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

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

Any exit on the Garden State Parkway or the NJ Turnpike is
close enough, so basically anywhere between Conn and Del
works. Even Penn is acceptable, or Mass or Va. You'll need
to trim som of the eastern portion of Texas to make it
work. I'd say, put the excess Texas in Oklahoma, they
haven't really gotten anything of note since the musical.

sh

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

> 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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