Guide to doing SIPB tours.  This is a guide for whomever is doing tours.

0.  Start 4-5 weeks before the actual tours.  This gives you enough
lead time to get demos, but short enough that people have a vague idea
of their schedule.

1.  Choose a date.  Consult the R/O calendar, and find a night which
does not contain a mandatory activity for freshmen.  Week nights are
better for the media lab, but a Sunday might work.

2.  Contact SIPB members/friends in AI, LCS, Media-lab, and ECF.
Squeeze out of them research groups that are interesting and the name of
somebody in the group who is likely to want to give a demo.  In the
Media-lab, Pascal is a good contact.  Andre' or Debby (^kerr) in AI
can help.  They don't have to do anything -- just give you names.  Do
this over the phone or in person if possible (since you can discuss
what you're looking for with them).  For Athena, the propaganda
dominatrix (Janet Daly) is a good contact.

3.  Send out a message, addressed individually, to these people.  A
sample is in tour.ask.  Change the group name in the message.
Individual messages avoid the "Somebody else's problem" effect.

4.  Wait for replies.  Be ready to answer questions about how the
tours operate.  Keep track of who has agreed to do tours. [tour.groups]

5.  Con SIPB members into doing a couple stops if necessary, such as
the chairman to explain what the SIPB is, and maybe another one for
Athena.  Ask in person.  Smile.

6.  Two to four weeks before, find a speaker.  Jeff Schiller, Ron
Hoffmann or Jon Rochlis are good possibilities.  Or maybe Richard
Stallman or Gerry Sussman.  A little variety may be good.  Ask them if
they would like to speak.

7.  Have somebody make up a poster for the tours.  Steal last year's
and modify it if necessary.  Make ~100 copies of the poster, and poster
the clusters a week before the tour.  Poster other places (Infinite
Corridor, etc) 4 days before.

8.  Send mail to *bboard@ai.mit.edu and usermsgs@athena.mit.edu
announcing the tour.

9.  Send out a message to SIPB asking for shepherds and sheep dogs for
the tour.  Get at least six people to commit.  Talk to people
personally if necessary.  Threaten bodily harm.

10.  Schedule stops.  Alan Bawden supposedly has a scheduling program
for this (see Penny's message in tour.mail file).  Generally, three
groups rotating through AI/LCS, Media-lab, and other seems to work.
If you feel up to it, walk the tour to get an idea of times between
stops.

11.  Come up with a flyer for the tour guides.  This is a listing of
the stops, schedule, etc, and some subtle reminders for them to thank
the demoers, etc.  It should describe what you expect them to do once
they get to a site (knock on the door, phone, etc).  You may have to
give the tour guides a combination or two.  [tour.guide]

12.  Arrange for food.  At the meeting before the tour, ask for
funding of up to $75 for food.  If approved, check with Kathy Allen.
Con a couple SIPB members with a car to shop for food and bring it
over.  If necessary, this can be done at Laverde's.  Check SIPB
supplies for cups and plates.  A listing of food is in tour.mail (in
terms of what gets eaten).  Get at least 3 litres of Classic Coke.
The SIPB members should save the receipt so that they can be
reimbursed.

13.  Show up at the arranged time at the arranged place (usually Lobby
7, 6:45-7:00pm).  Introduce yourself, and explain how the tour is
going to be organized (# of tours, stops, every tour goes to the same
stop).  Some people may want to go to the media-lab first (so they can
punt the other stops).  If you feel generous, tell them.

14.  Let the tours go.  Lead a tour.  Have fun.  Eat afterwards, and
listen to the speaker.

15.  Send mail to the demo'ers, thanking them for showing their stuff
off.

16.  Update the tour files as neceesary.  Write out all correspondence
for future reference.