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

[Larry Lampert <l_lampert@yahoo.com>]

Yeah, I didn't think about it like that but you are
right. 

--- Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com> wrote:

> Basically the US equivalent of Amano's annual party.
>  I'm OK with it.
> 
>    - Erik
> 
> On Thu, 28 Jul 2005, Larry Lampert 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
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >>
> >
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> 
> -- 
> Erik Olson
> erik at thekrib dot com
> _______________________________________________
> AGA-mcm mailing list
> AGA-mcm@thekrib.com
> 
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