Re: Was Re: [AGA-mcm] AGA convention update-Now : What If

["S. Hieber" <shieber@yahoo.com>]

Alas, poor Larry, all revved up and nothing to do ;-)

I like the general concept of mini conventions. Along very
roughly similar lines, KR had suggested the AGA core staff
possibly doing a scaled down event in 2005 when it began to
look bleak for a 2005 host.

And it fits in with the PAPA Program.

I shot my vacation-day wad on Brazil and ACA and very
liekly could not make another show across the country. Can
you move Houston closer to NJ? Say, within driving
distance?

sh
--- Larry Lampert <l_lampert@yahoo.com> wrote:

> I CAN'T BELIEVE I AM ACTUALLY GOING TO POST THIS RIGHT
> NOW BUT HERE GOES.........
> 
> As usual I am really ready for a post-fish-conference
> rest but I think I need to post this sooner rather
> than later........
> 
> What if we had a conference but it wasn't an AGA?
> 
> What if it did not cost anything but still had a nice
> venue?
> 
> What if it still had several quality speakers but no
> speaker costs?
> 
> What if we had no formal banquet, no fancy schedules,
> no external audio video needs?
> 
> What if we did not even have to deal with registration
> at all?  
> 
> 
> What if we could actually hang out with the members
> instead of working and just saying hello as we run
> from one place to the other?
> 
> I am not proposing an AGA but rather a less-than-AGA
> event to stand in it's place for continuity purposes.
> It would be more organized than a Plantfest but
> nothing near an AGA.
> 
> Jeff Senske and I are toying with the idea of having
> an event at his gallery. The venue could hold 75
> people maybe more. Jeff, Mike and possibly Luis could
> speak. Jeff is going to ask them first so please do
> not say anything to anyone.
> 
> The proposed schedule would be a Friday tour of the
> top five AGA mainteained tanks in Houston. Everyone
> would be responsible for their own rides. Saturday, we
> would have three talks in the gallery and a little AGA
> auction or just a plant swap. We would recommned a
> couple of hotels but no contracts.
> 
> Jeff has a little PA system and I can get a projector.
> He can get some food catered in cheap and I think I
> can get him to eat (pardon the pun) the costs anyway.
> After all suckers like me will be buying the ADA
> goodies while we are there ;-). 
> 
> I am not ready to jump on this yet but I wanted to see
> what you guys think b4 doing anything else. Jeff and I
> talked for an hour or so about this and a few other
> things. I think it is doable as long as we present it
> as what it is and what it's not (an AGA). 
> 
> Think about it and let me know. If there is interest
> on our part I will get the ball rolling if not I will
> let Jeff know now before we go an further.
> 
> --- Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com> wrote:
> 
> > Hi folks,
> > 
> > Got off the phone with Jim from SFBAAPS just now. 
> > Confirmed that they are 
> > still shooting for November 2006 date for
> > convention, so any contact with 
> > vendors about Feb 2006 is going on entirely in said
> > person's mind.
> > 
> > They visited four hotels back in March, at least two
> > of them in the 
> > $100/night range.  DG didn't like any of the four
> > because they weren't 
> > classy enough, and instead concentrated on Officer's
> > Club.  When Officer's 
> > Club deal fell through, he bailed on the process and
> > didn't pick up any of 
> > the other hotels.
> > 
> > No progress in last two months (Jim blames himself),
> > but there is a 
> > monthly open house/meeting next Sunday where he'll
> > bring it up.  Members 
> > are geographically separate, and e-mail
> > communication doesn't work well.
> > Jim had written up a proposed agenda, but then
> > someone posted it on 
> > public APC forms.  He's a little leery about that
> > now, but is going to 
> > send the document to me.
> > 
> > Based on last couple of meetings, members are
> > enthusiastic about the 
> > convention, and volunteering.  Grassroot support is
> > there.  Club is 
> > healthy, about 30-40 paid members and another 20
> > hangers-on.  Club has 
> > little organization because they don't need it for
> > their own operation, 
> > and has been detrimental when organization has been
> > "imposed" on it by an 
> > individual.  No new info here.
> > 
> > Recognizes need for organization in regards to
> > convention.  I suggested 
> > they concentrate on hotel, noted AGA is in a pickle
> > because AGA *needs* to 
> > have a convention in 2006.  We can't just let
> > deadlines expire like we did 
> > in 2005.  We need to communicate and see progress on
> > a regular basis or 
> > have to seriously investigate other clubs.  I
> > mentioned that hotel is 
> > lynchpin.  He's going to start the hotel work back
> > up.
> > 
> > I hope I am not stepping on any toes here, but with
> > what's at risk, I've 
> > decided to take a bigger stake in making sure this
> > works. I am going to 
> > start calling Jim on a semi-regular basis.  I think
> > that until some 
> > progress has occurred, it will be best to do phone
> > communication. 
> > Hopefully we'll get things to the point where
> > planning can move back to 
> > the conheads list.
> > 
> >    - Erik
> > 
> > -- 
> > Erik Olson
> > erik at thekrib dot com
> > _______________________________________________
> > AGA-mcm mailing list
> > AGA-mcm@thekrib.com
> > http://lists.thekrib.com/mailman/listinfo/aga-mcm
> > 
> 
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