Category: Zone BBS In Person
Hello Folks,
It has been brought to my attention that several of you would like to have a zoners weekend. So after speaking to the staff thought we would actually see how many people are interested. For the first gathering I am thinking a weekend gathering like from thursday evening with a small get to know you evening through sunday morning.
Some of the ideas have been friday having a tech day with a dance friday night and saturday morning like a mini flea market to where if people are talented they can sell their cds or wares at a small fee for table space then saturday afternoon time for shopping and hanging out then a nice dinner with maybe a talent gala on saturday night.
I realize this will take some planning so we are looking at at least a year away.
Here is where you come in. post to the board if this strikes your interest and any ideas of where you would like to see such an event and some things you might like to see changed.
HOPE TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU SOON!!!!!
(the events listed above are just suggestions and not written in stone.)
Thanks GRAMPS
sounds fun doug, I'd be interested, depending on how my money situation is at the time
sounds cool
sounds cool but where is it going to be at?
doug that would be a really cool idea despite a few factors that might be involved, keep in mind I am interested! doug! you could sell me bags after bags of pork rines! mmmm, me and arron would be at your table for pork rines the hole time!
Yeah, a Zone get-together would be a cool idea. I'm interested also, but depending on where it will be, I don't know if I'll have the money to travel too far. But anyways, reguardless of all that, it does sound cool. *smiles*
It would definitely depend on whose attending (I'm sorry, but there actually are people I'd prefer not to meet), where it'd be held, and who'd be hosting and how. Remember that there will be transportation fares, room and board costs, food expenses, etc. I don't know how many people would be able to participate, but assuming there aren't any freaky people attending, I think I'm game.
lol. You can't go Kai, I'm going! shit, nobody will show up now. hehehe.
I would be interested depending on money and stuff but yeah
Well if it is one year away, I could even imagine saving up for the US, where, I admit, the majority of zoners come from. I would love to come on that weekend. And I would of course accept other countries too - like the UK for example. The programme sounds nice!!
The whole idea sounds really exciting, and I'd definitely be there!
sounds like a big job and finding a location for every one sounds like a lot of head ake but yes a cool idea if money is in my budget to travel i think this will be the biggest problem for most people.
Yeah, I could see travel being the biggest problem for us. For instance, some of us would have to have enough money for a six-hour flight to the United States or wherever. A few of us were up for having a Zoners, get-together in the UK and my mum's perfectly happy to help with the organisation of such an event.
Hey, I wouldn't mind going to the one in UK if there is one.
I'm totally interested. A year from now, I'll hopefully be finishing my undergrad studies and looking at relocating and starting grad school. Money could be tight, but I'd do my best to show up there... wherever there is.
It sounds good to me. I would love to meet the Zoner's in person.
i'd be interested, but i may have a house by then, and money would definitely be tight, maybe we could have 2, one in the us and one in the uk and whoever was interested in meeting us u k folks, they should come along too.
Yay. As I would love to meet all of you ... till when do we have to be sure if we can come? Cause I am not sure if I will have enough money ...
I think a Zone get together would be very interesting. It's obvious that the city that's picked, has to have an international airport. On the same note, I'd think it would be best if it wasnt' held in an expensive city. For example, if the get together was to be held in the US, it wouldn't be a good idea to have it in cities such as New York, Vegas, L A, etc. I think that these cities would be too expensive for some people, especially with booking plane tickets, hotel reservations, food, etc.
Hey I'd like that. As long as I have the money, and preferably if it's near me. But I guess we can't have everything. lol
on a totally different slant to it. maybe we should all just go to germany or australia. I'd say that they have teh fewest people on the zone, an could you imagine how amusing it'd be for the internation airports? To have all these blind people rocking up? That'd be fun..... Yeh, I think it has the potential to be incredibly interesting, in both good and very much bad ways. I'd love to come, but doubt I'll be able to afford it. I also am of the oppinion that the decision as to where and when is going to be squabbled and squabbled over and there will be no real sollution other than the US, which is pretty obvious, coz the majority rule. However, I'll jsut sit back an let you guys argue, and see what I think at the outcome, lol.
Indeed it's a massive undertaking. I know this because one of the yahoo groups I use to frequent had gatherings like this once a year. The major snag is those living outside of the United States. It'd be very expensive for them. May I make a suggestion. Not that I want to split everyone up. But for funding and transportation for those living outside of the US maybe have them organize their own zone gathering in their own country? I.E. UK Zoners have a UK Zoners gathering in the United Kingdom. Again, just a suggestion.
I think taht this would be pretty cool if it happened.
But, peoples saftey really needs to be considdered; if you think how many arguments people have on here, whats gunna happen if they meat?
Thers a country problem to, we are all quite well placed around the world so yeah, there would have to be one in the uk and usa.
Would be good to get to kno people in person that i have met on here.
BEN.
Yay Danielle!!!!!!! That would be awesome!!!! All come to Germany!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, I am of the oppinion that, it would be pointless having a UK zoners get together, as most of us know each other anyway, and if we don't, it's coz we, more often than not, don't want to, lol.
hell, I'd love to go to the UK!
Against my better judgement I have some slight interest.
yes, the location and expense would be a problem, where do you intend to get the money to fund it doug? donations or pooling money or what?
I'm in, providing I can get there! Sounds like a great idea.
I think I would go provided that there were people going that I wanted to meet and I could afford the weekend. As far as location goes, I'd say go centrally located that would impose the least financial burden to the most zoners, or where the greatest number attending would be living. Usually when you are trying to accommodate ppl in the States, it helps to have the event in the Midwest because that keeps flight costs down for ppl coming from different sides of the country. I also suspect the greatest concentration of zoners is in the midwest anyway.
I'm in, if it's in the states even better for me cuz it would be less expensive, but we will see at the time how my money situation is, and depending on where it is, personally it would be pretty cool to have it in Australia, lol.
I'm agreeing with Sam actually on this. I don't know where in all hell we'd have it, because many of the cities that I can think of, are way too expensive. I...I don't think that this is going to be possible. Especially if we want a lot of people to come. Thing is, we want some of the people from the UK to come, and the people from Germany, and Australia. Hense, I don't think we can find one central location. Mainly because as everyone has pointed out, we're so spread out, and half the people who wana come don't have the money to come. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out...
yes!! me and becky RODC came up with this idea and spread it around. and I think it would be an awesome idea. I just think that we should like stay at a lodge or something so we wouldn't have to pay for hotels. and try having it somewhere not too far away...I don't have a lot of money, ya know?
I would love to go. I don't think money would be a problem since it is a year in advance. With positive thinking and good cooperation, we should find a spot for everyone who wants to attend.
It sounds great.
I think we should actually book a hotel out for it or something like that. Rather than everyone having individual expenses we make it a set fee for everyone, and airfares included so its equal cost for all.
I think somewhere in the U.S is the only way, though i've talked this over with some of the other Aussies and some responses are that if its not in this country they won't come. Definitely count me in though.
well, its much depends on the financial allow. location will be the second matter. and of course, holiday is another question as well. but its Definitely a great idea to meet people that that have know one another for agest but haven't met before. and i'm sure it will be very grand for zone event. as we know or we might not know, there's quite a number of couples that got together cause of zone. so, probably, we can make a zone wedding day for all the couples. all the zoners gather together and attend,... and can imagine, how grand it will be.
yeah that sounds awsome! I'd rather it be in the U.S. because of expenses and stuff. I agree it should be a set fee for everyone , so there won't be any money conflicts or anything. . I'm definatley up for this dependign on where it is and what my money situation is at the time.
Hmmm, well it seems to me that alot of the people wouldn't want to leave the country, so i dont' honestly know if it would work.
that would be sweet, but like you said, lots to work out.
it's all about the money, grin. I really wouldn love to have it period. I think it'd be cool to have it in another country. But that's just my opinion.
Yo, I seriously wouldn't object to having it in another country. *GRIN* But, sadly, I think I'm probably in the minority. If we can't have it in, say, Australia, I wouldn't mind having it somewhere here in the US ...
And Jared, you have a slight interest as long as I'm going. LOL.
Of course Allie, I want to put my roman battle mask on your sweet sentual face.
we're just going to argue and argue on where we're going to have it, and some of us won't be able to come because of money etc, and won't get to meet all the people we'd like too, i'm trying to be really positive and think yeah, but, at the same time, being realistic too.
Of course, Jared. Haha.
I'll be eighteen and in college by then. My birthday's in November. I'm in if we can put it together.
I'd love to come as long as i have the money. Sounds like a cool idea.
Yeah it's an interesting idea that I would look into, but like it has been mentioned, cost and location that would be semi convenient for the majority of us would be kinda difficult.
well I would leave the country. Gladly. But it might just be very expensive. And of course, Sam and Ather, it is a good question where we should have this meeting, but I am sure we could come to an agreement.
well i am in if we can sort it. but maybe try and make it two years, that way it will give more people a chance to save, i think that the states is the most logical place, oz is way to far for us in the uk, and wood be more expensive.
i like the idea of booking a hottelle and us all paying a set fee, i think, that we should try and set up an acount and see if we can raze some money for it.
i think that if we were to spread the word in our own countries then it might take off, it wood be a grate way to get to travel and meet people all at the same time.
i really thik a year is pushing it, and the thing is who is going to be the main person to arrange it all. it wood have to be some one that we all trust, thne also we need that same person or persons in charge of an acount if we manage to raise any more.
any way there you go my idea, but i wood love to go, as i wood like to go to hte states any way lol.
You bring up some very valid points, Lindsey.
thanks allie, i just thought that they were things that should bee taken in to account,
I agree, Lindsey sis. Even I am really impatient to meet all of ya, two years might be better.
Umm, hahaha. oh, come on people like this is actualy going to happen. Maybe wishful thinking. What a crazy idea. Well, lets put it this way. i'll not be holding my breath.
Hmmm, well how about having such an event in South Africa?
Our currency is much weaker than the pound and/or the dollar, which means that you'll get along here very cheap! JKJK
On the other hand, it would be quite amusing if a thousand blindies set off for the Kruger National Park! hahahahahahaha! Wonder how authorities would handle this!
I'd also like to go to such an event. However, money seems to be a concern for most. Though I do have to ask, with something like 2000+ zone users, how many of them are from the US and how many other countries? Also, if even 100 people went, or even 50, would it be worth the time and effort?
Another thought has occured to me. How about if it were set up in regons? IE, perhaps we could have one in let's say Baltimore, and ithose people from DE, Northeast PA, Washington DC, and MD would attend that. Others that lived in other areas could set up different regons. This would mean that the groups wouldn't be as big, more organization would have to be contended with as a centural person from said regon would have to set up the weekend. Another idea is to have one person in charge of setting up the intire thing, and them appointing people per regon. My way of thinking is this way people from different regons of the US could get together. This could be set up in other countries as well. Of corse not everyone would meat everybuddy, but its a way to keep traveling and other costs down.
Hmmm i think it could work but not anytime soon.
You'll never make everyone happy regardless of how much you try.
Still would be pretty cool, but its so much in advance, can anyone really say what they'll bee doing in 2 years? I mean yeh... i'll be at school, but whether i'll be able to afford it, transport and timing... you really can't casually commit to doing something over the internet that is so long in advance.
BEN.
I would say the suburbs of Chicago wold be an ideal location. The city is too expensive, but you can get cheap hotels in the burbs and Chicago has two major airports that have a lot of airlines. Also lots to do in Chicago. Just my two cents.
I like waiting the two years idea simply because I'll be out from under my parents' thumb and on my own. And you all do want nallym to go. Hehehehe. But it would give more time to plan and save and make preparations. If it were rushed we'd probably make some major mistake. But I'm in! If I'm on my own, I'll go, even if I have to hitchhike!
I'm also interested and know a few zoners personally and I think Ohio is a good place. a lot of airlines fly through here, lots of things to do and more. Just my few cents on that point.
i'd love to go. i don't care about doing 2000000000 things while i'm there. Meeting and socialising is enough fun for me. I'm not saying i wouldn't like doing anything else, but it doesn't matter to me a whole lot.
Sounds like a lot of fun! If we go through with this, here is where I would like the seating for me to be at the thing Saturday: 3250 with 2558! Work on that.
I think it would be one hell of a great idea! One of the users on here is promoting a camp in ohio someplace. Maybe we could use that as our zone meeting place. Also, there may be a few zoners who are going to the NFB or ACB conventions. I will be at the NFB convention in a week from now. I hope I will see some of you there.
Hmmm. The consensus here seems to be that we all like the idea, and there would be interest. but it sounds like a majority of the people would not be able to attend. Where are some of the community leaders on this? Who would be the one to decide the time and place? It seems we can't really figure anything out till that's decided, then we can see how many people would actually be able to make it there.
If we can't have a whole Zone get together, are there Zoners who will be at the consumer conventions here in the next few weeks? I mean, at NFB in Dallas, or ACB in Jacksonville? Maybe we could have mini Zone get togethers at those. Just a thought.
Dream on, LOL. Like this is really going to be possible.
Michelle
maybe u could have like, a US meet or a West US meet , etc
I have mixed feelings about this. It would be cool if we could pull it off, but there are a lot of people, and everyone wants it to be held "not too far away", and "not too far away" has many different connotations depending on the person in question and where they're located...
I'm thinking this idea kinda seemed to fizzle out and die, LOL. But it really was a good idea, and maybe people could arrange smaller gatherings with zoners that live close to their area (East Coast, West Coast, something like that; I have no clue).
i think this is a good idea. i like the idea of putting an acount on the zone for if everyone meets that could help. i think that a few people should get together and then more groups could get together. i think maybe 1 big group should meet in the east and 1 in the wes of the US and maybe 1 in the UK. if we all just stop fighting and just think maybe we could make this work.
Well, whenever I got here, the board only had 69 replies. That's an interesting number... to say the least, so I'm going to add my two cents, for whatever it's worth. These are the pros and cons. Take 'em or leave 'em. Doesn't matter to me. The first thing we have to determine is who wants to go and who just doesn't give a damn. After we get together a list of the people interested, then we can add up who lives where and see what is a "middleground." after that, we have to determine where in that "middleground" is best to have so many blind people congregate. I mean realistically some of us have guide dogs and have to have adequate space to relieve them as well as feed and water them. After we pick a good place, then we can start determining what is best as far as money. I enjoy finding out things like this so it happened to be a very interesting topic for me. For example if we are goint to have a weekend at a hotel then we should call the hotels in that area and ask them if they have any good deals for a party of x number of people wanting to make reservations. If so then we should get that information. After that we have to report back to the zoners who actually want to go. (assuming someone kept a list) We say ok, this is how much a reservation would be for a room. We can put two in a room, and if you're adult about it then there should be no problem with it being co-ed. Then someone should see about tickets for each person depending on where they're coming from. Then we could do it two ways. Add the price of the reservation to a ticket and see how much it costs, and that's how much that person had to come up with or, we could add it up for each person the same way and then even it out according to who has a cheaper ticket so that those with more expensive tickets have to come up with roughly the same amount as those with cheaper tickets. This way, it's uniform for everyone and not any easier for one person to get there than it is for another person. Then we have someone have an account and we start saving up for it. After we've determined how much it will cost altogether, we can determine roughly how long it will take us to get that much money saved up. I might add that I think there should be a rule and it is this:
If anyone decides after the initial list that they want to come, they can still get in touch with the hotel and have the same discount if there is any for the reservation but he has to come up with his ticket on his own.
I hope I made sense and that it sounds fair.
If not I'm sorry. I tried. LOL.
Amber
I think that last posted idea sounds good and fair. Makes sense to me, and seems pretty doable if we did it that way. I wouldn't mind being a part of that if I had the money for it. For now, I'm kind of broke, but if we could do that, I'd be willing to help and would also want to attend, assuming I'd have the money by then. *smile*
If I want to meet someone off this site I'll do it on my own and not deal with the 95% of other people I don't care about.
When I first read about this idea, I pictured all of the Zoners meeting in a big hall all at once. I know that won't happen.
I like eman's idea about people from the east coast meet in the east and people from the west coast meet there, and people from the U.K. meet there.
We could also arange to meet a person on our own.
Sure this would be fun
Thanks all for the interest and wanting to meet in person . However after great consideration and checking into things the liability would be to great for the zonebbs to undertake. but again thanks for your interest and postings.
grandpa majic
I would love to attend! But I need to know where it is going to be held before I am sure if I am coming.
refer to doug's post. it ain't happenin'.
Nothing is stopping someone who is not a community leader from organizing this, but the question is does anyone care enough to organize it.
doug, yeah man sounds good. y'all should have it here! ahha
It sounds like an awesome idea, i wish there was a way to arange it, but Grandpa is right. Too much work would have to be put forth, and no one here has the time, or energy to put together this huge event. But I think it would be cool to plan smaller events that wouldn't take so much planning but would require saving up. Saving is possible.
Just because Zonebbs in general can't do it doesn't mean that individual zoners can't get together on their own. It seems to me that smaller, regional GT's could possibly work. It wouldn't even have to be an overnight thing, a bunch of Zoners could just take over a restaurant or bar for the night. <G> Just a thought.
KL
I wanna meet some peoples from the UK though damn it! lol
hey guys, i met kerrie aka skitles freak last night at my old school! She's cool as hell. Man people sound so different in real life compared to a phone or skype or vt!
You could try meetup.com and maybe set up a Zone BBS category there?
hmm. Could deffenately be interesting. lol I know there's a few people I wouldn't mind meeting and it would be convenient to have them all in one place, however others, lets just say I've had the umm, pleasure, or misfortune whatever, and distance is indeed a good thing. lol But I think the list sounds like a good idea of who would be interested in meeting and then look at the finicial end of it according to where those people areand hotel costs, and each person I think should have to pay for their ticket and then someone can look at renting or reserving a venue or something. Personally I'm still thinking it could be hella fun! If people are willing to pitch in a little money that is.
lol Maybe I just reserected this topic. We'll see.
I like the idea too!!!
I will be meeting Firehawk2000 on May 31st.
sounds like a good idea
Dug now that your no longer a community leader you can set this up on your own!