Re: looking ahead - the gathering

[Guest guest]

Hi all....Marty's post reminded me to put up a summary of the

survery results....they are:

Around 35 folks are somewhere between very likely and likely to

attend. Approx 12 wish to share a room to offset expenses so we are

looking for a bid for approx 30 rooms. Will try to find them around

$75 - $100 night....most would like to have the event last 2 nights.

It is unclear whether spouses will travel too.

Las Vegas was the first choice of most followed by Boston.

So until we get RFP's which will hopefully include meeting space it

is still up in the air a bit. Bonnie and are on it.

I must say that I am a little surprised that out of some 150 members

only around 20% are interested in meeting....but then again, that is

about the number of people who regularly participate so maybe it

isn't that shocking!

Anyway...hopefully we will have more news soon. Marty has some good

ideas...I thought maybe we should have a contest to see who is most

adept at picking things up off the floor with their feet....we could

do heats with progressivly harder objects to do.....

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

Cam -

For Bonnie and , here is a great website that lets you see

shows, etc upcoming for Vegas: http://www.vegas.com/shows

I saw that they have " Improv At Harrah's " comedy show with 3

comedians for less than $28. a ticket. (Hey, laughter IS the best

medicine!) I am guessing that with travel expenses and such, we all do

NOT want to spend 100 bucks to see Jay Leno or Ray Romano. There are

lots of " free " shows, too - if we can assure enuf seating. later, Marty

[Guest guest]

Dear Cam, I would Love to go,but my husband's health is very bad and unpredictable,for long range plans. I will be watching and waiting.Sounds great.Maybe I will get lucky. Eileencammaltby <cammaltby@...> wrote: Hi all....Marty's post reminded me to put up a summary of the survery results....they are:Around 35 folks are somewhere between very likely and likely to attend. Approx 12 wish to share a room to offset expenses so we are looking for a bid for approx 30 rooms. Will try to find them around $75 - $100 night....most would like to have the event last 2 nights. It is unclear whether spouses will travel too.Las Vegas was the first choice of most followed by Boston.So until we get RFP's which will hopefully include meeting space it is still up in the air a bit. Bonnie and are on

it.I must say that I am a little surprised that out of some 150 members only around 20% are interested in meeting....but then again, that is about the number of people who regularly participate so maybe it isn't that shocking!Anyway...hopefully we will have more news soon. Marty has some good ideas...I thought maybe we should have a contest to see who is most adept at picking things up off the floor with their feet....we could do heats with progressivly harder objects to do.....:)Take Care, Cam

Messenger with Voice. PC-to-Phone calls for ridiculously low rates.

[Guest guest]

Hi Cam,

I've never posted and (apparently) haven't been reading the forum

alot this past month. I saw the National Gathering posts today and

think its a great idea. It seems like there are so many of us on

our forums but I've never run into another flatbacker (that I was

aware of) in person. Kudos to you for arranging it.

I've missed the survey but would definately be interested. Whether

I could come would depend on the dates selected (work and personal

conflicts). I'd vote for

Boston first, Florida 2nd (I'm an east coaster) - although it seems

that Las Vegas is the clear winner. I'm also interested to know

what you are thinking of planning for the event.

Jane

>

> Hi all....Marty's post reminded me to put up a summary of the

> survery results....they are:

>

> Around 35 folks are somewhere between very likely and likely to

> attend. Approx 12 wish to share a room to offset expenses so we

are

> looking for a bid for approx 30 rooms. Will try to find them

around

> $75 - $100 night....most would like to have the event last 2

nights.

> It is unclear whether spouses will travel too.

>

> Las Vegas was the first choice of most followed by Boston.

>

> So until we get RFP's which will hopefully include meeting space

it

> is still up in the air a bit. Bonnie and are on it.

>

> I must say that I am a little surprised that out of some 150

members

> only around 20% are interested in meeting....but then again, that

is

> about the number of people who regularly participate so maybe it

> isn't that shocking!

>

> Anyway...hopefully we will have more news soon. Marty has some

good

> ideas...I thought maybe we should have a contest to see who is

most

> adept at picking things up off the floor with their feet....we

could

> do heats with progressivly harder objects to do.....

>

> Take Care, Cam

>

[Guest guest]

Jane,

Thanks for posting...please do it more often! I do hope if it is

possible you will come to our " fest " ...where ever it is. I know that

for everyone it is all tentative until dates are put forth and a

destiniation...and then we will all have to decide for real. The

prelimary survery was mostly to identify a few top choice cities and

give Bonnie and enough to go on in terms of finding out how many

rooms we were negotiating for with the hotels.

As for planning the event I think it will be mostly social, although

perhaps we can arrange a few speakers or activites that would be of

interest to us all. I know when we have gotten together in Boston I am

pretty content to sit and talk with my friends...like you say...how

often do you run into a flatbacker like ourselves? So I am just

hoping there is a nice pool area where I can hang out!

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

Hi Bonnie & Cam, Ya, I was a bit confused by Cam's comments below; I

tho't the destination WAS definate, by survey results. However, Cam,

I don't remember if prefered dates or month for gathering was on the

survey; I only remember October or November being mentioned in one

post. If THAT needs to be decided, maybe we need another " poll " done,

since some folks mentioned that those months right before the holiday

season are not ideal. Should we just be planning something OUT, like

early 2007? I know for cruises, the travel agency arranges things for

groups out in advance, and people can make a deposit to hold their

spot and then make several payments, usually 3, spaced out to " buffer "

the cost. I am no expert on this stuff, tho'. Night, Marty

--- " Bonnie " <bonnie@...> wrote:

.... I thought this survey showed the location would be Vegas.

Otherwise, what was the purpose of the survey? ...Please confirm that

Vegas is it. Bonnie

> From: cammaltby

> ... I do hope if it is possible you will come to our " fest " ...where

ever it is. I know that for everyone it is all tentative until dates

are put forth and a destiniation...and then we will all have to decide

for real.

[Guest guest]

Bonnie,

Yes, the city you are working on is Vegas. The reason we had folks list

other choices was so if we hit some kind of " wall " for whatever

reason,we would not have to re-survey, we would know what the 2nd, 3rd

and fourth choice cities were. It is not possible for you to know in

advance the number of rooms/conventions already ongoing and if you were

unable to find anything like what we were looking for time/price wise

we would of course work our way down the list. Make sense?

Good luck hunting, Cam

[Guest guest]

a pool does sound great....

>

> Jane,

>

> Thanks for posting...please do it more often! I do hope if it is

> possible you will come to our " fest " ...where ever it is. I know

that

> for everyone it is all tentative until dates are put forth and a

> destiniation...and then we will all have to decide for real. The

> prelimary survery was mostly to identify a few top choice cities

and

> give Bonnie and enough to go on in terms of finding out how

many

> rooms we were negotiating for with the hotels.

>

> As for planning the event I think it will be mostly social,

although

> perhaps we can arrange a few speakers or activites that would be

of

> interest to us all. I know when we have gotten together in Boston

I am

> pretty content to sit and talk with my friends...like you

say...how

> often do you run into a flatbacker like ourselves? So I am just

> hoping there is a nice pool area where I can hang out!

>

> Take Care, Cam

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Marty and the group,

Just for a quick answer, we are going ahead for the meeting to be in the

September/ October time frame. Bonnie and I are trying to get together over

the phone to set up at least two dates to have the members pick from. As it

stands it looks like Las Vegas. Later in the year we run into the holidays.

Getting the meeting where everyone can be there, is almost impossible, due

to surgeries, etc. We have many who are going through surgery now and the

next month or two, so maybe they will be healed up enough to attend in the

Sept/Oct time frame. We will do the best job possible to get the attendance

at the best possible level, get a hotel that can be accessed easily by those

who can't walk long distances, a pool, etc. Anything anyone is looking for

in the meeting, just speak up, we are so open to ideas. I am looking forward

to meeting as many of you that can attend, I'm sure it will be a major gab

fest, how often do any of us meet anyone with the same condition! Know this

first meeting will be a learning curve, we will know more as we go along,

but for the first one I just look forward to meeting all the great guys and

gals I've been talking online to for the past couple of years. A big

thankyou to Bonnie who has been so good about getting info, and now that I'm

back at my computer from having an awful lung infection I can be of more of

a help to her!

Talked with Carla Kay last week, she has a surgery date with Dr. Kumar in

early june. I'll try to get her to post just what he plans. I'm glad for

her, she's in so much pain.

[ ] Re: looking ahead - the gathering

> CAM - Was the time frame for gathering voted on in the survey? I asked

> this when responding to Bonnie's post about city. Just can't remember

> if it was. Thanks, Marty

>

>

>

>

>

> scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates

>

[Guest guest]

>

> a pool does sound great....

>

a beach sounds even better. If I were rich, I would stay at Mandalay

Bay. Vegas really does have a little bit of everything.

Alas, my budget is more in the Motel 6 range.

[Guest guest]

Marty....No the date, time frame was decide pretty much by consensus

when we first started talking about getting together. As

says...there will never be a perfect date, but hopefully this will be

far enough in the future that people can arrange their finances and

others parts of their lives to escape for 72 hours!

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane~ Where on the east coast do you live? Welcome! Suzie"Jane S." <Jane434@...> wrote: Hi Cam,I've never posted and (apparently) haven't been reading the forum alot this past month. I saw the National Gathering posts today and think its a great idea. It seems like there are so many of us on our forums but I've never run into another flatbacker (that I was aware of) in person. Kudos to you for arranging it. I've missed the survey but would definately be interested. Whether I could come would depend on the dates selected (work and personal conflicts). I'd vote for Boston first, Florida 2nd (I'm an east coaster) - although it seems that Las Vegas is the clear winner. I'm also interested to know what you are

thinking of planning for the event.Jane>> Hi all....Marty's post reminded me to put up a summary of the > survery results....they are:> > Around 35 folks are somewhere between very likely and likely to > attend. Approx 12 wish to share a room to offset expenses so we are > looking for a bid for approx 30 rooms. Will try to find them around > $75 - $100 night....most would like to have the event last 2 nights. > It is unclear whether spouses will travel too.> > Las Vegas was the first choice of most followed by Boston.> > So until we get RFP's which will hopefully include meeting space it > is still up in the air a bit. Bonnie and are on it.> > I must say that I am a little surprised that out of some 150 members > only around

20% are interested in meeting....but then again, that is > about the number of people who regularly participate so maybe it > isn't that shocking!> > Anyway...hopefully we will have more news soon. Marty has some good > ideas...I thought maybe we should have a contest to see who is most > adept at picking things up off the floor with their feet....we could > do heats with progressivly harder objects to do.....> > Take Care, Cam>

Love cheap thrills? Enjoy PC-to-Phone calls to 30+ countries for just 2¢/min with Messenger with Voice.

[Guest guest]

I live in a suburb of Philadelphia. Are you nearby?

> >

> > Hi all....Marty's post reminded me to put up a summary of the

> > survery results....they are:

> >

> > Around 35 folks are somewhere between very likely and likely to

> > attend. Approx 12 wish to share a room to offset expenses so we

> are

> > looking for a bid for approx 30 rooms. Will try to find them

> around

> > $75 - $100 night....most would like to have the event last 2

> nights.

> > It is unclear whether spouses will travel too.

> >

> > Las Vegas was the first choice of most followed by Boston.

> >

> > So until we get RFP's which will hopefully include meeting space

> it

> > is still up in the air a bit. Bonnie and are on it.

> >

> > I must say that I am a little surprised that out of some 150

> members

> > only around 20% are interested in meeting....but then again,

that

> is

> > about the number of people who regularly participate so maybe it

> > isn't that shocking!

> >

> > Anyway...hopefully we will have more news soon. Marty has some

> good

> > ideas...I thought maybe we should have a contest to see who is

> most

> > adept at picking things up off the floor with their feet....we

> could

> > do heats with progressivly harder objects to do.....

> >

> > Take Care, Cam

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Cam,

Yes, absolutely makes sense. Thanks for the clarification. We've been at work. I'll be in touch with in the next day or so and get back to everyone before the end of the weekend.

Bonnie

[ ] Re: looking ahead - the gathering

Bonnie,Yes, the city you are working on is Vegas. The reason we had folks list other choices was so if we hit some kind of "wall" for whatever reason,we would not have to re-survey, we would know what the 2nd, 3rd and fourth choice cities were. It is not possible for you to know in advance the number of rooms/conventions already ongoing and if you were unable to find anything like what we were looking for time/price wise we would of course work our way down the list. Make sense?Good luck hunting, Cam

[Guest guest]

---

Jane,

I emailed you privately, did you get it?? Maybe we could meet at Kof

P Mall sometime and chat...., PA

In , " Jane S. " <Jane434@...> wrote:

>

> I live in a suburb of Philadelphia. Are you nearby?

>

>

> > >

> > > Hi all....Marty's post reminded me to put up a summary of the

> > > survery results....they are:

> > >

> > > Around 35 folks are somewhere between very likely and likely to

> > > attend. Approx 12 wish to share a room to offset expenses so we

> > are

> > > looking for a bid for approx 30 rooms. Will try to find them

> > around

> > > $75 - $100 night....most would like to have the event last 2

> > nights.

> > > It is unclear whether spouses will travel too.

> > >

> > > Las Vegas was the first choice of most followed by Boston.

> > >

> > > So until we get RFP's which will hopefully include meeting

space

> > it

> > > is still up in the air a bit. Bonnie and are on it.

> > >

> > > I must say that I am a little surprised that out of some 150

> > members

> > > only around 20% are interested in meeting....but then again,

> that

> > is

> > > about the number of people who regularly participate so maybe

it

> > > isn't that shocking!

> > >

> > > Anyway...hopefully we will have more news soon. Marty has some

> > good

> > > ideas...I thought maybe we should have a contest to see who is

> > most

> > > adept at picking things up off the floor with their feet....we

> > could

> > > do heats with progressivly harder objects to do.....

> > >

> > > Take Care, Cam

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I didn't get your email. You can call me at 610-247-1412 (cell).

The mall sounds great. We can go wherever you'll be comfortable.

> > > >

> > > > Hi all....Marty's post reminded me to put up a summary of

the

> > > > survery results....they are:

> > > >

> > > > Around 35 folks are somewhere between very likely and likely

to

> > > > attend. Approx 12 wish to share a room to offset expenses so

we

> > > are

> > > > looking for a bid for approx 30 rooms. Will try to find them

> > > around

> > > > $75 - $100 night....most would like to have the event last 2

> > > nights.

> > > > It is unclear whether spouses will travel too.

> > > >

> > > > Las Vegas was the first choice of most followed by Boston.

> > > >

> > > > So until we get RFP's which will hopefully include meeting

> space

> > > it

> > > > is still up in the air a bit. Bonnie and are on it.

> > > >

> > > > I must say that I am a little surprised that out of some 150

> > > members

> > > > only around 20% are interested in meeting....but then again,

> > that

> > > is

> > > > about the number of people who regularly participate so

maybe

> it

> > > > isn't that shocking!

> > > >

> > > > Anyway...hopefully we will have more news soon. Marty has

some

> > > good

> > > > ideas...I thought maybe we should have a contest to see who

is

> > > most

> > > > adept at picking things up off the floor with their

feet....we

> > > could

> > > > do heats with progressivly harder objects to do.....

> > > >

> > > > Take Care, Cam

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >