[dlvorg] Moving along with planning ...

In this mailing:

Org List
Moving along
Joann's Thoughts
Reviewing the schedule
Up up and away
Show and clubbing
Shooting
Pawn Stars visit
PF Chang
Pole Position and scavenging
Working schedule
Administrivia
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Org List:

This is the DLV 2013 Organizational Mailing List (dlvorg_at_geekbabe.com)
Replies to this message will be forwarded to the DLVORG list and not
the DLV-Announce or DLV-Discuss list.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Moving along:

Very good start, gang! :)

Thanks to all who have planned or proposed activities! Please
continue. We have some new and unique proposals this year!

Special thanks go out to Cynthia and Beverly for proactively making
the plans for our two major gatherings! :)

Please continue with plans on your various activities.

If you don't have a clue as to what to propose or organize, please
let us know and we'll offer some suggestions.
. . . . .

All of you who are planning activities which do not yet have an
assigned timeslot, please select (at least tentative) timeslots
so we can get a better picture of how the schedule as a whole is
shaping up.
. . . . .

Lots of activity lately in the DLV Discussion Forum regarding such
things as pole dancing, hotels, and who's a "Brit". :)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Joann's Thoughts:

Yes, the "Activity Train" is quickly "hooking up its cars" for another
great Diva Gathering. Now is a time to continue tossing out ideas.

At the same time, if you would like someone to call for assistance with
an activity you might like to lead it would be great to hear that, too.

On the flip side of this planning, please don't feel that unless you
lead possible activity you should not be suggesting it. This is the
"Idea Phase" so we can better go forward with the implementation of
those ideas.

That is a lot of opportunities for all of you to be a contributor to our
Diva Gathering.

Annie and I would welcome volunteers to our Limo Team. We would love to
have you join up for "Beverage Captain" and "Herding Lieutenants
(2)".... and if you want a different job title "go for it"!

JoAnn
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Reviewing the schedule:

We're asking all, both those who have volunteered to coordinate
specific activities and those who have not - so far - to please
look this item thoroughly.

If you haven't volunteered for anything specifically, now is the
time to think of what you would most like to do.
. . . . .

First, let's look at the daytime schedules and activities ...

Recurring daytime activities:

Our big recurring daytime activity is the "Lunch With" series,
which we have placed on the schedule with some placeholder venue
selections. Ginger or whoever is taking any certain day is free to
relocate.

Ginger is the default hostess, but all (how about YOU?) are free
to take one or more days. Ginger is planning on using one day to
host(ess) a combined makeover-lunch activity and I (Annie) agreed
to take the main Lunch With that day.

If we want to try a Volunteer Recognition luncheon again, we can
forego one day of Lunch With and make that our official lunch of
the day.

There's always chatter of doing Lunch With at a venue other than
a buffet. That is up to those who volunteer to host(ess) the
Lunch With sessions.

The Lunch With is also non-exclusive. If there would be, for
example, interest in a special-interest lunch venue, that could
be planned as a second-track lunch for that day.

This year we've tentatively planned for a Katie's Koffee Korner to
be a recurring morning activity. Now is the time to finalize this
and select timeslots.

We're planning on three "Newcomer Open House" (for lack of better
agreed-upon terminology) sessions on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday
afternoon. Jill will be coordinating the one on Sunday, Annie will
coordinate one of the others. We'll need a volunteer for the third
one, please.
. . . . .

One-time activities:

Most of the daytime activities are one-time.

This is where touristy, recreational, "Art Tour" and similar things
occur. Things like pole dance lessons, Pawn Stars, and ballooning
are good examples.
. . . . .

Commercial activities and open-house sessions:

We try to give each of these as much of a "clear channel" as we can,
but we can't consider these to be single-track. One thing we want
to avoid is scheduling competitors in close-together timeslots.

Studio Lites is set for Monday. For those in touch with other
vendors who want to sponsor open house sessions, please get with
the vendors and select a day and timeslot.
. . . . . . . . . .

Evening:

For several years now we've divided our evenings into three general
classes, based on what is planned for them. These classes are:

1. MAX: One primary single-track maximum-attendance gathering with
multiple prior and subsequent supporting activities.

2. ANCHOR: One or two non-exclusive primary activities with
additional supporting activities prior, concurrent, and subsequent.

3. MULTI: Multiple small or medium scale activities throughout the
evening.

Over the past few years, it's worked well to have two of each class
of evening throughout our event.
. . . . .

If we look at our evening strategy evening by evening, it's shaping
up like this ...

Sunday: MULTI (or possibly ANCHOR).

Because Sunday evening has historically been lower in participation
than any of the others, we've had this multi-track with several
dining and after-dinner options.

Monday: MAX.

We are fortunate that our big opening gathering appears to be solid
for this year.

Tuesday: MULTI or ANCHOR.

Wide open!

Wednesday: MULTI or ANCHOR.

Mostly wide open. One dining option is solid.

Thursday: ANCHOR.

Anchor activity, Limo Tour, is solid.

Friday: MAX.

Most of the evening is solid. Again, we're fortunate that our big
gathering of the evening has been taken care of!
. . . . .

We haven't had anything in the realm of self-produced performance
type activities over the past couple of years.

Another one of our less-active areas in the past few years has been
production shows.
. . . . . . . . . .

Now to go over the schedule, as it stands today, in depth. We'll
use some of the notes below to seed that dreaded Laundry List, if
necessary. :)

+Sunday, April 14:
+ 10:00am: Religious services (Metropolitan Community Church)

If this is to stay on the schedule, someone will need to "adopt"
it. Walter, who had this last year and who has first refusal
rights on it for this year, will not be present the first few days
of DLV 2013, leaving it up for grabs.

This is an easy one. Just agree to be there and welcome the other
DLVers who show up.

+ 1:00pm: Lunch With Ginger (Harrah's Buffet) - ms

All "Lunch With" venues are tentative, easily changed by those who
host(ess) them. Ginger is the default hostess, but anyone can take
over any one or more of the sessions.

+ 5:00pm: Newcomer Open House (Artisan) - ms

Sunday evening, as of this time, is mostly unplanned.

Everybody needs to eat! For Sunday evening we will need either a
number of smaller dining venues, 1-2 mid-size venues with 1-2
smaller ones, or one of a larger scale.

After dinner on Sunday is wide open!

Jill has mentioned dancing off line, but no venue/timeslot have
been selected as of this time.
. . . . .
 
+Monday, April 15:
+ 11:00am: Studio Lites Open House (Studio Lites) - sv
+ 1:00pm: Lunch With Ginger (Stratosphere Buffet) - ms

There will be room for any or multiple various activities during
Monday morning and afternoon.

+ 4:00pm: Newcomer Open House (Artisan) - ms

+ 6:00pm: Happy Hour (Artisan) - ms
+ 7:00pm: Dinner (Artisan) - ms
+ 7:30pm: Welcome Celebration (Artisan) - ms

Cynthia has made preliminary plans for our big Welcome Celebration
on Monday.

We will need at least one assistant/backup/understudy for this
role. Due to the importance of this activity, it's extremely
important that the leadership not be single-threaded.

This would be a good one for someone new to organizing our
activities. There should be no cold-calling, heavy-lifting, or
anything intense. Volunteers? :)

Let's also {sigh!} discuss the dining situation for Monday.

It's obvious that the Artisan simply does not have the "bandwidth"
in the kitchen and serving staff to handle a medium to large group
without bogging down severely.

It's also obvious that some will want to dine at the Artisan and
some of the new people may feel more comfortable in that venue.

Let's open the floor for discussion of our Monday evening dinner
strategy.

Last year we had multiple dining venues prior to the Welcome
Celebration. Some of these worked well, one in particular did
not.

We'll also need to make plans for after-WC activities. Ideas?
. . . . .

+Tuesday, April 16:
+ 9:30am: Diva Las Vegas Invitational Golf (Desert Rose) - ms

Golf is solid.

+ 1:00pm: Lunch With Ginger (LV Hotel Buffet) - ms

Still room for other daytime activities on Tuesday. Pawn Stars?

+ 5:00pm: Newcomer Open House (Artisan) - ms

Tuesday evening is wide open!

One option is for this to be our "Anything Can Happen" evening
with Eating Out Night options and Mainstream-Alternative options
to follow. Scavenger hunt? Production show? Bar crawl? Karaoke?
. . . . .
 
+Wednesday, April 17:
+ 1:00pm: Lunch With Ginger (tbd) - ms

Wednesday daytime is still wide open! Pawn Stars? Shopping?

+ 5:30pm: PF Changs Dinner (PF Chang - Planet Hollywood) - ms

Sara is planning on a PF Chang dinner as noted below.

As of this time, no plans for an EHM type of affair have been
discussed.

EHM was mentioned below. Sarah and team? Are you planning on a
three-peat for this year? If so, we'll need to get this on the
schedule ASAP, since it would be of a magnitude to influence the
turnout and participation at other activities.
. . . . .
 
+Thursday, April 18:
+ 9:00am: Pistol and Rifle Shooting (Discount Firearms) - ms
+ 1:00pm: Lunch With Ginger (Paris Buffet) - ms

Still wide open for most of Thursday daytime.

+ 9:30pm: Limousine Tour (tbd) - ms

For the past few years, dining at Trevi worked out very well prior
to the Limo Tour.

Laura T.? You have first refusal rights to coordinate a Trevi
dinner or something similar. Any plans yet?

The Charles Bar, or as with last year, the Non-Charles Bar, has been
a very successful after-limo and into early morning activity.

Gina? Any word from Charles as to whether or not he has a new public
bar at the Bellagio or an affiliated property?
. . . . .
 
+Friday, April 19:
+ 1:00pm: Lunch With Ginger (Gold Coast Buffet) - ms

Again, daytime on Friday is still wide open.

+ 6:00pm: Happy Hour (Bahama Breeze) - mv
+ 7:00pm: Farewell Dinner (Bahama Breeze) - mv
+ 8:00pm: Farewell Celebration (Bahama Breeze) - mv

Beverly has made initial plans for Bahama Breeze. We will need to
have at least one assistant/backup/understudy for this role. Again,
all of the contact and heavy lifting are done. No cold-calling,
explaining the nature of our group, etc. Volunteers?

+ 8:30pm: Official Group Photo (Bahama Breeze) - mv

The former GM of Artisan recommended their pool area for a setting
for a large group photo. However, the logistics of getting all
out there and assembled are horrendous! It's very unlikely that
a majority of the group would show up at a stand-alone "Official
Group Photo" activity, so it's best to do such a photo at one of
the "choke points"

Most agree that the Neonopolis photos were the better set last year
but that venue will not be used this year. The Artisan pool area
would offer a better background than BB, but there would be a very
significant challenge in getting people out and assembled. A guess,
made in real-time in 2011, was that it would take 10 or so well
coordinated volunteers at least 10 minutes to move the crowd out to
the pool area.

Thoughts on group photos?

+ 9:30pm: Dancing at Paris (Paris) - ms

Marisa has first refusal rights to hostess this one. Marisa?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Up up and away:

Beverly writes:

I am exploring the idea for an activity for DLV... hot air balloon ride.

This would be an early morning activity. So I am thinking of Wednesday
or Thursday morning. The rides lift off at around 7:00 AM (I did say an
early morning activity!), lasts for about an hour, and is followed by an
after-ride reception party, so the whole activity is almost 3 hours.

The ride would be private so just the gals and pilot would be in the
balloon. Rides can be for 4 to 6 riders per balloon. The cost is $250
for each person. I realize that is pretty steep and will eliminate many
of the gals because of it. But the opportunity to quietly soar above the
desert while watching the sun rise is wonderful and worth the cost.

I would be interested in your thoughts on this.
. . . . . . . . . .

Annie responds:

Thanks, Beverly.

First of all, please let me say that this is an excellent example
of a new and unique activity, one which I do not believe has
happened at any major TG event ever.

Yes, it's very much on the spendy side. That, along with the hour
of the day, will most likely impact the participation.

My suggestion is to pick a tentative timeslot, put it on the
working schedule, and hype it a bit on the Discussion Forum.

I assume from the numbers above that you'll need at least 4 in the
group and no more than 6. Is this correct? How much lead time does
the operator need? What formality is there regarding payment and
such?

I suggest you move forward, but not commit any numbers or $$$ this
early in the process.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Show and clubbing:

Cami writes:

I wanted to run by you a couple ideas for dvl. One is a show called
Absinthe at Caesars. Great show, very funny and dirty. The other is that
the gay bar Krave is now located below d&d. Perhaps a night there where
girls can do both places. Thoughts?
. . . . . . . . . .

Annie responds:

Absinthe has been mentioned a few times, but nothing has ever been
done as far as getting a group to attend. It would most likely fit
very well on Tuesday, possibly on Wednesday, and even as a second
track opposite the Limo Tour on Thursday.

Is the Krave move complete?

If it will be operational in April, it would be a good fit for
later on Tuesday, perhaps as a terminating point for a Bar Crawl.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shooting:

Vanessa writes:

I'll work on specifics for the shooting activity including whether we
might go outdoors for some shotgun/trap shooting.. saw ads for a nice
outdoor facility called the Clark County Shooting Park which is
apparently quite the showcase and they feature many trap fields or skeet
fields, open 7 am - 7 pm and offers shotgun rental at $20 each...easily
shoot 2 rounds of trap for less than $50. I will contact the manager and
clear the activity for 9 am - 11 am...I will advise.
. . . . .

Gina writes:

Gina here, I plan on attending this year. I'll be there next week for
the SHOT show, and I was planning on checking out the Clark County range
in north vegas. Supposed to be a great place and we could schedule a few
different activities. Last year, we didn't have great attendance and I
think it was mostly because of the limo tour and bar overlap. So I spent
most of my time instructing a new be couple. I'll start buying ammo,
getting harder due to idiots in government threatening our rights.
. . . . . . . . . .

JoAnn responds:

I have a question here. It not in any way to be "political".

Do the ranges in Clark County provide ammo for purchase, and how more
expensive is it compared to purchasing ammo off-site by an individual
who would bring it into the range?

Is this purchasing ammo at the range an alternate solution to the
"government issues"?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pawn Stars visit:

Katie writes:

Hi.

I was thinking of an early start for this and shortly after Katie's
Koffee Korner has run it's course for the day. Probably around 9AM. or
even 8 if they are open then as I will already be dressed appropriately
for something like this and hopefully so will everyone else.

Any morning would do except Saturday.

Locals and others, Please feel free to expand and even volunteer to
assist if that's your thing ..... Nudge, nudge, Wink, wink.
. . . . . . . . . .

Thanks, Katie. Please select a tentative timeslot for this while you
have the most options available to you.

To all, serving second chair on this one would be an excellent
opportunity for someone new to the DLV volunteer scene. Volunteers?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PF Chang:

Sara writes:

I took an informal poll (admittedly a very small sample size) of three
of my friends who are regular DLV attendees and based on their unanimous
vote, I would like to do the Wednesday evening dinner again at PF
Chang's.

The only downside is that we get the room for only two hours but this
only really matters if they have another party coming in right after us
(which the last two years they did not, yet the staff still keeps things
moving along). I will make this clear in "my DLV" when talking about the
event after it is booked because there were at least a couple people who
were miffed about the time thing.

The upside in agreeing to this is that the room is absolutely perfect,
semi-seclude for those who are shy and it keeps the menu open without a
set selection or minimum purchase requirement.

Assuming EHM happens the same evening as in year's past, I will look to
start the dinner at 5:30 or so which will give those attending EHM
plenty of time to get over there.

I'll get in contact with the restaurant next week to schedule.

. . . . . . . . . .

Annie responds:

Thanks, Sara.

When you say "THE Wednesday Dinner", it sounds like you're planning
on a medium to large affair. What is your capacity?

Do you want a Happy Hour prior, in the same venue? If it stays at
5:30pm for dinner, do you want a "Happy Half Hour" (yes, shades of
Pinkfest) at 5:00pm? :)

For DLV 2012 it seemed like we had far more petty complaints about
various dining venues than in all other years combined!

IMAO, it's a two-way street, and most of the dining venues we use
have bent over backwards to give our people an enjoyable dining
experience. For the most part, they agree to full menus, which our
people like and appreciate, and very seldom is there a substantial
up-front deposit. If there's ever been a minimum, it's been an easy
nut to crack. We need to meet them half way, and, IMAO, such things
as mandatory gratuities, one check per table, and even a reasonable
time limit, are not out of line.

Yes, some of our people tend to be fashionably late. That's one
fact of life in the TG community. :) Those who show up late should
not be miffed when they are rushed along if there's another group
waiting for the area.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pole Position and scavenging:

Valorie writes:

I posted the pole dancing event on the discussion board to gather
interest. This would probably be a mid-day event. I will keep an eye
out for more online coupons.

The Diva Mystery Evening / Photo Scavenger Hunt was a great opportunity
to get out around town and take crazy pictures (and what girl does not
like a photo shoot!). My main suggestion after last year is not to end
so late so that we have time to have a proper photo-sharing party. Not
sure if I could host both events by myself, but I will start another
discussion board thread.
. . . . . . . . . .

Thanks, Valorie.

The pole dance thing will most likely generate more than enough of
an interest to make any minimum there is. Please be thinking of a
timeslot for this.

As to the Mystery/Scavenger evening, it looks like Tuesday may be
the best for it, but it may possibly be a good fit on Wednesday
depending on what other activities are up against it.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Working schedule:

Diva Las Vegas 2013 schedule
Tentative and subject to change
All times Pacific Daylight Time

Sunday, April 14:
    10:00am: Religious services (Metropolitan Community Church) - sv
     1:00pm: Lunch With Ginger (Harrah's Buffet) - ms
     5:00pm: Beginner Open House (Artisan) - ms
 
Monday, April 15:
    11:00am: Studio Lites Open House (Studio Lites) - sv
     1:00pm: Lunch With Ginger (Stratosphere Buffet) - ms
     4:00pm: Beginner Open House (Artisan) - ms
     6:00pm: Happy Hour (Artisan) - ms
     7:00pm: Dinner (Artisan) - ms
     7:30pm: Welcome Celebration (Artisan) - ms
 
Tuesday, April 16:
     9:30am: Diva Las Vegas Invitational Golf (Desert Rose) - ms
     1:00pm: Lunch With Ginger (LV Hotel Buffet) - ms
     5:00pm: Beginner Open House (Artisan) - ms
 
Wednesday, April 17:
     1:00pm: Lunch With Ginger (tbd) - ms
 
Thursday, April 18:
     9:00am: Pistol and Rifle Shooting (Discount Firearms) - ms
     1:00pm: Lunch With Ginger (Paris Buffet) - ms
     9:30pm: Limousine Tour (tbd) - ms
 
Friday, April 19:
     1:00pm: Lunch With Ginger (Gold Coast Buffet) - ms
     6:00pm: Happy Hour (Bahama Breeze) - mv
     7:00pm: Farewell Dinner (Bahama Breeze) - mv
     8:00pm: Farewell Celebration (Bahama Breeze) - mv
     8:30pm: Official Group Photo (Bahama Breeze) - mv
     9:30pm: Dancing at Paris (Paris) - ms
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Administrivia:

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This mailing was addressed to: annie_at_annie.net

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Diva Las Vegas 2013
April 14 - 19, 2013
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Received on Wed Jan 16 2013 - 07:16:48 CST