PLUS ramblings - *** PLUS2009 (our bi-yearly gathering) *** Read Only. No more posting. - PlanetChristmas! Forums. Read Only. We've moved to http://talk.planetchristmas.com - The Forums of PlanetChristmas have moved to http://talk.PlanetChristmas.com
jen grissett wrote: That's the point I've been trying to make....
I have two questions....
1.what do you not like about Myrtle beach...just curious...
2.what would be some other destinations you would like to take your family...name at least 5...other than disney...
I can't say that I have 5 places that I am going to want to take my children as for next summer one will be 1.5 and the other will be 4.5... so that makes it really tough if I am to go and take the family. I do want to go but ultimately for me it will come down to a family decision as to balance what they will do during those days / all of the days.
I can say that things I like to do with my family is to go to NH and go hiking, plan to go to disney, like waterparks, not a fan of casino's (I live within about 30 minutes of both Foxwoods and Mohegan sun and have not been to either), nature is good, museums are good, things like a beach for an entire day are not our thing.
I totally understand that we can't please everybody but I think it makes sense to look into all the options and get a feel for how to get the highest attendance. When I think of Floriday (can be almost anywhere in the state) you have Busch Gardens, seaworld, disney, etc. Plenty of nice day-trips all within driving distance for a day trip. As for the "cost and timing" one year we went to Disney the last partial week of August / first partial week of September. The place was NOT packed, it was the last week of summer hours, I would definitely go back that time of year again...
So again just some insight into what I am thinking would make me really want to go to PLUS instead of kinda wanting to go to PLUS...
____________________ Chris
Quiet Corner Christmas
30k lights, 64 channels of LOR, Sychronized to music... Looking to double for 2008...
If the comment about someone stating they were not attending was directed at my post, and I think it was, (If I'm wrong let me know), I didn't say I wasn't going to attend. I said, after snowlovergeorgia's comment "Sorry I didn't mention a place near you" that I had no dog in the hunt, BECAUSE, I don't care where PLUS is held. All I care is that it meets all of the needs the event has and there are many.
As far as HOT, I was thinking back to the banquet at PLUS2005 which was held on an outdoor patio and it was miserable. All who attended can vouch for that. In addition, many family members who attend with the Christmas fanatic do not attend PLUS but chose to do other activities and extremely HOT weather may affect their plans.
For the record, Austin TX, which is on snowlovergeorgia's list is right about 60 miles from me. I know what it's like here during the Jun-Aug timeframe and it's miserable. Even the people who live here don't go out unless they have to during the day.
To clarify my position on previous steering committees, I was not on the facilities or location committees. My job was to get vendors to support the event. Chuck will make the final decision based on research of many locations, facilities, cost, etc, etc, etc. all play a part in the decision. He has already said he expects to post of list of potential sites in mid summer, so lets wait to see what the research had come up with.
____________________ Marilyn Caron
The Christmas Lady
Just to toss another city into the ring...How about Buffalo, NY/Niagara Falls?
Summer temps/humidity are not usually too bad. there are lots of family friendly things to do in the area. Buffalo is only 20 minutes from the falls and had several convention facilities. Niagara Falls USA has a couple of convention centers as well.
For family attractions there is of course the Falls themselves and their associated tourist attractions on both sides of the USA/Canada bridge. A passport is still not needed as of yet. Just have to bring your birth certificate and drivers license....
You're just a short drive away from 2 amusement parks: Darien Lake (formarly a 6 flags) and Fantasy Island
You can spend a few hours taking a boat ride on the Eric Canal or spend some time at a Beach on Lake Erie and just about every weekend in the summer there is a street fair or festival within a short drive. For more adult activities - there is even a Casino or 2 nearby
While I do not know of any Christmas specific stores/venders in the area...what can beat seeing the light show on the Falls at night/everynight? There are usually fireworks at the Falls on the weekends too.
Food and lodging prices are really reasonable compared to what I have experienced elsewhere. Flying into Buffalo is not too bad pricewise either.
As all of the SC committee members know, while working on the SC for PLUS 2007 (I was on 2005 SC as well), I worked on bringing the (AKCA) international Koi show to Buffalo, and along with my wife handled all of the registration for that event. (for PLUS I was on the education committee both times). That show was held June 06. we had a SC of only 3 people, but we had helpers for that show!
It worked out great (or so say those that attended), due to the adjacent hotel (connected by an enclosed walkway), the excellent catered food (which was not expensive either), the way the convention people catered to our group's needs, and the educational programs which were a departure from the way they had been conducted previously (it was time for a change!).
Of course there is the location as you described, which also being on Main street, was literally a stone's throw from the Anchor bar, which is where the "Buffalo" Chicken wings were invented. If you really want to taste Buffalo wings, that is THE place to go.
Chuck has posted elsewhere for volunteers for to serve on the SC for PLUS 2009. I would urge folks to give it a shot. You work with great people, learn a bit, have lots of fun, and can take pride in a great event. PLUS 2007 will be hard to top, but there are very talented folks reading this, that may just be the ones to do it!
I am not re-upping, as I firmly believe in 2 term limits in life - be it politics/other activities, which allows other folks with new ideas to have a chance. The workload was never a burden, so that was not a factor in my decision!
We have such a large and talented membership in these forums, I am looking forward to seeing what changes some new blood brings.
Doesn't appear anyone took my earlier hint that all this host city speculation was a bit premature.
Here's the latest:
The tentative date for PLUS2009 is July 16-18, 2009... though the date might slip around a little depending on the availability of the venue.
The new Steering Committee will be formed in early March, 2008. I'm leaving the window to volunteer open until the end of February.
I anticipate the 2009 host city to be announced late summer of this year (2008).
Earlybird/discount registration will open September 1, 2008.
There will be major enhancements for this event because our community is evolving rapidly. PLUS will continue to set the trail for others to follow.
I'm closing this thread so we can give all the speculation a break. Rest assured when new information is available it will be posted here.
Thanks for your desire to make PLUS2009 a success!
____________________ Chuck Smith at http://www.PlanetChristmas.com
Don't forget our three PlanetChristmas rules: Positive, family friendly and Christmas centric
