Category: Let's talk
Zone Meet up U.S.
I know this idea has come up a few times in the past and while it would be nice to have people from other countries come I don't see all that being very likely. Not to say if someone wanted to come from out of the U.S. hey the more the merrier.
Me and some others were talking about this last night, I would like to see who all would come if we planned such a venture. Each person would be responsible for his or her air fare, bus, train travel expenses along with lodging. I am sure we could get some sort of special rate at a hotel somewhere and of course where to have it is yet another issue! Texas as so well represented on here I would vote for either Dallas or Austin.
So who wants to come? Who thinks they could come late next spring or summer. This is all just out of curiosity at the moment, I don't even know if the CL's would have to be involved in the planning or if a few members could organize this.
Shawn
I remember when this idea was brought up in the past. I'd be up for it, and I think Texas would be a good location because there are so many zoners living there already.
If it were next summer, I wonder if it would be worth planning something coinciding with the NFB convention, since so many people go to it anyway (and I think it's in Dallas next year? I could be wrong though).
Yay I live in Plano, so meeting up in Dallas would be cool.
Count me in also.
Really not a bad idea, doing it with the nfb thing. Even if it was at the same hotel like start on Friday evening the weekend before the convention started. Then those who were staying for the rest of the week could and those who wanted to leave could. The nice thing about it we could get the convention hotel rates reguardless and with people dubbling up in rooms that could save a lot of money!
Just sayin
Would we have to work it out with the NFB people? convention goers, and/or the organization itself? To take advantage of the rates I mean...
I liek the idea, but good luck planning it... Having it with the nfb convention in dallas would be super awesome though.
since the nFB convention is going to be held in Dallas next year, why not hold a zoners meeting there? I met a couple of you at this year's convention already, and I hope to meet more of you next year.
Count me in as well. Sounds like fun.
i like the idea of actually geting something planned for next spring or so. i'm not keen on the nfb convention part. no offense to anyone, but that's way too many people for my likings. plus not being a member of any organization and keeping it that way, i don't really want to be at a convention for one. honestly i think combining the two things is just too much. dallas sounds like a good place to me though.
Make sure it's a hotel that's got a boxing ring? *smile*
Why a boxing ring?
agreed, pipi!
not part of any convention, and don't plan to be!
with as much crap that is slung on here?.....
May I venture a couple of suggestions here, all be it as somebody who almost certainly wouldn't attend. Firsly in my experience these conversation start with the best of intentions but eventually get bogged down in the details, location primarily because everybody wishes for any such meeting to be held as close to themselves as possible, which of course isn't possible given the geographical spread of the members we have here. So instead of suggesting a time and place, just say, here's the time and place. A small select group could perhaps do that, 4 or 5 people to get the ball rolling and they could take the major decisions, then from there people don't need argue about the details, just decide whether or not they'd go or not.
Secondly steer clear of conventions. Some people might quite enjoy going to a hotel full of NFB, or indeed ACB members, but others would avoid any such meeting for exactly the same reasons. The website isn't in any way afiliated with any of these organizations so it only makes sense that any such gathering shouldn't either. Some kind of nutral venue would definitely be best in my opinion.
Good luck with it all anyway whatever is decided.
Dan.
Good points. I do agree, though, that Texas ought to be the place, simply because it is the most Zoner-populated state (with
Tennessee probably coming in at a close second. lol). I also like the idea of doing it the weekend before the convention starts. That way, those who want to stay can and those who want to leave can leave.
Becky
Okay, well I can research a little bit. See if I could possibly get some good rates on a hotel in dallas somewhere, probably not the Annatole but something nice sized but also smaller scale.
Anyone who has some ideas on this, feel free to speak up.
Dallas does seem a good place. It's easy for most of the rest of us in the US to get to, and should be easy enough for any international zoners who could come. I, too, would steer clear of the conventions. I mean, if there are Zoners who are aligned with NFB or ACB, they can plan metings at their own conventions, as has been discussed. Had I been in Detroit at the beginning of the month, I'd have orchestrated a Zone meet-up at Convention. And I guarantee you that you wouldn't get the NFB rates without being part of it's convention, and the very idea of that would have a lot of people on here bristling.
I also agree with Dan. This conversation has been started a zillion times, and never goes anywhere. But maybe a determined user could pull it off.
I think Alicia pretty well covered my thoughts on the matter.
Well, I'm all for actually making it happen this time. If anyone would like to discuss the matter further and start making plans, get in touch.
Hey sounds good, I know Alex spoke in private that she would be interested in helping hopefully that still stands and I myself am. Anyone else on board to help? Lets make it happen this time!
Sure, I'll help. I'd like to see it really happen this time.
Ah, just read all the posts so far and am enjoying this thread, even if nothing concrete comes of it.
As a resident if the Irish republic, I can safely say there is a 99,99% chance I wouldn't be sufficiently motivated to attend any would-be US meet-up, given the expenditure involved from an international standpoint; plus, if I wished to meet a particular zoner in the flesh, I'd prefer to do so privately or in a small group and provided it was of mutual desire to hook up.
Some of you may have seen a contribution I made on a similar thread to this one, Zone Meet-up UK, whereon I expressed my view that it was unlikely to come to fruition. However, most zoners are based in the US of A, so there should be more realistic possibility of it happening if a sort of steering committee were set up.
So, when push comes to shove, who's gonna shove?
I'm still interested Shawn, so let's do it. *smiles*
The aim is still next year yes?
Spring would probably be good. Maybe even March, on a weekend of course. yes, 2010
Just for a weekend then?
Might I suggest that those really interested in organizing this thing get together on ZBP and even perhaps create a group email list for planning. Any major decisions could be announced here on the zone, but I would think things could get done more efficiently if a small planning group talked on the phone and via e-mail rather than this rambling board topic.
All right folks, I decided to take the initiative and follow Becky's suggestion. I have created a yahoogroup with the intent of discussing this very thing. Though I can't promise how involved I will be in the planning myself, I figured I could supply the forum for such plans. That way too, a staff member could have their finger on the pulse of this, if it in fact does get off the ground.
I set the group to where I needed to approve members, to attempt to keep it to Zone users. So, when you fill out your comment to me, the moderator, please give me your real name as well as your Zone user name, so I can check it against the site. the email to subscribe is:
ZoneMeetUp-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
If you type Zone MeetUp in the search box of the main yahoogroup site, that should do it as well. Hope this works. Let me know.
Sounds good. I'll join today.
cool, beat me to it, I was going to do that as well. but yay! Progress I like it.
Grrrr! Stupid captcha! Well, I've got to wait till someone can help me fill it out before I can join the group. Shouldn't be too long, though.
i'm interested in attending for sure, might join up with the list and help out.
There are alot of good options for hotels in dallas. I'm trying to think of good ones i've stayed in that have the amenities with out being rediculously huge scail though if worst comes to worst it might be the same as the NFB convensions hotel of choice. which is nice enough but there are really better.
Hey folks,
I had a few people qn me and say that they were having trouble subscribing to the list so here is how I did it and I think about the easiest way to do so.
jump over to your e-mail program of choice and send a blank message to:
ZoneMeetUp-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Alicia set the group to moderated so she will have to approve you, after she does so you will receive a message from yahoogroups telling you how to post to the list and such!
easy as 1 2 3. grin
There are 3 of us there so far.
Shawn
Don't really know if anyone would wanna see me, or if I even count, lol, but given that I could work out finances and such I'd totally be game!
-Holly