what is an ice breaker email

    There are several reasons why an ice breaker e-mail was introduced. During the second weekend get together at the Watagans, near Newcastle NSW, a bushfire threatened the camp on the Saturday morning & we were asked to leave the state forest by the rangers. Everyone hadn't arrived & not having their contact details we could not let them know were the camp was being moved to.

    The icebreaker email is usually sent about two weeks before the meet to the e-mail address you registered your vote in the poll to attend. If you do not receive the icebreaker check your spam folder as it has been known to end up there. It would also be an advantage to make the ownersATcampertrailers.org email address a friendly so it will be delivered to your inbox. Some members may have made up a disposable yahoo e-mail address when joining the group & have not looked at it since.

    The icebreaker lets you introduce yourself to others attending the weekend. It also confirms your attendance to your hosts letting them know the names of those attending, your vehicle & camper trailer make & model which is a handy reference when preparing the weekends write up for the past events page on the campertrailers.org website.

    It also lets your hosts know your intended arrival & departure times which will help them plan any weekend activities they have in mind. At times an activity is arranged, perhaps a drive to a waterfall for a picnic lunch or a bushwalk. If you arrive unannounced you may find yourself sitting in camp by yourself till the afternoon.

    At other times your host will need to know the number of people attending in advance to apply for a permit to a reserve or let the property owner know the numbers that will be on the property over the weekend.

    When you reply to the ice breaker saying you are staying till say Tuesday for example, others may like to do the same, but thought they would be there by themselves. They can then let family know they will not be home until Tuesday afternoon instead of the Monday.

    Your phone number will only be used to contact you at short notice in case the meet is cancelled because of bushfire, heavy rain etc or moved to a more suitable location.

    Introduced recently is an easier way to see the details of everyone attending with a Google spreadsheet. If you have trouble loading the page, try closing all internet pages first, then hit the spreadsheet link again in the ice breaker e-mail.