From: Annie (annie@geekbabe.com)
Date: Wed Jun 09 2004 - 07:51:10 CDT
In this mailing:
Org List
Lots of activity
Julie and Laughlin
Dates and timeframe
DLV 2005 dates
A comment on the golf
Fremont activity and golf
Bars and schedule
Dates and schedules
Schedules
Dates and thoughts
Ball(room) activity
Administrivia
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Org List:
This is the DLV 2005 Organizational Mailing List (dlvorg@geekbabe.com)
Replies to this message will be forwarded to the DLVORG list and not
the DLV-Announce or DLV-Discuss list.
Ongoing activity database appears on the web at:
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Lots of activity:
Another long mailing.
Lots of very good discussion, as you will see.
For those of you who have been quiet so far, please feel free to jump
in. We don't bite!
I must say that I'm very impressed with the attitude and the enthusiasm
of this group so far this year. We're off to a very good start!
Keep those cards and letters coming, gang! :)
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A few of the DLV 2004 follow-up pages are now on line. This will be rolled
out on the site over the next few days.
http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/dlv2004/indexn.html
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Julie and Laughlin:
Julie writes:
>In regards to the Laughlin Run 2005, if DLV 2005 starts the 24th, then
>there will be no problem my attending. Thank you Tina for bringing it
>up.
Thanks, Julie. :)
. . . . .
... but wait, there's more!
This just came in on the main list ...
>How about a side trip driving down to Laughlin? What do you think?
Julie, how well do you think the group would be received there?
I haven't been to Laughlin for a while. Other than gaming and a small
outlet mall, I can't really remember any other attractions. In fact, the
most memorable thing I can easily think of was feeding the feral cats on
the rocks behind the Edgewater. :)
What all is going on in Laughlin during that time? Will there be very
many bikers staying over the next week?
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Dates and timeframe:
Jamie writes:
>As for dates, I like the last week in April.
That timeframe seems to be the one that has the most support, so far,
anyway.
>I also did like the structure of 2003, where we started on Monday and
>finished on Sunday.
>That gave us a good Sunday to have the Tea at the 4 Seasons, which I
>liked better than the Tea Room.
I've made some comments about the starting and ending in an item below.
Rather than say the same thing twice I kinda combined all of my thoughts
about it there.
>I also think that a group get together would be good for everyone.
>There are so few events where we all get together, in a well lit
>enviroment, so that we can get to know each other better.
Of all of the callings this year, it seems like this is one of the
louder ones -- to have one activity of absolute maximum turnout and
participation. One that allows contact between almost everyone who
is attending.
As most everybody knows, we haven't had the entire DLV group in one
place at one time since 1997, and in later years we've never had more
than 60-70% of our people in one place at one time.
It's gonna be up to us to put on our collective thinking caps and come
up with something that indeed draws greater than 70% of our attendees.
The way I see it, it will have to be something toward the end of the
middle of the week, like Wednesday-Thursday, while we have our peak
in-town attendance (IIRC it was Thursday this year) and before burn-out
or wear-out occurs. Scheduling for maximum turnout is gonna be the easy
part.
The hard part is coming up with a theme and venue that will cover the
desires and interests of people on all points of our multi-dimensional
spectrum.
Quite honestly, I'm questioning whether the "rented ballroom" concept
can do this. If this has any air of seclusion to it, I can see it
discouraging the attendance of our "go more mainstream" contingent.
Ball(room) fans, please don't take me wrong here. I'm not questioning
the ball(room) idea itself, I'm just questioning that it's the magic
bullet that will get almost all of our people together.
Anything that gets more than 70% of our people together will have to
have a killer theme and be in a venue that appeals to all.
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DLV 2005 dates:
Tootsye writes:
>Being such a shy quite person, I hesitate to jump in on the date issue
>so quickly, but I will anyway. I weigh in on your first suggestion,
>{Sunday}, April 24, through {Saturday}, April 30th.
You? Shy? :)
Yes, that one (last week in April) seems to be the bandwagon that most
are jumping on.
(and please correct me if I incorrectly corrected some typos there)
>I have three reasons for this:
>l. It accomodates the ones who travel for the electronics thingy!
>2. We stayed in a delightful condo for 2004 and the dates for that run
>from Saturday noon to Saturday Noon. So the 24 through the 30th. suits
>us too!
>3. The church service is more attractive at the beginning of the DLV
>than at the end. Everyone is fresh and eager on the first Sunday and
>probably tired and grumpy or at least sad at the end!
Ahhhhh, that's the word I was looking for when I was saying why I
preferred to do the day trips toward the beginning of the affair,
"fresh", and I thing that says a lot. There is the burnout, or just
the wear-out factor to contend with.
I agree that the enthusuasm is high and the attitudes are, yes, fresh
toward the beginning.
As I think over the choice between beginning on Sunday or ending on
Sunday, I'm leaning toward the Sunday start as the better option. As you
say, it's fresh enthusiasm for such things as church and high tea,
should those who coordinate that choose to hold it on Sunday.
Should we end on a Sunday, I don't envision a strong possibility of a
strong ending with an uptick, I envision it more of a fizzle-out day,
with many departing, and many of those staying just choosing to take it
easy and skipping planned activities due to wear-out.
If we want an uptick ending, I think our best chance for it is on a
Saturday. Leave the following Sunday for an off-the-schedule wind-down
day for those who choose to stay, and who have the desire and the energy
to participate.
I do think that "uptick" describes what we want to do more so that "big
bang" as we discussed last year. A quality set of activities that has
a broad appeal and some degree of excitement.
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A comment on the golf:
Mindy writes:
>the only input i got regarding 2 golfs was that we have a 2nd golf
>outing at another time of the year perhaps along with another event.
I know you have mentioned that you wanted to do some kind of a TG golf
thing in the fall.
If this happens, I see this as something in addition to, and not in
place of any of the golf activities at DLV, and it's really out of the
scope of the DLV planning.
>i think 2 golf outing during diva would be a bit much unless we
>consider (and if someone wishs to org this i wont mind) would be a
>putting golf outing.. there is a wonderful grass putting course near
>the strip.
I'm not a golfer, so I really don't know how much golf is too much
golf. That's really for the golfers, individually and collectively,
to decide.
Golf is one of our high points. The golf activity has always been very
popular and highly rated. The one thing I would hate to see is the
enthusiasm for the golf session be diluted if two of them were
happening during DLV.
Somebody did suggest miniature golf. I'm sure this is not what you
have in mind for a putting course, but maybe there's a compromise
here.
Also, a putting course might appeal to those who want to do some
golf, but don't want to spend the whole day on 19 holes.
Since golf is almost always a daytime activity, I don't envision a
second round of golf competing for participants with any of our other
major activities.
A putting-only session could start later in the day, so there would be
less calling to take it easy on prior-evening activities.
>there was however discussion about changing the golf format to a
>scramble. this would allow more involvement by the marginal golfers
>and make the new slogan for golf more fitting "It's Not How Good You
>Play, But How Good You Look".
I admit, I'm hard-pressed to even come up with a definition of
"scramble" as it applies to golf, so I can't give an opinion here. As
I've said always, it will be the golfers, and those who volunteer to
coordinate the golf session(s) to determine the particulars.
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Fremont activity and golf:
Lorraine writes:
>i like the idea of the freemont area i have stayed at the four queens
>and they serve good food
>parking would be a problem in this area possibly
Parking is an issue downtown, and IMAO that's one reason that downtown
is lagging behind the forward progress of the Strip and off-Strip
casinos.
Most casinos do have some kind of a lot, but very few of them have
totally open parking. Most of them have some kind of limit or validation
requirement. Some (Fremont) are as easy as a self-serve timestamp, but
some others (Fitz) require a wait on line (which can be long and slow)
at the players club booth.
Last I recall, Main St. Station and Lady Luck (both off Fremont) were
the only ones having open no-hoop-jump parking.
>i would like an evening in one of the casinos i did this year but its
>not much fun by your self
We've had a proposal on the schedule for some kind of a "Casino Night"
many times. It only happened once that I'm aware of, that being with a
smaller group in 1998 at the Imperial Palace.
There have been many cases where smaller groups of our people have done
the casino thing off the schedule, sometimes extending well into the
next morning. :)
>perhaps the paris
>this one has a lot to offer and is easy to get to with good parking.
Paris, as with most Strip casinos, does have comparatively easy parking.
>the golf is my favourite but two days i feel could spoil it
>how about one day with nine hole scramble and then 18 after a light
>snack this would mean we would finish about 3.30pm if we started about
>8.30 am?
That sounds to me like a very intense day. If you say end at 3:30, I'm
sure you're not including the obligatory 19th. hole and such, or the
ride back, which will hit evening rush. Realistically, that puts the
golfers back at their hotels in the 6-ish range, facing a major
freshen-up session if they do indeed have the energy for the evening
activities.
Golfers?
>i love golf if anyone wanted to play more could we just arrange it with
>golf course as a seperete item not dlv?
There is nothing stopping any group of people from scheduling this or any
other activity separate from the "official" DLV activities.
The big problem with these additional activities is that the word often
times does not get effectively passed and some get left out.
>as for dates in england we have a lot of holidays around this time so i
>dont mind when you have it i will be there.
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Bars and schedule:
Anya writes:
>>... Yes, we need a few large group activities in places where
>>ALL will feel comfortable.
>Such is true. We do need to locate venues that all of us will feel
>comfortable in. However there is no need to restrict those venues to
>gay bars.
If more mainstream bar activities are to happen, those who want this to
happen will have to begin the process by making some preliminary and
specific suggestion.
It's not too early to begin this process, so I say to those who have it
as a priority for DLV 2005 to have more mainstream bar activities,
please either make suggestions from the venues you already are familiar
with and/or begin the search for these places.
>>1. Sunday, April 24th. thru Saturday, April 30. (A variation on this
>>theme might be Monday, April 25 thru Sunday, May 1.)
>I have april 24-30, 2005 scheduled off. This would work best for me.
I hope it's not premature. That timeframe is the one that seems to have
the most support so far, but it ain't a done deal yet.
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Dates and schedules:
Sarah writes:
>Dates - Count me in for the end of April. Cooler, but windy right?
Yes, it can be cooler during the last week in April than the first week
in May, but it can be warmer. It can be more windy than the first week
in May, it can be calmer.
/me throws a green chip onto the table and yells out "Boxcars!"
Statistically, yes, it will be 1-2 degrees cooler, but YMMV! :)
. . . . .
>Activity Mix. I like the idea of having an opportunity to visit folks
>informally every other day or so. There were girls I wanted to chat
>with, but only saw them as we ran from event to event. I did find that
>chance at Lunch with Ginger, but the number of girls was limited.
Yes, there seems to be a demand for a good regular dose of that Quality
Social Time<tm> whether or not they call it that. :)
I do think a regular lunch and happy hour do this somewhat, but there
is a calling to have exposure to more of the people in our group.
>I noticed in the proposed schedule having the Limo Tour on Saturday
>night.
Whoa there! :) You're getting in front of the bandwagon here! :)
That schedule was just Michelle's straw man rough example. We haven't
even set the DLV dates, and won't for some time.
We won't begin the process of plugging activities into timeslots until
after that happens.
However (comma) ...
>Will the crowds that inhabit Vegas on the weekend make it more
>difficult to hit all the places we would like in a reasonable time?
Probably. The Strip can be impossibly congested during the week, and
even more so on the weekend.
I also have a feeling that there's far more of a demand for limos on
Saturday evening, although I don't know if they cost more then or not.
There are up and down sides to almost any scheduling decision. It will
really be primarily up to those who plan the Limo Tour to pick a day and
time for it, subject to the approval of the group here, of course.
>I shouldn't even ask that question after seeing how well this year
>went. I'm sure Tootsie and Jamie will be able to handle just about
>anything thrown their way.
They did an excellent job. I was very impressed, and the feedback
does confirm that it was very highly regarded.
I've gotta admit, the Limo Tour is one activity that I look forward
to each year, and this year's seemed to go exceptionally well.
>Can anyone think of a way to get the word out for "ad hoc" make up
>activities? Since I got in after the Thrift Store shopping tour, I
>ended up going by myself. This won't work for something like the boat
>tour or the shows, but shopping or even other gallery trips could be
>done like that. Just a question to chew over between now and next
>year.
Hmmm ... make-up activities?
>I could still be talked into doing something in costume, but I'd hate
>to have it turn in to something that would reflect poorly on the
>general high standard DLV strives for.
Costumes are just fine, when and where appropriate. The use of costumes
or other unconventional dress will only reflect poorly upon us if it's
under inappropriate circumstances.
>I guess that would mean finding a location that was not Mainstream.
>Rocky Horror??
But ... some might argue that Rocky Horror is quite mainstream. :)
>Other things in the mix so far that attract my attention include, Rio
>and their sky carnival, one of the other rides short of a roller
>coaster, and another shot at getting a large group of secretaries or
>office professionals together.
>Did I mention NSD-II? I think it means Nothing Short of Delightful.
Very good. File that in long-term memory. :) Yes, it looks like NSD-II
will indeed happen in one form or another.
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Schedules:
Densie writes:
>>>1. Sunday, April 24th. thru Saturday, April 30.
>Works for me. As long as it doesn't overlap a race...I haven't figured
>out how to be in two places at once yet. Last time I tried it, my ass
>ended up in one place and me in another...and everyone kept asking me
>how I did on my last business deal.
>I know, I'm fired...
Uh ...
>>Laughlin River Run affects only one of our people. Julie,
>It might affect me if I have to drive through it with the coach, but
>maybe I can come up on Friday or something.
LOL - Friday would be worse than Saturday or Sunday. I thought you could
drive across Hoover Dam with that thing.
IIRC there's another not so well known bridge just south of Laughlin
that runs right into the Avi {I can't begin to spell the full name of
that property} casino grounds.
>>#include <densie-rusty-bicycle.h>
>Hmm...I don't know if I can still promise that one or not. Bicycles
>don't seem to last long around my house.
>http://www.admaero.com/densie/funeral/pics/junkparts2.jpg
>>And ... we actually did Liberace Museum back in 1997.
>Hey, that's before my time.
But you were invited that year!
>>Where outdoors?
> >"What happens in Unincorporated Clark County stays in Unincorporated
> >Clark County"
>
> I wonder who told you that one. :)
>Tagline theft...a nasty habit I picked up on Arfnet.
LOL. I'm glad there are some people here who get it when I say that
1:285/666 was a devil of a system! :)
Right, Captain? :) :)
>>Ok, I've got this on the list, calling it "Ballroom Activity" for now
>>with you as the coordinator.
>Can we have the "No Ballroom Activity" where we wear tight skirts?
>I know..."I can't believe she used THAT joke!"
(ba-da-BING!) Hey, does that mean you're opening for Kenny Kerr when
they finally get their new show? :)
Speaking of which ... LOL - I wonder if anybody actually looked at all
of the photos in the NSD staging area, particularly some of those that
do not appear on the final page. :)
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Dates and thoughts:
Yvonne writes:
>> Sunday, April 24th. thru Saturday, April 30.
>Those dates are best for me also.
>There may or may not have a gun show during dlv '05. For at least the
>last two years, the gun show has usually been the 2nd weekend of May.
>If dlv was to start May 7th, then there is a possibility of the gun show
>again coincide with dlv.
DLV can't start on May 7th. Mothers Day is the 8th. Closest we could get
would be a start on Monday the 9th., but as you know the support seems
to be for the last week in April.
If the gun show is indeed synchronized to the second weekend in May, it
may be off limits to us from now on, since we can no longer schedule
anything on Mothers Day (second Sunday in May) or on the 2 days prior to
Mothers Day.
>I would also like to see dlv end better.... have some kind of evening
>- late night simple activity that marks the end of dlv on a high note
>... like a not-too expensive mainstream show or nice non-buffet dinner
>somewhere or both, or casino-hopping.
What is universally desired is for some kind of high-note ending for
DLV, as opposed to a fizzle-out. As I think back, DLV has often times,
too many times, had a fizzle-out ending.
I'm one who wants to see this change.
I am thinking that the fizzle-out ending has two causes:
1. Lack of killer activities.
2. Burn-out/wear-out factors.
For those who burn the midnight oil the previous week, they may just be
too tired for most anything.
(/me puts on Beds Are Burning and cranks it!)
For those who are not used to remaining in girlmode for several days at
a time, they may wearing out from the unusual routine, although I doubt
that many will admit it. :) :) :)
I'm thinking that in order to counteract the burn/wear-out factor, the
killer activities will have to be more-so on our final evening, like
something that they will never want to miss.
>For some, the last night of dlv is their last night in LV.
>Several problems with this.... all of us who go to dlv arrive and leave
>on different days. Some are gone by saturday, or leave saturday
>afternoon or evening. Some or many venture to do other things than what
>dlv is offering. Many gotta make time to re-pack. So I'm not sure of the
>numbers that would turn out for the event.
If we had a well-planned and popular activity for the last evening,
something with broad appeal that's not too expensive, I don't envision
any problem getting most of the Teeming Millions out to it.
>Also what exactly to do, some would like a non-buffet economical
>mainstream location dinner, some a buffet dinner,
Buffets have several advantages. One is that they (many of them, anyway)
can easily absorb 50-100 extra bodies without prior arrangements.
Another is that most of them will have something that everybody likes,
or at least something that most will be willing to eat. :) It gets
around such things as group reservations, prepayment, and limited menus.
>some a tg or
>mainstream bar, some a tg or mainstream show, some gambling, some
>karaoke, some dancing, some casino hopping/sight seeing, etc.
I don't think the answer here is so much WHAT to plan, but how it's
planned and how it's planned to appeal to a broad audience on what
will be the last evening in LV for many of them.
>Yes the planner will need to pick and chose whatever they want to do
>out from the many options.
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Ball(room) activity:
Diane (AZ) writes:
>In reply to the comment below, I too will help coordinate a ballroom
>activity. The first part is an email response from AM studios ...
>Did my 5/26 not get received ? I'm not saying we should use them but,
>I'm willing to put down the necessary money (Min 8 people) to make
>SOMETHING like this a go.
I thought this response was copied to this list in an earlier mailing.
In any case, here it is ...
+"What a fun group it must be! And, yes, we would be happy to arrange a
+private group class for your members. Our usual rate is $15 per person
+(min. of 8 people). We can teach you any dance you would like from
+Swing to Salsa and since it would be a private group, you would be able
+to schedule it at a time that would be convenient for you. Keep us in
+mind for your next trip.
I have you and Tawni down for some kind of a ballroom thing. Please
propose either one or more activities along the ball(room) line that
you think the group would like.
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Administrivia:
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