Black Rock City Post Office - Volunteering

[magnolica]

Is there any formal process to be a post office volunteer? When I was at Burning Man in 2007 I was allowed to do some basic mail deliveries but I would like to be more involved with the post office if possible. Any information is appreciated!

[C.f.M.]

Go. to. burningman.com.

Sign up to volunteer. Get your reply and make things happen.

[teardropper]

A good place to work. Remember, they like their swag over there. Bacon, PBR's, stamps. Remember this, it will help you.

[gyre]

Show up and they give you mail.
Deliver mail.

You'll meet a lot of people trying to figure out where the hell you're going.

[Kinetik V]

While the process may have changed I just showed up, started talking and asking questions, and before long I was out the door delivering mail. It was one of THE BEST things one can volunteer to do at BM. And if you're shy and want to break out of it...doing mail delivery can be wonderful. It gives you an excuse for going into camps and places you might normally never go. And you'll meet more awesome people too...I hope we get an "official" answer but you'll love working for the BRCPO.

[motskyroonmatick]

I thought BRCPO was a theme camp...Not an org institution. Correct me if I am wrong.

I've got mail through them. It was awesome!

[illy dilly]

I thought BRCPO was a theme camp...Not an org institution. Correct me if I am wrong.

I've got mail through them. It was awesome!

I think you're right.
The post office delivery sounded like a good time, so I've been checking it out. It sounds like its more of an established highly recognized theme camp, than a Burning Man controlled institute.
Either way it sounds like fun!!!
If anyone knows exactly, I'd like more info?

[gaminwench]

it is definitely a real post office! Getting mail from the default world, delivered by an hysterically funny, disgruntled P.O. worker who accepts/demands schwag on delivery, is a highlight in our camp every year...

[teardropper]

Yeah, they're a PO. BRC has its own zip code and cancellation stamp.

[illy dilly]

Yeah, they're a PO. BRC has its own zip code and cancellation stamp.

Does that mean I could mail something to my self? Drop it in the mail a couple days before I leave town? and someone will bring it to?
I might even drop it in the mail, pick it up at the BRC PO, and deliver it to my self at my own camp!

[gaminwench]

YES! I'd leave a week's grace, just in case... you know how the P.O. can be!!

[illy dilly]

I was unaware the possibilities! I can send my self little reminders "Don't forget to wash your feet", "Were are the car keys? put them someplace safe!" "You put the you know what, behind the you know were" "we'll, I'm glad you made it home safe! Now start some laundry!"

[gaminwench]

and, if you bring postcards & stamps, you can mail stuff from BRC to the outside world (or yourself)...

[teardropper]

Cost me much swag to get my postcards mailed and stamped last year. But I mailed one to myself for the BRC cancellation stamp. Tip: Bring your own stamps. Another Tip: Bring your own cards. I had some cards made for this year of a photo I took to give away, had the stamp made, too.

[illy dilly]

and, if you bring postcards & stamps, you can mail stuff from BRC to the outside world (or yourself)...

So then does mailing with in black rock city take a stamp?
I found a web site yesterday where you can make your own stamps. It was mostly for wedding invitations, but I'm sure it could be manipulated to our needs.

[illy dilly]

Custom postage
http://www.zazzle.com/custom/stamps
It ends up costing about $.80 for a .44 stamp

[teardropper]

If you use postcards, it's $.28.

[illy dilly]

Wow, come to think of it I don't know when the last time I used a stamp was.
So if you were going to send something to the Playa, would you just address it to what you thought someones location would be, "4:00 and C-ish". Or would you put the name, city, state, and zip and hope they registered at center camp? Which theoretically would give their street address?

[Fire_Moose]

Playa name/Real name
Camp name
Camp addy
Black Rock City, NV zip

[motskyroonmatick]

Registering your names and camp location in the Playa Info database may really make a big difference in a letter or person finding you.

[gyre]

I think you need the address on the mail.

I don't think you need postage for mail in the city.

[Elorrum]

and, if you bring postcards & stamps, you can mail stuff from BRC to the outside world (or yourself)...

So then does mailing with in black rock city take a stamp?
I found a web site yesterday where you can make your own stamps. It was mostly for wedding invitations, but I'm sure it could be manipulated to our needs.

This one has learned well.

[illy dilly]

and, if you bring postcards & stamps, you can mail stuff from BRC to the outside world (or yourself)...

So then does mailing with in black rock city take a stamp?
I found a web site yesterday where you can make your own stamps. It was mostly for wedding invitations, but I'm sure it could be manipulated to our needs.

This one has learned well.

O zank yu very much masta.
I've learned from the best!

[teardropper]

Black Rock City Post Office is not part of BMorg, it is a theme camp. In a very special relationship with the USPS, they let them handle and cancel mail. And there is such a thing as intra city postage, what you use to post from city to city. It has no cash value but you probably have to trade a lot of swag to do it.

[illy dilly]

Thanks for the info!
So is the best way to volunteer to just show up? Or is it better to sign up before I get to BRC?

[Airflyte12]

I wanted to send out a bunch of polaroids from the playa out. More than would fit in a ordinary envelope and was wondering if there were any limitations as long as I have enough postage. If anyone can help me out with an answer it would be appreciated.

[Shambala]

There should be no problem with a large envelope. This will be collected by the BRCPO and the stamps will be cancelled by them (awesome cancellation stamp) and it will be then turned over to the USPS for regular delivery. You would only have a problem if you were trying to ship boxes of supplies back home. Polaroids? Isn't that what they used to do in the olden days before digital?

[oldsoul]

I dunno about sending boxes out from the playa, but I know I delivered a priority mail box (with some very interesting contents) when I helped deliver mail in 2005!

The post theme camp has a website out there I believe. A little bit of searching should turn it up, and you could inquire more directly as to possibly becoming more involved. I know I had a blast delivering mail in 2005 and thought it would be an awesome camp to become more involved with, so good luck to you!

[Janet Planet]

Delivering mail was one of my FAVORITE experiences last year and I will definitely be back! It took me into all sorts of places, including delivering a letter from Mom to a girl on a cot with an IV in her arm, in the med tent.
I didn't demand any schwag tho.
If you want to mail postcards from BRC, bring your stamps. And while you're at it, bring some extra stamps for the Post Office, they can sure use them.

[illy dilly]

Check list
[_] Book of Stamps
[_] Post cards
[_] Envelopes
[_] Beer (for bribing PO employees)

Now what do I mail from Default, to my self on playa? O the possibilities