Doo Dah Registration to Open Soon

"Say, when are you guys opening up registration for the Delta Doo Dah," asks Maria Braska. "I want to mark my calendar so I can call in sick that day. I don’t want to miss signing up just because of work!" We have great news for you, Maria. You don’t have to play hookey (as much as you might want to) to get your chance at a spot on the official entry list for the 4th annual Delta Doo Dah, aka ‘Fab Four’, to be held July 28-August 3. The Doodettes — Christine Weaver and yours truly — have changed things up just a little to allow everyone an opportunity to join the party this summer.

We were as surprised as anyone when last year’s 50 open slots were filled within 25 minutes of registration opening. With a waiting list a mile long, we were jazzed that so many people were interested in the event, but were also concerned that many folks were edged out because of a pesky thing called employment. So instead of simply opening up registration until it fills, we’re trying out a lottery-style process this year. It’ll work like this: Registration will remain open for 12 hours on April 2, starting as soon as that day’s ‘Lectronic Latitude is posted (around noon). This will allow everyone the chance to throw their name in the hat at some point throughout the day, without having to keep refreshing their screen on their lunchbreak. On the next day, the Doodettes will randomly select the 50 entries, with the remaining sign-ups going on the waiting list (the order of which will also be randomly selected). The final entry list will be announced in the next day’s ‘Lectronic.

Those on the waiting list will have extra reason to hope for the best. Every year there’s been a fair number of drop-outs as the event approaches — illness, family commitments, or boat problems top the list of reasons for cancelling — but this year, the entry list might just shrink considerably in the first day. In order to register last year, you had to pay the entry fee in full, but with a lottery system, that becomes impractical. So this year, the final entry list will get 24 hours in which to pay the non-refundable $99 entry fee. If you don’t pay in time, you are automatically removed from the list and the next person on the waiting list gets your spot. This may seem overly strict, but quite frankly, we just don’t have the (wo)manpower to chase after folks to pay their fee.

So mark your calendar for April 2, Maria. And if you’re worried about forgetting, subscribe to ‘Lectronic by clicking the ‘Sign Up Now’ button above or at the top of this page. You will only receive an email when a new edition of ‘Lectronic is posted — no spam, no promotions, no junk. That way you’ll get as much of a chance as anyone to sign up for Fab Four!