roberta suggested i start a new thread for this, so here goes:

you know what would be truly wonderful is if we somehow managed to have a very big gathering that included every single one of us.

we might need to plan TWO years in advance to make it happen, but it would be such an incredible event, no?

just think: west coast, east coast, midwest, rockies, and the south, and the southwest--all of us--all together at one big bash. it would be truly awesome.

where could we do this? it would have to also be at a time of year when weather-related travel problems are less likely to occur.

and where?

has anyone ever done a tabulation to see where most of us live?

in spring of '10 it will be the wtf five-year anniversary. maybe we could celebrate it all in one place together, live, in person?

i'm getting to work on my repertoire RIGHT NOW.

quirt wrote:

quote:

Definitely an interesting idea.

If I could offer some thoughts:

It should be relatively near a major airport.

It should be where there are several forumites nearby, so that people could have a place to stay. We could also make it a rolling party if we did that ... one person's house one day, another's the next.

It should be over a three-day weekend, to simplify travel plans.

It should not be over a holiday when people are normally on vacation ... so, no July 4th, no Labor Day, no President's Day. Given weather constraints, Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, and Columbus Day seem the most likely choices.

ot wrote:

quote:

I second Quirt's thoughts.

That being said, it would seem to me the prospective cities would be NYC, Boston, Chicago, and LA.

what if we have it near a major airport, but hold it at a retreat center with a nice piano? then it could be more like a family reunion or pajama party.

also, are people with children more likely to be able to make it if we have it when school is out? or less likely?

if it is on a holiday weekend, will it be tougher for people to get affordable plane fares?

i know, for example, that within an easy drive of nyc there are some nice retreat centers that with enough advance notice we could book. i'm thinking in particular of a buddhist center i once stayed in.

we could carpool/take the train together.

of the major cities quirt listed, which one has the most wtf members living there?

oh, and the date would be spring/summer/fall of 2010.

enough advanced notice for you?

people please speak up if you already know what you can/can't do.

elena, for example, which of those seasons is the most likely for you (assuming we aren't rendezvouing in spain or newfoundland) ?

I'm in!


Preferred location would be some city that is an airline hub. Also need someone with a big enough place and a decent piano to host.

I would think spring is better for travel.

quote:

Preferred location would be some city that is an airline hub.

same here. i can't get anywhere without taking two planes from here, and i prefer to not take three. that is just too much.

quote:

Originally posted by piqué:
of the major cities quirt listed, which one has the most wtf members living there?

I'd wager it's NYC, hands down.

quote:

Originally posted by jon-nyc:
I would think spring is better for travel.

It would have to be after mid-May, for us. Opera season until then.

I'm always happy to host a big party if we do it in NYC - or be one of several hosts on rotating days.

But I'm all for going somewhere else too.

Memorial Day is after mid-May, and still in the spring.

Jon, if it's an everyone-on-the-forum thing, can your place handle that?

Me, I'd need a new piano.

quote:

Originally posted by piqué:
i'm thinking in particular of a buddhist center i once stayed in.

New Paltz, or thereabouts?

jf

I know! Let's have it at Cindy's house. She's the source of all this, after all.

Big Al

quote:

Originally posted by big al:
I know! Let's have it at Cindy's house. She's the source of all this, after all.

Big Al

Excellent! And then the party could roll to the Manor markb the next day.

I'm sure Mrs. markb won't mind 100 or so people inviting themselves over.