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

[Larry Lampert <l_lampert@yahoo.com>]

Yea, I liked Karen's idea then too. However, I really
did not want to do anything at this point for Nov
until Jeff mentioned my favorite word....."FREE"! 

I have also used all of my vacation days. Don't know
how I will get around it yet. I wonder if we could do
a Sat tour Sun talks instead. That way people could
fly in Fri and leave on Sun. 

Just a thought....

Not sure if I can move Houston to NJ but if I could do
it "What exit?" (sorry about the JP SNL reference ;-))


--- "S. Hieber" <shieber@yahoo.com> wrote:

> 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
> 
=== message truncated ===

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