be a problem here though since the numbers are well below 40 I predict.

 

 

Well, one bottle of Smoky Quartz I more expensive than a handmade Deccan Advocate that I own, and believe me, that pen is marvelous. Its got a Jowo medium cursive italic that I ground.

 

Yeah there are actually many pens that is far cheaper than an Edelstein ink and performs really well, just a little bit of joking around wouldn't hurt

 

 

I'm looking at the Moonman M2 and a couple of PenBBS pens, though I've never tried either.

 

Those are actually good options, just make sure you aren't getting the tipless nib on the Moonman M2 that many are claiming to be paper tearing monsters.

PenBBS I've only heard of positive reviews about them.

[Cyber6]

 

I wonder if it would make sense to split hubs that get too big. Have multiple hub masters, meet in multiple places. I bet the NYC crowd would love it if the 84 participants could meet in smaller groups closer to where they are.

 

 

That's my idea. Toronto is a BIG city, last year I was bombarded with request to hold the hub at the east end, or west end... I found a central location, but if I get to host it this year, I will recommend Pelikan to allow for two hubmasters and split the hub for east/west attendees.

 

 

 

 

C.

[Mulrich]

I was Hub Master for Salt Lake City last year and was lucky to only have a few people sign (6 including me) up so we just met at a little restaurant. I can't imagine arranging the event for 50+ people without some meaningful costs. Even reserving a pavilion in a park has some costs though this is probably cheaper than most other venues.

[bbs]

+1

 

There are gems, few are far between. Usually, they are a benchmark for tacky.

That's made up my mind, gonna bring some tacky just for you! Although actually I'm enjoying the nibs on my Penbbs 323 and Delike Smurf. Pelikan nibs have become SOOO boring (runs and hides)

[Parker51]

We will likely have about 25 people attend, so it will be simialer to the monthly pen club meeting. The question will be venue. Maybe a library, but we typically meet at a library. Maybe at one of the pen club members coffee shop, good for some free coffee and pastries, but a bit crowded. Friday from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm is fairly early in evening, but, it hits at dinner time for many people, especially those with small children. Maybe since it is at the time of an early dinner we will simply share a meal and invite our significant others, our spouses, etc. and given the time of year, we could have it in a park as a potluck picnic. As Pelikan does have some products for children, maybe if this would turn into a family event, our hub mistress could request some products for children. I am imagining something like a departmental faculty/ student early fall term family get together; the kind held to introduce all the new students, staff & their families to each other.

[1nkulus]

That's made up my mind, gonna bring some tacky just for you! Although actually I'm enjoying the nibs on my Penbbs 323 and Delike Smurf. Pelikan nibs have become SOOO boring (runs and hides)

 

Thank you. Could I get a preview? Extra tacky please.

 

Once you have acquired a few pens, nib tweaking is natural progression.

After that, I guess, is just collecting for the hell of it.

[Eccles]

I will take the opportunity in this forum to voice my concerns about this event. Its getting bigger every year. Some hubs have 100+ registrations. Venues arent routinely free. Hub masters are getting burdened with non-reimbursed cost. My fear is that this awesome event will be crushed by the weight of its own success. Not sure what Pelikan can do to mitigate this going forward. Just food for thought.

 

That is an extremely important point, one raised by a friend and FPN member who was a Hubmaster last year.

 

It really is tricky trying to negotiate use of a suitable room in a suitable location, which is a cost for the venue, without even being able to say how many folk will actually turn up, let alone utilise the bar and food services offered. In past years significant numbers of registrants withdrew up to and including the actual day, and some just did not turn up.

 

While Pelikan's perspective the event is at no cost to participants, the Hubmaster puts their personal reputation on the line when persuading commercial premises to risk a financial loss on the event, especially on a Friday night, when they would expect good trade anyway. Understandably, some will not take the risk or cannot manage the increased numbers.

 

I'm not sure how last year's Brisbane venue would cope if all of this year's registrants were to attend, and there are cities with many, many more registrations. It really is food for thought... perhaps with indigestion.

 

Glenn.

[penzel_washinkton]

I'm pretty sure here it will be held on some coffee shop where we can have only a cup of coffee and sit for 2+ hours

[inkstainedruth]

The locations of the Pittsburgh Hubs have varied. The first one I went to was at a local Panera Bread, but not at the one where our local pen club meets (which doesn't have a party room), but there was some confusion because the other location's party room was already booked (we ended up in a back alcove). The next year it was at a different Panera and that time we were able to get the party room (the problem with the location at the year before's was that their party room is booked way in advance for that date by a local gamers group). Last year's was at someone's church, and we did a potluck. Not sure where this year's will be yet. The guy who has been the Hubmaster for the last two years hadn't yet heard whether he's it yet, and then has to scramble for a place (and I don't think he wants to abuse the hospitality of the minister of the church, even though he's also a member of the pen club).

Ruth Morrisson aka instainedruth

[Mulrich]

We will likely have about 25 people attend, so it will be simialer to the monthly pen club meeting. The question will be venue. Maybe a library, but we typically meet at a library. Maybe at one of the pen club members coffee shop, good for some free coffee and pastries, but a bit crowded. Friday from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm is fairly early in evening, but, it hits at dinner time for many people, especially those with small children. Maybe since it is at the time of an early dinner we will simply share a meal and invite our significant others, our spouses, etc. and given the time of year, we could have it in a park as a potluck picnic. As Pelikan does have some products for children, maybe if this would turn into a family event, our hub mistress could request some products for children. I am imagining something like a departmental faculty/ student early fall term family get together; the kind held to introduce all the new students, staff & their families to each other.

 

 

I brought a couple of my young kids to the hub last year and they mostly had a good time; I probably stayed a little longer than the attention span of a 6 and 8 year is built for but they still got to experience a little more of dad's weird hobby. They're each owners of one of Pelikan's kid-friendly pens.

[penzel_washinkton]

For those who was participated, in previous hubs, was there any specific rundown events that needs to be plowed through or it is just a standard meet-up where it is not very structured?

[invisuu]

Over here it was very unstructured. Kind of like going for a cup of coffee with a friend.

[penzel_washinkton]

There should be a photo session to submit to Pelikan I suppose?

[Cyber6]

There should be a photo session to submit to Pelikan I suppose?

 

 

There is. Pelikans directed us to send pics to them. They put them all on instagram or something.. can't remember.

 

 

 

C.

[Newjelan]

Anyway, you are most likely to get the info around September.

 

Oh no, I hope we are notified about Christchurch before then, as I need to organise accommodation and that will depend on the location of the hub. (Suitable, last minute accommodation can be problematic.)

[Cyber6]

Oh no, I hope we are notified about Christchurch before then, as I need to organise accommodation and that will depend on the location of the hub. (Suitable, last minute accommodation can be problematic.)

 

 

Yes, you should get an email at the end of July or beginning of August. WAY before September.

 

 

 

 

C.

[Cyber6]

For those who was participated, in previous hubs, was there any specific rundown events that needs to be plowed through or it is just a standard meet-up where it is not very structured?

 

 

Mine had some structure. I took the time to ask local merchants for donations for raffle/game prizes. I asked the four major merchants and I got four amazing prices (leather pen cases/rolls, amazing ink packages worth $$$), and of course, we had games.

 

 

 

C.

[sargetalon]

Hub Masters should be getting notified this week so more details should be forthcoming soon at least.

[JulieParadise]

Attendees seem to be getting their mails by now. I just received a notification or better: confirmation for the Berlin Hub. Decision about Hub Masters are next on the list over the course of this week, as the mail text says.

[Eccles]

Brisbane advice of registration emails are out too.

Glenn.