In this mailing:
Org List
Feedback and involvement
A low-cost hotel offer
Date comments
Volunteer Tea
Activity comments
Jenner report and comments
Room rates
Administrivia
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Org List:
This is the DLV 2016 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.
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Feedback and involvement:
We are in need of feedback on some hotel offers. Please see item
immediately below.
. . . . . . . . . .
I (Annie) am somewhat behind in my e-mail correspondence, including
"official" DLV business, so if you're waiting for a response, you're
not being ignored.
All ORG list items received by Tuesday evening appear in this mailing.
. . . . . . . . . .
New volunteers, please do not be shy.
In an exchange on "another network in a galaxy far far away" the
following comment stood out:
> I went to planning sessions and offered my help in any way needed,
> I entered my contact info on the sheet several times and as never
> contacted even once.
The thread went on to comment on the "cliquishness" of the organizers
of the particular event under discussion.
To all newer and less active volunteers, please be assured that you
are not being snubbed and you are not being ignored! This is not our
style, period.
If you want to get involved, please say so. We value those who take the
initiative to actively volunteer to help out and those who propose new
and different ideas.
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A low-cost hotel offer:
Dionne writes:
Since 2012, I've stayed in Vegas at various hotels, including the Linq
(before it was remodelled), Crestwood suites & others.
My cost at the then Imperial Palace was $20/night plus resort fees
$12/night. My room window on the 11th. floor overlooked the construction
of the Wheel. The accommodations were comfortable but the long distance
between the parking garage and the room via a slow elevator was
inconvenient.
My stay at Crestwood suites was comfortable @ $30/ night (no resort
fees). Free Parking was just outside the hallway door.
On my prior 3 stays in Vegas I booked at Super-8. It is a non-casino
basic accommodation but I really enjoy the convenience of parking within
5 steps of my room door. No elevator to negotiate with my luggage & etc.
or casino lobby to wander through.
So, I spoke with their Manager and received these room quotes;
* minimum 10 room block $35/night/room double occupancy
* minimum 20 room block $31.25 /night/room double occupancy
Yes, that's cost per night not per person.
Two people can share one room and split the $35. They have free WiFi and
Do Not charge resort fees. These rates are fixed from Sunday thru
Friday. Saturdays are not included.
This location has a new additional building that the remodelling will be
completed by March and will honor these rates. I hope this can be
considered as affordable accommodations for DLV 2016. As a full
disclosure, I am not receiving a free room to book these rates.
Thanks for your consideration.
. . . . . . . . . .
Beverly responds:
Thanks Dionne,
Those are great rates for anyone looking for a non-casino hotel.
I have also stayed off strip at hotels like this and gotten great rates
in the past.
And you are right about the convenience of having parking close and ease
of getting in and out of the room. I am sure many of our gals will find
this of interest.
At this point in my life I enjoy spoiling myself and having a nice room
in a nice luxury hotel with casino and choices of dining on premise. I
really enjoyed everything about the Flamingo last year.
I too stayed at Imperial Palace and had to put up with those slow
elevators and hated that even though I was paying around $30 per night.
I won't do that again, even in the updated Linq. I hate to think about
how much time I wasted waiting for those elevators!
Thanks again. I appreciate your time and efforts.
And for full discloser... I also am not getting a free room out of my
efforts at booking a block of rooms. I paid for my room just like
everyone else.
. . . . . . . . . . .
Annie responds:
Thanks, ladies.
Team, this sounds promising, but we have a few Big Burning Questions to
which we need answers if we're going to effectively take advantage of
all room rate offers this coming year.
First, to Dionne:
1. I'm assuming that this is the big Super-8, adjacent to Ellis Island
on Koval, behind Bally's. Is this correct?
2. Are you, Dionne, willing to pick up this ball (group rates at Super
8) and run with it?
Second, to the group:
We need feedback on a number of items here. Both of these room rate
offers (Flamingo and Super-8) are contingent on selling a minimum number
of rooms, and there may be some personal funds at risk here. Specific
questions are:
1. What will your personal plans for DLV 2016 most likely involve:
a. Take advantage of group rate at Flamingo, $60-ish (plus resort fee).
b. Take advantage of group rate at Super-8, $35-ish (no resort fee).
c. Flamingo or Super 8, but not using our negotiated rates.
d. Other Las Vegas accommodations.
2. With the availability of this lower rate, how likely are you to "jump
ship" from the Flamingo to Super-8 due to the lower cost?
. . . . .
If this offer comes to fruition, it could be our key to getting "more
people" and "more younger people" to our event by significantly lowering
the total cost of participation.
Comments (and answers to the questions) will be appreciated. TIA! :)
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Date comments:
Robyn writes:
Timespan 1: Monday March 28 thru Saturday, April 2. for the wheather
. . . . .
Beverly writes:
My choices for dates for DLV2016 are
1: Sunday April 3 thru Friday, April 8.
2: Sunday April 24 thru Friday, April 29.
. . . . .
Marilyn writes:
> Timespan 1: Monday March 28 thru Saturday, April 2.
> Timespan 2: Sunday April 3 thru Friday, April 8.
Since I couldn't make it last year, I am really looking forward to next
year. I've been away for most of the last month so I don't know if
you've already voted for the time of next years DLV.
Personally I favor timespan 2 with timespan 1 as the next favorite. Any
week that is selected I will definitely plan on coming.
. . . . .
Annie writes:
Personally, I will be able to make all of the timespans under
consideration with more or less equal convenience. (I actually already
have reservations in for what appear to be the two front-runners, in
order to lock in a good rate. I'll cancel at least one.)
However, we have two volunteers, both of whom actively coordinated
nontrivial activities in multiple recent years, who have reported
participation-killing conflicts on two of the considered weeks:
Sunday April 3 thru Friday, April 8.
Sunday, May 15 thru Friday, May 20.
We also have a third active volunteer lock-out reported, but for a week
not in serious consideration as of this time.
I will not be voting for any timespan which locks out a recent active
volunteer and I would encourage all to take this into consideration when
the vote happens.
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Volunteer Tea:
Vera writes:
I would be willing to help Joann with the Tea/Social/Volunteer
Appreciation Affair.
. . . . . . . . . .
Annie responds:
As I think more of this, I've realized one concern.
One complaint we had at the Artisan (yes, among others) was the high
cost for food and drink at the most recent volunteer session.
In recent years, the cost for the High Tea has been in the $40-50 range
per person. Is this what we want for a "Volunteer and Prospective
Volunteer" session? (I don't know, I'm asking, comments please.) Will
there be a lower-cost option for those who wish to attend to socialize
but not participate in the tea?
. . . . . . . . . .
JoAnn responds:
I was thinking of a slightly different twist..
An "Afternoon Social" for appreciations and visiting among the ladies
who would join us..
The menu is desserts and appetizers off the menu at the Wynn. It is
about the "scene" and dressing nicely, but not a High Tea. I would hope
everyone joins in knowing that the price range drops to the $25 level.
. . . . . . . . . .
Annie responds:
Thanks, JoAnn.
This eases my concern. :)
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Activity comments:
Vera writes:
Bowling anyone?
I think any type of indoor or outdoor sporting-like activity would be
fun with a bunch of us DLV ladies participating......
How about doing a First Annual Diva Las Vegas Invitational Miniature
Golf Tournament the night of the real golfing even or the night of the
Limo Tour... Imagine us all dressed in our gowns or to the 9's playing
miniature golf.. what a sight!....
This event would be a fun way for us non "professional" golfers to swap
golfing stories with the real golfers in the group. I would be willing
to do some research of this event if there was enough interest from the
group.
. . . . .
Beverly writes:
Possible daytime activity for next year... has Bingo ever been done?
Might be a fun way to spend a few hours some afternoon. I might look
into it.
. . . . .
Dionne writes:
> As for any dinner you put together, just don't conflict with
> Wednesday's PF Chang's!!! :)
Thank you Sara, for hosting this P.F. Chang's again.
I enjoyed the dinner but would suggest the other location of this
restaurant chain. I remember I had a long distance walk from the parking
garage thru the Mall to get there. Some people who were not in our group
were seated in adjacent tables and were not behaving respectfully.
Would you consider the 4165 S. Paradise Rd. location?
The menu's the same, right?
. . . . .
Marilyn writes:
JoAnn,
I would like to help you out on the Limo and Tea.
I didn't know the Wynn had Tea, but it might be a nice change from the
Four Seasons. They (the Four Seasons) changed the policy in the last 2
years regarding minimum deposits and it makes it a little risky if there
are no-shows. Plus the 72-hour deadline prior to the tea for head count
always makes it difficult for some.
. . . . . . . . . .
Annie responds:
Thanks, ladies! :)
We've done bowling and mini-golf, but not in recent years. All it takes
for these to happen is for someone to do a modest amount of web-legwork
and make the plans. The last bowling alley we used, at Drink And Drag,
is no longer around, but the one we used previously at Sams Town is.
IIRC the last mini-golf we did was in the vicinity of the old Las Vegas
Hilton but I don't know if it's still around.
I don't ever remember bingo on our schedule, but I'm sure that some of
our people have done it on their own over the years. IIRC, most of the
"locals" casinos have it as well as a few places downtown. It would be
a very easy activity to arrange with very little formality.
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Jenner report and comments:
Annie writes:
The DLV Jenner Team has had an exchange with the Jenner folks.
The bottom-dollar figure we've been quoted is $85 kilobucks. This is, of
course, a "book rate" for a commercial appearance, quoted by Jenner's
"handlers", who are indeed paid to keep people like us away from her.
Obviously there is no way we will be able to come up with that kind of
cash.
Another approach which is currently being discussed is to use a "back
door" contact to try to get to Jenner directly and convince her to do a
"Pro Bono" community support type of thing.
We've been told that Jenner is an avid golfer and we're hoping that the
opportunity to play in the world's first regularly-scheduled TG golf
tournament will be an incentive.
Wheels are turning.
Film at 11! :)
And, for those who are concerned about this, you, the ORG group as
a whole, have the final say as to what does and does not go on our
schedule. There will be the opportunity for an up/down vote if the
trigger is to be pulled on a Jenner appearance at DLV.
. . . . . . . . . .
Vera writes:
Regarding Caitlyn Jenner, nice gesture but I'd be shocked if it
happened. And don't forget, where she goes, so goes the paparazzi. I'm
not sure our group is equipped to handle THAT much public attention.
Paparrazi? Point me in the right direction? Being the attention whore
that I am I love the paparazzi... LOL!!
. . . . .
Sherry writes:
If u really want Caitlyn there? Find a venue where they can film her
with us, as a group. These r exactly the kinds of things they r looking
for on her show. And, I believe Caitlyn will be A LOT more comfortable
around us than with Jenny Lyn Boyle!
. . . . .
Marilyn writes:
As far as Caitlan Jenner, I applaud the thinking outside the box
but I am opposed to the idea of drawing that kind of attention to
us especially if an appearance fee is involved.
Just my 2 cents.
. . . . .
Katie writes:
Kaitlyn Jenner at DLV?
I would say absolutely No to this idea. My guess is that the wrong
element will be following close behind Kait. . and I don't want to take
the chance that I might be wrong!
The exposure to the public eye would be enormous due to a news media
frenzy and possibly the Vegas / LA TV trashy tabloid news people might
leap at the chance for anything which might revitalize their sagging
ratings so they would have a field day with this one.
Hangers on, groupies and Horny male admirers likely follow these people
relentlessly around and will also follow us too. Do we really want or
need this? My vote would be a resounding No.
Sorry Cami. I like your thinking most of the time. I was one who even
enjoyed the Carmines night out except for the weal comedian of course
but I suspect that this would be the decline of 20 good years of Diva
Las Vegas which has been slowly evolving into something pretty darned
special. I think the silent ones on our org group seriously need to
weigh in one this too if they do not wish to lose their annual vacation
option in a terrific location.
Staying silent because you don' t want to rock the boat usually sinks it
anyway, Only a bit slower.
I personally would stop coming if it turned into a media circus and/or a
horny admirers drooling opportunity.
Before anyone jumps all over this Hear this. I have nothing against the
odd admirer attending but "only attending".. I personally do not
socialize with them so it does not matter to me if they show up but I
know others do so it is ok with me if some decide to make the annual
pilgrimage and make this one of their week long T girl socializing ops'
at conventions and events like ours.!
I guess I would not have made a very good choice for alternate would I?
lol, Don't worry I will not run for anything again for what should be
obvious reasons. being an attendee is enough for me.
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Room rates:
Dionne writes:
> Room rates can be one factor that you may consider when it it time
> to cast your vote for a set of dates for DLV 2016, but please don't
> consider rates to be a "trump card" for the date selection.
Yes, consider how many 2015 attendees got a room at the group discount
rate versus the total number of DLV attendees. My guess is that's a
small percentage.
. . . . . . . . . .
Annie responds:
We won't know the exact number, but we can get a good idea of what
percentage of our people took advantage of Beverly's Flamingo deal
by looking at the survey report.
+ Did you take advantage of our special promotional hotel room
+ rates at the Flamingo for all or part of your stay?
+ Yes I did: 23
+ No but I was aware of it: 28
+ No but I was too late for it: 4
+ No and I was unaware of it: 3
Of the 58 who answered that particular question, 23, or about 40% of the
respondents said they had used the offer. That is a significant portion
of our attendees. Of those I spoke to who were staying at other hotels,
many had their own favorite hotels, often times comp or casino rate.
If we subtract those who were local and did not need a hotel, roughly
15% or about 9 of those who answered this question, we get about 47%,
so we can say that close to half of our folks who needed a hotel took
advantage of the special rates.
If this coming year we can indeed get two special rates, one at a full
service Strip resort and another at a "budget" place, I can very easily
foresee far more of our people taking advantage of the special rates.
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Administrivia:
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Diva Las Vegas 2016
(Dates to be announced)
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Received on Wed Aug 19 2015 - 07:22:49 CDT
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.2.0 : Wed May 11 2016 - 05:54:23 CDT