Guest guest Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Hi All, and I have been in touch. We agreed that to get things going, we first need a definite location. So, please make sure to respond to Cam's survey no later than April 15th. We think that gives plenty of time for each of us to decide on our preferred location. You do not have to be absolutely certain by April 15th that you'll go, of course. That will come later, after we research dates, hotels and costs. Just pick one of the listed locations as your preferred location. April 15th is the deadline for submitting your choice of location. Majority rules! If you have no intention of going no matter what, please say so instead of picking a location. Thanks! As soon as we know our location, and I will take the next steps. And all decisions will be by the majority. This should turn out to be a great event. It will be so nice for us to meet in person. Bonnie and K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 30, 2006 Report Share Posted April 30, 2006 Hi Bonnie & : Wow, you guys have been doing such a thorough job of looking into hotels, dates, etc. Thanks for doing this-it sounds like a lot of work. Do you think it would be at all worthwhile for any of us to look at hotels in our own cities that might have some special rates/deals and also some lower fare airlines in/out of major cities? Just for comparison to Vegas? Or, do we not want to go there at this point, and just stick w/Vegas, after having the survey results? Just a thought. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to look at how fares/hotels stack up at other major cities-??? Maybe members would be persuaded to change the site of the get together, if the cost ends up considerably lower-??? I understand if no one wants to start back at square one with this! Martha > > Hi Everyone, > > As most of you know, and I have been the " Committee " looking into a group get together in Las Vegas in Sept/Oct. I've done considerable research and conferred closely with . This is what we have so far: > > 1. The date: The weekend beginning Friday, Sept 1 is out because it is Labor Day weekend which would make rates more expensive. The following weekend beginning Friday Sept 8 is good. I can't attend the weekend after, Sept 15th and if I'm spending so much time and effort working on this, I'd at least like to attend. The next weekend, Sept 22 is Rosh Hashanah and the weekend after that involves Yom Kippur, both of which are the holiest days of the year for Jewish people who would not be able to attend. The following weekend, October 13th, is the weekend that rates all over Las Vegas go up considerably. The time before that is considered off-season so it's cheaper. So that weekend and the rest of October would be out. The bottom line is that we picked the weekend of Friday, September 8th. To summarize, that's the only weekend in Sept/Oct that is still off-season and does not involve a national holiday or a religious holiday (except for Sept 15th weekend when I cannot attend. If that weekend is considered better for everyone else than the 8th, then I'll back out of the trip). > > 2. Hotel. Not an easy choice. Las Vegas is not so cheap anymore. The 4 star hotels in the midst of everything on the strip like Paris, Bally's, Caesar's, etc. are in the 200 + range per night. Friday night is cheaper than Saturday night. The room rate is the same for one or two people. So, it would be feasible to stay there for close to $100 per night if you share a room (probably a bit more). Then I had a few conversations with the event manager at the Golden Nugget, a 4 star hotel downtown. The fact that it's downtown makes it a lot cheaper. There, you could have a room for $109 per night + 11% room tax for a total of $129, single or double occupancy. They have a room for us for a private dinner Saturday night and brunch Sunday morning. We'd have the rooms for as long as we like. We would have to give them a specific menu choice, one for the whole group. The cheapest dinner on the menu is chicken scaloppini over pasta, salad and dessert included, for $39 per person including 7.75% tax and 18% gratuity. The cheapest brunch is roughly $25 per person. There is no shuttle from the airport. The big problem, really big, is that the pool area is under renovation. It is closed now and scheduled to re-open at the end of August. Personally, I think construction delays are inevitable so I don't think we could count on the pool being open by Sept 8th. There would be no reduction in rates if the pool is closed. > > For discussion purposes only, let's assume for a minute that we chose the Golden Nugget. We would have to send them, immediately, $400 to hold the private room. They will not save it for us until they get the money. Then, we would have to give them $90% of our expected expenditures, for dinner and brunch, at least 30 days before the event. Figure on at least $1800. They will hold a block of rooms until 30 days before the weekend. and I are both willing to give $100 each, now, towards the $400 deposit. volunteered to collect that money and send it to the hotel. The hotel will deal with only one person. We cannot send them 4 $100 checks. Three of us would have to send $100 each, she would add her own 100 and send the hotel one check. We would have to figure out how to collect the money for the 90% food deposit due 30 days beofre the event, and by what date, so that would not be left holding the bag. Personally, I think the possible lack of a pool will nix this hotel as our choice, but I think the procedure will be the same for whichever hotel we choose. When I planned my son's rehearsal dinner and Sunday wedding brunch in Chicago, the procedure (up front expenses) was the same that was described to me by Orrin, the event manager at the Golden Nugget. > > 3. I called the AAA travel department and spoke with one of their travel agents. She told me we were better off making reservations on our own. She said the best way to do it, money-wise, for a group that's coming from all over the country, is for each of us to make our own reservations for rooms and airfare. She said that combining a room rate and airfare is the best way to go. So, I checked Orbitz, Travelocity, and Besttickets and got, basically, nowhere. I checked the airfares alone and airfares and hotel combined and didn't find much of a savings at all. I checked for New York, Boston, and San Francisco. > > 4. I then found that the Harrah's group may be our best bet (, I didn't have time to call you about this as I promised this email for today, but what I have here is pretty straight forward.) Harrah's owns many sites in Vegas, including Paris, Bally's, Caesar's, (all 4 star) and the Flamingo (3 stars so cheaper, see above) and several restaurants in town. We may be best off with each of us staying where we please at one of the 4 star, or choosing the Flamingo at $150-$160 per night per room, with some doubling up, and finding, through Harrah's, a private room at the Flaming for dinner and brunch, or perhaps one of Harrah's other restaurants for our dinner and brunch. But remember, when you go off site, you may have taxi fares to pay. > > > and I agree that what this all means is that our pick for date is the weekend of Sept 8th. We will need to send a deposit for anywhere we hold a private room for dinner/brunch. will collect the money and send it to the venue. She and I will contribute $100 each and we want two others to take part in this. Of course, all four would need to be re-reimbursed by the rest of the group. Assuming the venue requires payment up front for the dinner and brunch, will collect that money and send it, too. She would need to have the money from each of us no later than 3 weeks before it's due to the hotel/restaurant. Bottom line of all this money stuff is that we need to make a decision, now, about whether we are really going to do it. Nobody wants to lay out any money unless we know there is a commitment to doing his. As for the date, we realize that there will be people who cannot come that weekend. Which will be the case no matter what weekend we pick, so no date can be perfect. Also, the expenses for everyone will vary depending on the cost of their airfare. It's going to be a lot cheaper for people on the west coast to come to Vegas than for those of us on the east coast. The only way to make that fair is to say that the next venue, for the 2nd national get-together, should be on the east coast. Then, the time after that, midway between, but you get my drift. As for the hotel rates, while they are not cheap in Vegas, , realize that the cost of a Hampton Inn or Holiday In Express in Podunk places is about $90 per night now and we want much more for our facility than what those offer. > > So, and I agree that the first order of business is the date. And we have chosen the weekend of Sept 8 and 9. So, now that we have the date we need everyone to make a commitment about whether they will come. And we need at least two people to agree, besides me and , to send money for a deposit on a private room for dinner and brunch, probably about $100 each for a total $400 deposit. Once we know the answers to these three things: the date, commitment to come, and the deposit money, we can move ahead. > > I will be out of town from this coming Tuesday to Sunday, May 7th (BTW, staying at a Hampton Inn in Dayton for AAA rate of $90 per night.) So, if we can have a definite answer from each of you as to the date, your commitment to come, and two to volunteer to contribute for the deposit, then we'll move ahead when I return. > > I hope all this is okay so far. > > Bonnie > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 30, 2006 Report Share Posted April 30, 2006 Martha - Please, I am not even on the " committee " , but would think it would be VERY frustrating to be asked to consider changing any of the decisions made to date. Like one step forward, two steps back. As I read it, it is " VEGAS, SEPTEMBER 8-10, 2006 " . (and probably Boston for Fall 2007). Bonnie, -Great work so far! -Marty ...do we not want to go there at this point, and just stick w/Vegas, after having the survey results? ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 Dear Marty, Have you used Paypal and how does it work, sounds like a great idea to me! [ ] Re: NATIONAL GET TOGETHER > BONNIE - Great work! VEGAS-SEPTEMBER 8-10, 2006!! It's got my vote. > Did you get a chance to check out site I posted before: > > http://www.vegas.com/?vc1=1 & vc2=hdr_gph_none_1 > > It searches room rates, shows, tours, etc... and even says if booking > hotel rooms for a group, it has an agent that contacts you. > > I do think a functional pool is preferred by most folks. As far as I > am concerned, I would be willing to chip in on monies needed asap. > HOWEVER... I think the BETTER plan might be that EVERYONE that IS > GOING TO ATTEND, send in a " good faith deposit " of $50. by a certain > date. You could use PAYPAL, to either or yourself as > the " treasurer " . That way, we would KNOW how many for sure and, > perhaps, be able to plan a show or driving tour together as well. > Just a tho't. Thanks again to you and for all your efforts! Marty > > --- " Bonnie " <bonnie@...> wrote:> Hi Everyone, As most of you know, > and I have been the " Committee " looking into a group get > together in Las Vegas in Sept/Oct. I've done considerable research and > conferred closely with ... > > > > > > scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 Dear Bonnie, Are we planning the dinner to be Saturday night and the breakfast on Sunday morning? Just want to get it straight. [ ] NATIONAL GET TOGETHER Hi Everyone, As most of you know, and I have been the "Committee" looking into a group get together in Las Vegas in Sept/Oct. I've done considerable research and conferred closely with . This is what we have so far: 1. The date: The weekend beginning Friday, Sept 1 is out because it is Labor Day weekend which would make rates more expensive. The following weekend beginning Friday Sept 8 is good. I can't attend the weekend after, Sept 15th and if I'm spending so much time and effort working on this, I'd at least like to attend. The next weekend, Sept 22 is Rosh Hashanah and the weekend after that involves Yom Kippur, both of which are the holiest days of the year for Jewish people who would not be able to attend. The following weekend, October 13th, is the weekend that rates all over Las Vegas go up considerably. The time before that is considered off-season so it's cheaper. So that weekend and the rest of October would be out. The bottom line is that we picked the weekend of Friday, September 8th. To summarize, that's the only weekend in Sept/Oct that is still off-season and does not involve a national holiday or a religious holiday (except for Sept 15th weekend when I cannot attend. If that weekend is considered better for everyone else than the 8th, then I'll back out of the trip). 2. Hotel. Not an easy choice. Las Vegas is not so cheap anymore. The 4 star hotels in the midst of everything on the strip like Paris, Bally's, Caesar's, etc. are in the 200 + range per night. Friday night is cheaper than Saturday night. The room rate is the same for one or two people. So, it would be feasible to stay there for close to $100 per night if you share a room (probably a bit more). Then I had a few conversations with the event manager at the Golden Nugget, a 4 star hotel downtown. The fact that it's downtown makes it a lot cheaper. There, you could have a room for $109 per night + 11% room tax for a total of $129, single or double occupancy. They have a room for us for a private dinner Saturday night and brunch Sunday morning. We'd have the rooms for as long as we like. We would have to give them a specific menu choice, one for the whole group. The cheapest dinner on the menu is chicken scaloppini over pasta, salad and dessert included, for $39 per person including 7.75% tax and 18% gratuity. The cheapest brunch is roughly $25 per person. There is no shuttle from the airport. The big problem, really big, is that the pool area is under renovation. It is closed now and scheduled to re-open at the end of August. Personally, I think construction delays are inevitable so I don't think we could count on the pool being open by Sept 8th. There would be no reduction in rates if the pool is closed. For discussion purposes only, let's assume for a minute that we chose the Golden Nugget. We would have to send them, immediately, $400 to hold the private room. They will not save it for us until they get the money. Then, we would have to give them $90% of our expected expenditures, for dinner and brunch, at least 30 days before the event. Figure on at least $1800. They will hold a block of rooms until 30 days before the weekend. and I are both willing to give $100 each, now, towards the $400 deposit. volunteered to collect that money and send it to the hotel. The hotel will deal with only one person. We cannot send them 4 $100 checks. Three of us would have to send $100 each, she would add her own 100 and send the hotel one check. We would have to figure out how to collect the money for the 90% food deposit due 30 days beofre the event, and by what date, so that would not be left holding the bag. Personally, I think the possible lack of a pool will nix this hotel as our choice, but I think the procedure will be the same for whichever hotel we choose. When I planned my son's rehearsal dinner and Sunday wedding brunch in Chicago, the procedure (up front expenses) was the same that was described to me by Orrin, the event manager at the Golden Nugget. 3. I called the AAA travel department and spoke with one of their travel agents. She told me we were better off making reservations on our own. She said the best way to do it, money-wise, for a group that's coming from all over the country, is for each of us to make our own reservations for rooms and airfare. She said that combining a room rate and airfare is the best way to go. So, I checked Orbitz, Travelocity, and Besttickets and got, basically, nowhere. I checked the airfares alone and airfares and hotel combined and didn't find much of a savings at all. I checked for New York, Boston, and San Francisco. 4. I then found that the Harrah's group may be our best bet (, I didn't have time to call you about this as I promised this email for today, but what I have here is pretty straight forward.) Harrah's owns many sites in Vegas, including Paris, Bally's, Caesar's, (all 4 star) and the Flamingo (3 stars so cheaper, see above) and several restaurants in town. We may be best off with each of us staying where we please at one of the 4 star, or choosing the Flamingo at $150-$160 per night per room, with some doubling up, and finding, through Harrah's, a private room at the Flaming for dinner and brunch, or perhaps one of Harrah's other restaurants for our dinner and brunch. But remember, when you go off site, you may have taxi fares to pay. and I agree that what this all means is that our pick for date is the weekend of Sept 8th. We will need to send a deposit for anywhere we hold a private room for dinner/brunch. will collect the money and send it to the venue. She and I will contribute $100 each and we want two others to take part in this. Of course, all four would need to be re-reimbursed by the rest of the group. Assuming the venue requires payment up front for the dinner and brunch, will collect that money and send it, too. She would need to have the money from each of us no later than 3 weeks before it's due to the hotel/restaurant. Bottom line of all this money stuff is that we need to make a decision, now, about whether we are really going to do it. Nobody wants to lay out any money unless we know there is a commitment to doing his. As for the date, we realize that there will be people who cannot come that weekend. Which will be the case no matter what weekend we pick, so no date can be perfect. Also, the expenses for everyone will vary depending on the cost of their airfare. It's going to be a lot cheaper for people on the west coast to come to Vegas than for those of us on the east coast. The only way to make that fair is to say that the next venue, for the 2nd national get-together, should be on the east coast. Then, the time after that, midway between, but you get my drift. As for the hotel rates, while they are not cheap in Vegas, , realize that the cost of a Hampton Inn or Holiday In Express in Podunk places is about $90 per night now and we want much more for our facility than what those offer. So, and I agree that the first order of business is the date. And we have chosen the weekend of Sept 8 and 9. So, now that we have the date we need everyone to make a commitment about whether they will come. And we need at least two people to agree, besides me and , to send money for a deposit on a private room for dinner and brunch, probably about $100 each for a total $400 deposit. Once we know the answers to these three things: the date, commitment to come, and the deposit money, we can move ahead. I will be out of town from this coming Tuesday to Sunday, May 7th (BTW, staying at a Hampton Inn in Dayton for AAA rate of $90 per night.) So, if we can have a definite answer from each of you as to the date, your commitment to come, and two to volunteer to contribute for the deposit, then we'll move ahead when I return. I hope all this is okay so far. Bonnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 Hi , I have used Paypal many times to buy things online. There is a small fee to the " Seller " or receiver, in this case would be you or Bonnie. But it would be simple for everyone to " pay their own fee " . I went to the Paypal site and found out the fee is 2.9% of the amount sent PLUS .30 cents... So, for $50. would be +$1.50, +0.30. If everyone sent $51.80, they would cover their own fee for the convenience for a $50. credit. Of course, people could mail payment to you, spending the cost of a stamp instead, but would have to be prompt in sending it out to perhaps meet a deadline date. Personally, for all the effort you and Bonnie are doing, I think it is important for others to " make the committment " . -Marty --- " Kirkaldie " <.Kirkaldie@...> wrote: Dear Marty, Have you used Paypal and how does it work, sounds like a great idea to me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 HI , Silly of me not to include that! Yes, we said dinner on Saturday and breakfast Sunday morning. I imagine that people from at least the east coast would arrive Friday, or if they have a heck of a lot of stamina, Sat afternoon, but that would make for a very, very, long day Saturday - very early to rise and a three hour time difference. I think it would be rather impossible for most - sitting in the airports/airplane for 5 ish hours, then a full night with dinner and whatnot on a 3 hour rime difference. Perhaps people from the west coast would want to arrive Saturday. An individual choice. I think we should leave the planned events to Saturday night and Sunday morning. East coast people will probably leave to go home by early Sunday afternoon, even late morning. On Saturday, people would be on their own to do whatever. I would like to figure on a 6:00 dinner. That would give us plenty of time for a leisurely get together and people would still have time to go to a late show if they wish. I'll check my email until tonight and then I'll be out of town with no access to email till Sunday night. I agree that a $50 good faith deposit is a wonderful idea. My husband knows how to do PayPal, so he could help set that up. Good week to all. Bonnie ----- Original Messag e ----- From: Kirkaldie Sent: Monday, May 01, 2006 9:58 AM Subject: Re: [ ] NATIONAL GET TOGETHER Dear Bonnie, Are we planning the dinner to be Saturday night and the breakfast on Sunday morning? Just want to get it straight. [ ] NATIONAL GET TOGETHER Hi Everyone, As most of you know, and I have been the "Committee" looking into a group get together in Las Vegas in Sept/Oct. I've done considerable research and conferred closely with . This is what we have so far: 1. The date: The weekend beginning Friday, Sept 1 is out because it is Labor Day weekend which would make rates more expensive. The following weekend beginning Friday Sept 8 is good. I can't attend the weekend after, Sept 15th and if I'm spending so much time and effort working on this, I'd at least like to attend. The next weekend, Sept 22 is Rosh Hashanah and the weekend after that involves Yom Kippur, both of which are the holiest days of the year for Jewish people who would not be able to attend. The following weekend, October 13th, is the weekend that rates all over Las Vegas go up considerably. The time before that is considered off-season so it's cheaper. So that weekend and the rest of October would be out. The bottom line is that we picked the weekend of Friday, September 8th. To summarize, that's the only weekend in Sept/Oct that is still off-season and does not involve a national holiday or a religious holiday (except for Sept 15th weekend when I cannot attend. If that weekend is considered better for everyone else than the 8th, then I'll back out of the trip). 2. Hotel. Not an easy choice. Las Vegas is not so cheap anymore. The 4 star hotels in the midst of everything on the strip like Paris, Bally's, Caesar's, etc. are in the 200 + range per night. Friday night is cheaper than Saturday night. The room rate is the same for one or two people. So, it would be feasible to stay there for close to $100 per night if you share a room (probably a bit more). Then I had a few conversations with the event manager at the Golden Nugget, a 4 star hotel downtown. The fact that it's downtown makes it a lot cheaper. There, you could have a room for $109 per night + 11% room tax for a total of $129, single or double occupancy. They have a room for us for a private dinner Saturday night and brunch Sunday morning. We'd have the rooms for as long as we like. We would have to give them a specific menu choice, one for the whole group. The cheapest dinner on the menu is chicken scaloppini over pasta, salad and dessert included, for $39 per person including 7.75% tax and 18% gratuity. The cheapest brunch is roughly $25 per person. There is no shuttle from the airport. The big problem, really big, is that the pool area is under renovation. It is closed now and scheduled to re-open at the end of August. Personally, I think construction delays are inevitable so I don't think we could count on the pool being open by Sept 8th. There would be no reduction in rates if the pool is closed. For discussion purposes only, let's assume for a minute that we chose the Golden Nugget. We would have to send them, immediately, $400 to hold the private room. They will not save it for us until they get the money. Then, we would have to give them $90% of our expected expenditures, for dinner and brunch, at least 30 days before the event. Figure on at least $1800. They will hold a block of rooms until 30 days before the weekend. and I are both willing to give $100 each, now, towards the $400 deposit. volunteered to collect that money and send it to the hotel. The hotel will deal with only one person. We cannot send them 4 $100 checks. Three of us would have to send $100 each, she would add her own 100 and send the hotel one check. We would have to figure out how to collect the money for the 90% food deposit due 30 days beofre the event, and by what date, so that would not be left holding the bag. Personally, I think the possible lack of a pool will nix this hotel as our choice, but I think the procedure will be the same for whichever hotel we choose. When I planned my son's rehearsal dinner and Sunday wedding brunch in Chicago, the procedure (up front expenses) was the same that was described to me by Orrin, the event manager at the Golden Nugget. 3. I called the AAA travel department and spoke with one of their travel agents. She told me we were better off making reservations on our own. She said the best way to do it, money-wise, for a group that's coming from all over the country, is for each of us to make our own reservations for rooms and airfare. She said that combining a room rate and airfare is the best way to go. So, I checked Orbitz, Travelocity, and Besttickets and got, basically, nowhere. I checked the airfares alone and airfares and hotel combined and didn't find much of a savings at all. I checked for New York, Boston, and San Francisco. 4. I then found that the Harrah's group may be our best bet (, I didn't have time to call you about this as I promised this email for today, but what I have here is pretty straight forward.) Harrah's owns many sites in Vegas, including Paris, Bally's, Caesar's, (all 4 star) and the Flamingo (3 stars so cheaper, see above) and several restaurants in town. We may be best off with each of us staying where we please at one of the 4 star, or choosing the Flamingo at $150-$160 per night per room, with some doubling up, and finding, through Harrah's, a private room at the Flaming for dinner and brunch, or perhaps one of Harrah's other restaurants for our dinner and brunch. But remember, when you go off site, you may have taxi fares to pay. and I agree that what this all means is that our pick for date is the weekend of Sept 8th. We will need to send a deposit for anywhere we hold a private room for dinner/brunch. will collect the money and send it to the venue. She and I will contribute $100 each and we want two others to take part in this. Of course, all four would need to be re-reimbursed by the rest of the group. Assuming the venue requires payment up front for the dinner and brunch, will collect that money and send it, too. She would need to have the money from each of us no later than 3 weeks before it's due to the hotel/restaurant. Bottom line of all this money stuff is that we need to make a decision, now, about whether we are really going to do it. Nobody wants to lay out any money unless we know there is a commitment to doing his. As for the date, we realize that there will be people who cannot come that weekend. Which will be the case no matter what weekend we pick, so no date can be perfect. Also, the expenses for everyone will vary depending on the cost of their airfare. It's going to be a lot cheaper for people on the west coast to come to Vegas than for those of us on the east coast. The only way to make that fair is to say that the next venue, for the 2nd national get-together, should be on the east coast. Then, the time after that, midway between, but you get my drift. As for the hotel rates, while they are not cheap in Vegas, , realize that the cost of a Hampton Inn or Holiday In Express in Podunk places is about $90 per night now and we want much more for our facility than what those offer. So, and I agree that the first order of business is the date. And we have chosen the weekend of Sept 8 and 9. So, now that we have the date we need everyone to make a commitment about whether they will come. And we need at least two people to agree, besides me and , to send money for a deposit on a private room for dinner and brunch, probably about $100 each for a total $400 deposit. Once we know the answers to these three things: the date, commitment to come, and the deposit money, we can move ahead. I will be out of town from this coming Tuesday to Sunday, May 7th (BTW, staying at a Hampton Inn in Dayton for AAA rate of $90 per night.) So, if we can have a definite answer from each of you as to the date, your commitment to come, and two to volunteer to contribute for the deposit, then we'll move ahead when I return. I hope all this is okay so far. Bonnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 Marty, Thank you. :-) Bonnie [ ] Re: NATIONAL GET TOGETHER Hi , I have used Paypal many times to buy things online. There is a small fee to the "Seller" or receiver, in this case would be you or Bonnie. But it would be simple for everyone to "pay their own fee". I went to the Paypal site and found out the fee is 2.9% of the amount sent PLUS .30 cents... So, for $50. would be +$1.50, +0.30. If everyone sent $51.80, they would cover their own fee for the convenience for a $50. credit. Of course, people could mail payment to you, spending the cost of a stamp instead, but would have to be prompt in sending it out to perhaps meet a deadline date. Personally, for all the effort you and Bonnie are doing, I think it is important for others to "make the committment". -Marty --- " Kirkaldie" <.Kirkaldie@...> wrote: Dear Marty,Have you used Paypal and how does it work, sounds like a great idea to me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 and Bonnie, Thanks for all the work you are putting into this! I really do hope to attend, and agree that the 15th thru the 15th are out for good reason. Could we at least consider the late october dates as well for the moment? I am a very doubtful attendee the weekend of the 8th. Of course, if this is the date it has to be...we will stick with it....but as it sounds like we still haven't nailed a hotel/rate perhaps one of these other hotels you are considering are less expensive and thus the " high " season rate would not be a deterrant? Either way I support you guys 100% in all you are doing and can't wait to hear the final " plan " . Take Care, Cam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 I, too, would prefer late October. I emailed Bonnie to say that 8 Sept is out for me - I'll be at a conference in St. Louis. However, if it works best for the rest, I'll be OK. Thank you two for working on this. I know it's a big, big job! kam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 Hi , My toes are not the only ones involved, so don't worry about stepping on mine! No ego here. I've never heard of the Fitzgerald, but I'm certainly willing to consider anyplace and I'd love not to be the only one looking into places, so go right ahead. Good info about the shuttles; thanks. Let's make sure to put that in our next email to the whole group. I am definitely going on Friday. Otherwise, going on Saturday from where I live would keep me awake for a good 20 hours or so on Sat, and no way I can do that! I've been to shows in Vegas and they are awesome! Look into Danny Ganz as a possibility. He is a very, very funny comedian and impersonator, so good that he has his own theater in one of the hotels. He's been in Vegas for years and years and only performs there. But there are so many other shows. Maybe a group of early " arrivees " (I think I just created a word :-) ). would like to do dinner and or a late show or an early dinner show Friday night. I have to give that some thought for me - depends on how early I have to get to an airport on Friday morning. So, bottom line, please do look into the Fitzgerald. When I get back (leaving tomorrow morning, returning Sunday) I'll check into the Tropicana and other Harrah's places so we have some comparison. If anything else comes up while I'm away and you want to deal with it, go right ahead. I'll back you with any decisions or whatever, you make. Thanks. Bonnie [ ] NATIONAL GET TOGETHER Hi Everyone, As most of you know, and I have been the "Committee" looking into a group get together in Las Vegas in Sept/Oct. I've done considerable research and conferred closely with . This is what we have so far: 1. The date: The weekend beginning Friday, Sept 1 is out because it is Labor Day weekend which would make rates more expensive. The following weekend beginning Friday Sept 8 is good. I can't attend the weekend after, Sept 15th and if I'm spending so much time and effort working on this, I'd at least like to attend. The next weekend, Sept 22 is Rosh Hashanah and the weekend after that involves Yom Kippur, both of which are the holiest days of the year for Jewish people who would not be able to attend. The following weekend, October 13th, is the weekend that rates all over Las Vegas go up considerably. The time before that is considered off-season so it's cheaper. So that weekend and the rest of October would be out. The bottom line is that we picked the weekend of Friday, September 8th. To summarize, that's the only weekend in Sept/Oct that is still off-season and does not involve a national holiday or a religious holiday (except for Sept 15th weekend when I cannot attend. If that weekend is considered better for everyone else than the 8th, then I'll back out of the trip). 2. Hotel. Not an easy choice. Las Vegas is not so cheap anymore. The 4 star hotels in the midst of everything on the strip like Paris, Bally's, Caesar's, etc. are in the 200 + range per night. Friday night is cheaper than Saturday night. The room rate is the same for one or two people. So, it would be feasible to stay there for close to $100 per night if you share a room (probably a bit more). Then I had a few conversations with the event manager at the Golden Nugget, a 4 star hotel downtown. The fact that it's downtown makes it a lot cheaper. There, you could have a room for $109 per night + 11% room tax for a total of $129, single or double occupancy. They have a room for us for a private dinner Saturday night and brunch Sunday morning. We'd have the rooms for as long as we like. We would have to give them a specific menu choice, one for the whole group. The cheapest dinner on the menu is chicken scaloppini over pasta, salad and dessert included, for $39 per person including 7.75% tax and 18% gratuity. The cheapest brunch is roughly $25 per person. There is no shuttle from the airport. The big problem, really big, is that the pool area is under renovation. It is closed now and scheduled to re-open at the end of August. Personally, I think construction delays are inevitable so I don't think we could count on the pool being open by Sept 8th. There would be no reduction in rates if the pool is closed. For discussion purposes only, let's assume for a minute that we chose the Golden Nugget. We would have to send them, immediately, $400 to hold the private room. They will not save it for us until they get the money. Then, we would have to give them $90% of our expected expenditures, for dinner and brunch, at least 30 days before the event. Figure on at least $1800. They will hold a block of rooms until 30 days before the weekend. and I are both willing to give $100 each, now, towards the $400 deposit. volunteered to collect that money and send it to the hotel. The hotel will deal with only one person. We cannot send them 4 $100 checks. Three of us would have to send $100 each, she would add her own 100 and send the hotel one check. We would have to figure out how to collect the money for the 90% food deposit due 30 days beofre the event, and by what date, so that would not be left holding the bag. Personally, I think the possible lack of a pool will nix this hotel as our choice, but I think the procedure will be the same for whichever hotel we choose. When I planned my son's rehearsal dinner and Sunday wedding brunch in Chicago, the procedure (up front expenses) was the same that was described to me by Orrin, the event manager at the Golden Nugget. 3. I called the AAA travel department and spoke with one of their travel agents. She told me we were better off making reservations on our own. She said the best way to do it, money-wise, for a group that's coming from all over the country, is for each of us to make our own reservations for rooms and airfare. She said that combining a room rate and airfare is the best way to go. So, I checked Orbitz, Travelocity, and Besttickets and got, basically, nowhere. I checked the airfares alone and airfares and hotel combined and didn't find much of a savings at all. I checked for New York, Boston, and San Francisco. 4. I then found that the Harrah's group may be our best bet (, I didn't have time to call you about this as I promised this email for today, but what I have here is pretty straight forward.) Harrah's owns many sites in Vegas, including Paris, Bally's, Caesar's, (all 4 star) and the Flamingo (3 stars so cheaper, see above) and several restaurants in town. We may be best off with each of us staying where we please at one of the 4 star, or choosing the Flamingo at $150-$160 per night per room, with some doubling up, and finding, through Harrah's, a private room at the Flaming for dinner and brunch, or perhaps one of Harrah's other restaurants for our dinner and brunch. But remember, when you go off site, you may have taxi fares to pay. and I agree that what this all means is that our pick for date is the weekend of Sept 8th. We will need to send a deposit for anywhere we hold a private room for dinner/brunch. will collect the money and send it to the venue. She and I will contribute $100 each and we want two others to take part in this. Of course, all four would need to be re-reimbursed by the rest of the group. Assuming the venue requires payment up front for the dinner and brunch, will collect that money and send it, too. She would need to have the money from each of us no later than 3 weeks before it's due to the hotel/restaurant. Bottom line of all this money stuff is that we need to make a decision, now, about whether we are really going to do it. Nobody wants to lay out any money unless we know there is a commitment to doing his. As for the date, we realize that there will be people who cannot come that weekend. Which will be the case no matter what weekend we pick, so no date can be perfect. Also, the expenses for everyone will vary depending on the cost of their airfare. It's going to be a lot cheaper for people on the west coast to come to Vegas than for those of us on the east coast. The only way to make that fair is to say that the next venue, for the 2nd national get-together, should be on the east coast. Then, the time after that, midway between, but you get my drift. As for the hotel rates, while they are not cheap in Vegas, , realize that the cost of a Hampton Inn or Holiday In Express in Podunk places is about $90 per night now and we want much more for our facility than what those offer. So, and I agree that the first order of business is the date. And we have chosen the weekend of Sept 8 and 9. So, now that we have the date we need everyone to make a commitment about whether they will come. And we need at least two people to agree, besides me and , to send money for a deposit on a private room for dinner and brunch, probably about $100 each for a total $400 deposit. Once we know the answers to these three things: the date, commitment to come, and the deposit money, we can move ahead. I will be out of town from this coming Tuesday to Sunday, May 7th (BTW, staying at a Hampton Inn in Dayton for AAA rate of $90 per night.) So, if we can have a definite answer from each of you as to the date, your commitment to come, and two to volunteer to contribute for the deposit, then we'll move ahead when I return. I hope all this is okay so far. Bonnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 no, I have not stayed there. After somebody suggested the Golden Nugget and the downtown area, I did a couple of searches for the downtown area. First, I think I looked at travelocity and they had some decent package prices (like around $500 for airfare and 2 nights at the Golden Nugget) and they also had some other downtown hotels. I checked out the Four Queens, because that is where my friend will be perfoming on Thursdays - Sundays and I thought it would be nice if we could all go see his show. But, the Four Queens doesn't have a pool, so I searched using expedia and their map feature. Fitzgeralds is listed as having a pool and it is not too far from the Four Queens. I realize that my rationale may be a bit unique since a lot of folks here may not be as excited about seeing King Errisson, the greatest conga drummer in the world, perform. http://www.kingerrisson.com http://www.myspace.com/kingerrisson > >> > >> Hi Everyone, > >> > >> As most of you know, and I have been the " Committee " looking > > into a group get together in Las Vegas in Sept/Oct. I've done > > considerable research and conferred closely with . This is > > what we have so far: > >> > >> 1. The date: The weekend beginning Friday, Sept 1 is out because > > it is Labor Day weekend which would make rates more expensive. The > > following weekend beginning Friday Sept 8 is good. I can't attend > > the weekend after, Sept 15th and if I'm spending so much time and > > effort working on this, I'd at least like to attend. The next > > weekend, Sept 22 is Rosh Hashanah and the weekend after that > > involves Yom Kippur, both of which are the holiest days of the year > > for Jewish people who would not be able to attend. The following > > weekend, October 13th, is the weekend that rates all over Las Vegas > > go up considerably. The time before that is considered off- season so > > it's cheaper. So that weekend and the rest of October would be > > out. The bottom line is that we picked the weekend of Friday, > > September 8th. To summarize, that's the only weekend in Sept/Oct > > that is still off-season and does not involve a national holiday or > > a religious holiday (except for Sept 15th weekend when I cannot > > attend. If that weekend is considered better for everyone else than > > the 8th, then I'll back out of the trip). > >> > >> 2. Hotel. Not an easy choice. Las Vegas is not so cheap > > anymore. The 4 star hotels in the midst of everything on the strip > > like Paris, Bally's, Caesar's, etc. are in the 200 + range per > > night. Friday night is cheaper than Saturday night. The room rate > > is the same for one or two people. So, it would be feasible to stay > > there for close to $100 per night if you share a room (probably a > > bit more). Then I had a few conversations with the event manager at > > the Golden Nugget, a 4 star hotel downtown. The fact that it's > > downtown makes it a lot cheaper. There, you could have a room for > > $109 per night + 11% room tax for a total of $129, single or double > > occupancy. They have a room for us for a private dinner Saturday > > night and brunch Sunday morning. We'd have the rooms for as long as > > we like. We would have to give them a specific menu choice, one for > > the whole group. The cheapest dinner on the menu is chicken > > scaloppini over pasta, salad and dessert included, for $39 per > > person including 7.75% tax and 18% gratuity. The cheapest brunch is > > roughly $25 per person. There is no shuttle from the airport. The > > big problem, really big, is that the pool area is under renovation. > > It is closed now and scheduled to re-open at the end of August. > > Personally, I think construction delays are inevitable so I don't > > think we could count on the pool being open by Sept 8th. There > > would be no reduction in rates if the pool is closed. > >> > >> For discussion purposes only, let's assume for a minute that we > > chose the Golden Nugget. We would have to send them, immediately, > > $400 to hold the private room. They will not save it for us until > > they get the money. Then, we would have to give them $90% of our > > expected expenditures, for dinner and brunch, at least 30 days > > before the event. Figure on at least $1800. They will hold a block > > of rooms until 30 days before the weekend. and I are both > > willing to give $100 each, now, towards the $400 deposit. > > volunteered to collect that money and send it to the hotel. The > > hotel will deal with only one person. We cannot send them 4 $100 > > checks. Three of us would have to send $100 each, she would > > add her own 100 and send the hotel one check. We would have to > > figure out how to collect the money for the 90% food deposit due 30 > > days beofre the event, and by what date, so that would not be > > left holding the bag. Personally, I think the possible lack of a > > pool will nix this hotel as our choice, but I think the procedure > > will be the same for whichever hotel we choose. When I planned my > > son's rehearsal dinner and Sunday wedding brunch in Chicago, the > > procedure (up front expenses) was the same that was described to me > > by Orrin, the event manager at the Golden Nugget. > >> > >> 3. I called the AAA travel department and spoke with one of their > > travel agents. She told me we were better off making reservations > > on our own. She said the best way to do it, money-wise, for a > > group that's coming from all over the country, is for each of us to > > make our own reservations for rooms and airfare. She said that > > combining a room rate and airfare is the best way to go. So, I > > checked Orbitz, Travelocity, and Besttickets and got, basically, > > nowhere. I checked the airfares alone and airfares and hotel > > combined and didn't find much of a savings at all. I checked for > > New York, Boston, and San Francisco. > >> > >> 4. I then found that the Harrah's group may be our best bet > > (, I didn't have time to call you about this as I promised this > > email for today, but what I have here is pretty straight forward.) > > Harrah's owns many sites in Vegas, including Paris, Bally's, > > Caesar's, (all 4 star) and the Flamingo (3 stars so cheaper, see > > above) and several restaurants in town. We may be best off with > > each of us staying where we please at one of the 4 star, or choosing > > the Flamingo at $150-$160 per night per room, with some doubling up, > > and finding, through Harrah's, a private room at the Flaming for > > dinner and brunch, or perhaps one of Harrah's other restaurants for > > our dinner and brunch. But remember, when you go off site, you may > > have taxi fares to pay. > >> > >> > >> and I agree that what this all means is that our pick for > > date is the weekend of Sept 8th. We will need to send a deposit for > > anywhere we hold a private room for dinner/brunch. will > > collect the money and send it to the venue. She and I will > > contribute $100 each and we want two others to take part in this. > > Of course, all four would need to be re-reimbursed by the rest of > > the group. Assuming the venue requires payment up front for the > > dinner and brunch, will collect that money and send it, too. > > She would need to have the money from each of us no later than 3 > > weeks before it's due to the hotel/restaurant. Bottom line of all > > this money stuff is that we need to make a decision, now, about > > whether we are really going to do it. Nobody wants to lay out any > > money unless we know there is a commitment to doing his. As for > > the date, we realize that there will be people who cannot come that > > weekend. Which will be the case no matter what weekend we pick, so > > no date can be perfect. Also, the expenses for everyone will vary > > depending on the cost of their airfare. It's going to be a lot > > cheaper for people on the west coast to come to Vegas than for those > > of us on the east coast. The only way to make that fair is to say > > that the next venue, for the 2nd national get-together, should be on > > the east coast. Then, the time after that, midway between, but you > > get my drift. As for the hotel rates, while they are not cheap in > > Vegas, , realize that the cost of a Hampton Inn or Holiday In > > Express in Podunk places is about $90 per night now and we want much > > more for our facility than what those offer. > >> > >> So, and I agree that the first order of business is the > > date. And we have chosen the weekend of Sept 8 and 9. So, now that > > we have the date we need everyone to make a commitment about whether > > they will come. And we need at least two people to agree, besides > > me and , to send money for a deposit on a private room > > for dinner and brunch, probably about $100 each for a total $400 > > deposit. Once we know the answers to these three things: the date, > > commitment to come, and the deposit money, we can move ahead. > >> > >> I will be out of town from this coming Tuesday to Sunday, May 7th > > (BTW, staying at a Hampton Inn in Dayton for AAA rate of $90 per > > night.) So, if we can have a definite answer from each of you as to > > the date, your commitment to come, and two to volunteer to > > contribute for the deposit, then we'll move ahead when I return. > >> > >> I hope all this is okay so far. > >> > >> Bonnie > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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