[mg_2204]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

Also up north like Niagara Falls.

Hey! That's close to here. We're quite a few in Ontario you know

[Carwy]

Originally Posted by mg_2204

Hey! That's close to here. We're quite a few in Ontario you know

Hey I did not think about this. This would be so awesome. We could have people from both Canada and the USA.
Oh Kicky

[JediSkipdogg]

I see this committee talk, so what am I? The trash collector?

The main problem I see with Niagara Falls is the stupid new passport requirement. I truely don't know how many people this would set back with having to buy passports. I would LOVE to have one near the border and have both sides, but I"m just not sure how much that passport and people forking out what, $90???? to get one would want to.

I also agree on having information out to people as soon as possible. I tried doing that with this years but I guess somehow it fell through. Oh well, I'll try again this year. Maybe if more is set in stone sooner more interest will be shown.

As for the committee....I think 3 max as the leading team. Then if outside help is needed for a specific task then they can be brought on for that task (something like shirts, or a special attraction, etc.) Otherwise all decisions will be made by the elite three.

[BriOnH]

Thanks Tony, I really appreciate that!

Kevin did an awesome job organizing the first one as well.

I am easy to please; anywhere you want to go, I will be there. For the 5th annual trip we should pick a different contenent and I'll try to get us corprate sponshership as well.

Dew, I remember you mentioning in a thread possibly meeting someone from medtronic. Think she would remember you?

We need to get vendors in a conference room that covers the comittees costs and passes out bling to the diabetics who visit it. At that point we should be able to get better rates with booking more people and trying to get the businesses that are sponsering us to stay at the same place and include them in activites. Diabetics that [hopefully] work at these companies come first.

I agree with Cary on the comitte, plus Tony is in the comittee. Kev if you want to lead i will get your back like last time, or co lead it.

Those that know me, I am all about being fair, and I loathe excluding anyone from anything, but Cary is right. Id have to look at the stats but in my vauge recollection about 40% went of the original population. If you think you should be part of the comittee speak up now or hold your peace. The comittee will ultimatly decide based on user suggestions/votes (I assume like last time kev?) and possible corporate locations.

That's just a rough draft above and I am :cannibus: so beat the strawman down if you want to ammend it.

[Tony]

I think we should get this committee thing straighten out first before we have any problems here.

I do think Carwy has a good idea to have a committee. It's a lot of work planning gatherings like this every year and it's not fair for jedi to have him do all the work. If more people are putting this together rather then just having the load on him, I think would be better.

However you guys decide whether you have a committee or not, I know I can not be part of planning and organizing vacations.

[Cyborg]

I wish I could have attended the meet in Vegas. When we found out my wife was pregnant we had to back out.

As far as where we meet, it really doesn't matter to me as long as there is plenty of time in advance to make the arrangements.

[Dewey]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

I see this committee talk, so what am I? The trash collector?

NO, you're not the "trash collector," and YES, you did do a good job on the meet & greet this year. That said, people want to help. They're trying to give ideas. I don't know how many times I've tried to tell you that Rikki has some awesome ideas.

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

As for the committee....I think 3 max as the leading team. Then if outside help is needed for a specific task then they can be brought on for that task (something like shirts, or a special attraction, etc.) Otherwise all decisions will be made by the elite three.

I think there should be more than 3. Perhaps 5, heck, maybe even 7....after all, more heads working together (key word - Together) is better than just 2 or 3. We can get multiple ideas & multiple angles or views on thoughts. What one person may not see (or think of), another might.

Originally Posted by BriOnH

Dew, I remember you mentioning in a thread possibly meeting someone from medtronic. Think she would remember you?

We need to get vendors in a conference room that covers the committees costs and passes out bling to the diabetics who visit it. At that point we should be able to get better rates with booking more people and trying to get the businesses that are sponsoring us to stay at the same place and include them in activities. Diabetics that [hopefully] work at these companies come first.

Those that know me, I am all about being fair, and I loathe excluding anyone from anything, but Cary is right. Id have to look at the stats but in my vague recollection about 40% went of the original population. If you think you should be part of the committee speak up now or hold your peace. The committee will ultimately decide based on user suggestions/votes (I assume like last time kev?) and possible corporate locations.

Brian, I agree with all of what you said. I can get in contact with the folks from MM, Cozmo, Animas and other companies to see if they might be interested in sponsoring next year's events. LMAO - Bling!? I LOVE IT!

I too, am all about being fair. That's why I think we should get as much input as possible (i.e. votes, etc.) from everyone, and try to form some kind of committee to help expedite things a little better. I think each person has good ideas & thoughts to offer & we need to consider all possibilities. Kev shouldn't do it alone, nor should the input be limited.

Originally Posted by Tony

I think we should get this committee thing straighten out first before we have any problems here.

I do think Carwy has a good idea to have a committee. It's a lot of work planning gatherings like this every year and it's not fair for jedi to have him do all the work. If more people are putting this together rather then just having the load on him, I think would be better.

This is one of the smartest comments I've heard yet.

If Jedi's willing to let people to help, then I know they'll be more than happy to (Myself included).

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by Dewey

NO, you're not the "trash collector," and YES, you did do a good job on the meet & greet this year. That said, people want to help. They're trying to give ideas. I don't know how many times I've tried to tell you that Rikki has some awesome ideas.

The problem is...WHERE IS RIKKI?????????????

Originally Posted by Dewey

I think there should be more than 3. Perhaps 5, heck, maybe even 7....after all, more heads working together (key word - Together) is better than just 2 or 3. We can get multiple ideas & multiple angles or views on thoughts. What one person may not see (or think of), another might.

If Jedi's willing to let people to help, then I know they'll be more than happy to (Myself included).

I'm all about help. At the same time I'm all about quality help and not quantity. I'm also about people being fair and not letting their head get to big. Sorry, I had a very bad experience on a car forum, so bad that I back out of their planning committee and ended up banned over planning a gathering as they did some very stupid ideas.

I think if too many get involved in planning then it gets nowhere. Yes, more ideas are great, but I think as the decision makers the group should stay small or else you get nothing done. Like say the committee was....you (Dew), me, and Brion....there's nothing to say that Camjen couldn't be in charge of say hotel research for that area and just feed the information to the group. And then maybe Carwy in charge of the comedy acts, lol. And Rikki in charge of say local event research.

The thing is, before we go for sponsorship we need to mainly settle on a location and time. Those are the two keys that I think can make or break an even in attendance. An example, the car website had a gathering in Ohio every year because the main planners lived in Ohio and Michigan. The event was a camping weekend therefore could be anywhere. They didn't think of moving it down south so that Florida members would want to drive, instead, they wanted it close to where the most active members were. THey didn't think maybe the most active members would mind driving 6 instead of 2 hours which could shave 4 hours off of those down south.

I would like it to ultimately be huge and I think it's a huge possibility. I just want to know, how and who decides what the committee will be?

[Keezheekoni]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

The problem is...WHERE IS RIKKI?????????????

Eeek! Sorry, I didn't know I was missed so much...

I had to take care of my grandmother when my aunt bailed the minute she picked me up from the BART station (um, yeah, had to take public transit from the airport to the city my parents' house is in because my aunt didn't want to deal with traffic). I barely had time to call Dewey and tell her I was okay...then take Greyhound back to Seattle. Whatever, I'm back now.

Seems like I've missed a lot. This is the first thread I've read since I got back online. Committee works for me. All the years as PTSA president and council vice-pres gives me a unique perspective on committees...oh, I sleep with a copy of Robert's Rules of Order (okay, not really, but I do have most of the rules memorized! )

Dewey, apparently, wants me to shout out my idea. It wasn't a fully formulated idea or anything, but it was basically that as kids a lot of us went to diabetes camp (barring that specific camp, just camp in general) and I miss not going to camp anymore. So why don't we create an adult diabetes camp? Obviously it could be for families too, but something like it. I know lots of great camping areas around the states, but we could also do something very coordinated in a city as well...doesn't have to be "camp" camp...meh. I'm probably not explaining this well.

Again, apologies for not getting back to the board sooner. Normally I wouldn't have been gone so long, but family (grandma and then hubby/kids) comes first.

[Gangrel]

You know, as a government worker, I really appreciate this thread, lol. I could close my eyes and pretend I'm at work... (which i am, but that's besides the point)

Simple: One Comittee head. Since there is not "head honcho" here aside from Tony, he can either pick it or have a few candiates and then a vote.

Then pick a few people to help. Done. No need for a 10 page thread.

Just my suggestion.

[JediSkipdogg]

Gang, and that's why government fails, one person in charge. LOL

I work for the government too and see the political bullcrap all the time time. It truely is some good humor at times. Like let's buy police bikes because they are more fuel efficient (save money) yet for each police bike on duty we need to have at least 1 patrol car for prisoner transport on (more money there.) LOL

Rikki....interesting idea. And to think, Dew couldn't say that. LOL

I guess my question would be what freaking part of this stupidly large country? The car website I mentioned use to do that. They got a pretty great deal on a campground and had an area designated specifically to them. People either camped in their vehicles (FYI...It was the Pontiac Aztek, so well known for camping out of) or they rented a cabin on the campground site. If people wanted full amentities, they could rent a hotel that was right off the campground abot a mile away.

[Dewey]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

Gang, and that's why government fails, one person in charge. LOL

Hence a good idea to have a group.

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

I work for the government too and see the political bullcrap all the time time. It truely is some good humor at times. Like let's buy police bikes because they are more fuel efficient (save money) yet for each police bike on duty we need to have at least 1 patrol car for prisoner transport on (more money there.) LOL

I don't see having a group/committee of folks working together as "political bullcrap." I see it as helping one another. I don't necessarily think One person needs to be in charge, just that people need to communicate & work together to make the dream of next year's events a reality. You have some darn good ideas and I'm all about working together to get this ball rolling. However, this is not the car forum, so let's not put the cart before the horse with our events.

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

Rikki....interesting idea. And to think, Dew couldn't say that. LOL

It's Not that I couldn't say it, it's that I didn't want to steal her thunder....thank you very much. lol

Gangrel, get back to work (j/k - lol)!

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by Dewey

I don't see having a group/committee of folks working together as "political bullcrap." I see it as helping one another. I don't necessarily think One person needs to be in charge, just that people need to communicate & work together to make the dream of next year's events a reality. You have some darn good ideas and I'm all about working together to get this ball rolling. However, this is not the car forum, so let's not put the cart before the horse with our events.

I wasn't saying working as a group was political bullcrap....it's working with one leader that is. I'm all about groups, but not about one person having the final say over anything (which is currently how our government is set up with the President having the final veto or pass...don't even mention override vetos.) And in the local government it's all about the City Manager having the final say.

[BriOnH]

Proposal of current comittee positions:

I President
II Director of Event Organization - Organizes attendees and physical location
III Sponsership Director - responsible for the networking of diabetic companies to sponser the event. Where the $$ is at could well dictate where the event is held next.
IV Treasurer / controller - Cost analysis / net & gross margins (net margin spending TBD).
V Marketing Director - Spread the web with it. Old fashion paper fliers and face to faces are always best.
VI Operation Volunteers - The most critical piece of the event organization.

Lets try not to turn this in to Animal Farm. I have a lot of experience in forming companies and comittees. These are the steps I usually take:

1) brainstorming - ideas, no problem solving
2) Positions
3) Requirements (location, attendees, sponsers etc)
4) Design Plan - how the requirements will be implemented
5) Implmentation of the event
6) Event Realtime Check points - Quality Assuarnce
7) cost / reward / event conclusions - did we make a positive difference?

[Keezheekoni]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

Rikki....interesting idea. And to think, Dew couldn't say that. LOL

I guess my question would be what freaking part of this stupidly large country? The car website I mentioned use to do that. They got a pretty great deal on a campground and had an area designated specifically to them. People either camped in their vehicles (FYI...It was the Pontiac Aztek, so well known for camping out of) or they rented a cabin on the campground site. If people wanted full amentities, they could rent a hotel that was right off the campground abot a mile away.

I believe that Dewey was just being polite in letting me announce the idea I had. Thanks, Dew. You could have said it, since I wasn't around for awhile.

As for which part of the country. I believe that the committee should whittle a list down to a chosen few areas, then put it up for a vote. However, I'm not in charge of said committee, so I'll defer to the leader. As for campgrounds, I have a lifetime Girl Scouts membership which allows me to "rent" any of their campgrounds (and Boy Scouts grounds too) throughout the world, as long as there is space available... They are all pretty nice, they all have kitchens, and on either coast in the US they are mostly on a shoreline somewhere. Some have open air cabins with 8 beds to a "house", some have tent areas, some have closed cabins, some have all three... If people have RVs to bring, there aren't any hitches that I know of on GS campgrounds, but usually within a mile or two there are other places like KOA... I'm also one of the paramedic card holders for GS, so we wouldn't have to hire one to be there.

Other campsites are at state parks. We could also try to make it a "citified" camp in the middle of a concrete jungle...lol I really don't care. I just like to go to camp! I've done camps in the middle of San Francisco, so have experience with planning those types too... I also have experience with getting t-shirts done and other types of trade show "swag", so I'd be happy to work on that as well.

On locations, I only really know about good places in Seattle and the Bay Area of California. Other places I'd have to do some research on, but just tell me where and I can go to work on that as well. (I think someone mentioned putting me on activities or something?)

Just throwing some ideas out. Honestly I don't care where we go or what we do next year. I just want to get together and spend some time with you all again...