Larger gatherings (was Re: DLV dining?)

[External Poster]

This posting is from: kumiko yvonne watanabe
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There needs to be more discussion and a eventual decision on for
our single large group meetings and dinner, specifically the welcome
and farewell dinners or get-togethers.

From the discussions there seems to be at least several concepts
developing. Please feel free to add to it. This is NOT complete.

One concept of having a single gathering is because many who go to DLV do
their own activities or attend several but not all DLVevents. Having a large
single gathering allows all attendees in one location to re-connect with others who
they might not otherwise see at all during DLV.

Having two events at either ends of DLV, since some arrive and leave
early and some arrive late and stay to the end. Usually a happy hour
and dinner is involved. The venue is a 'safe' location for newbies
to attend, and affordable to most. The food quality and service is
secondary to the socializing, and dependent on a agreement with the
DLV organizer with the venue. One is asked to bear with the food for
the sake of socializing, or just socialize and not be part of the
dining, though dining will be a big part of it. This will exclude
those that want nothing to do with that venue.

Another concept is focused on the dining aspect. The food and service,
are the primary reasons for attending. The food and/or service must
be at least good or better level (based on personal tastes or past
experiences), and (probably) everyone attending will be divided up
into tables. Socializing is limited to those that are sitting at
one table that can be up to 10 people. For this level of food quality
and service, it must be in a very public mainstream restaurant venue.
This may exclude or scare off newbies because it will be in a very
public and not safe venue.

Also those that cannot afford the dinner prices will not attend, and
those that don't like that venue will not attend. BDR requirements
will have to be strictly enforced. This concept removes any single
venue for everyone to see and socialize with each other.

Note: Bahama Breeze fulfilled most of the requirements for the first
two concepts this past DLV where the location, food, and service and
socializing requirements were met.

Another concept is to get rid of the single large gathering concept.
Use the EON in slightly larger groups at different restaurants at the
same time. Dining privately on their own or as a DLV multi-track
EON type event. Having multi-track dining can allow for safe venues
for newbies. This also removes the idea of a single place for
everyone to see and socialize with each other, and removes the excuse
of those that may have developed a personal prejudice of particular
venues and would not otherwise attend.

Which will it be? This may be a issue decided by the org group or put
to a vote.

Due to the size of our DLV group, if at one location, its normal for a
person to gravitate or stay in a group that they feel comfortable with,
which are their friends. It may look appear to be anti-social or even
clique-ish, but it just naturally happens. DLV is the now that big.
Since there isnt any formal games or activities to break up the
groups, people will have to mingle amongst each other on their own,
like any other type of large party or office gathering. This gives
some validity for those that want smaller groups and better dining
venues.

-- Kumiko



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(This posting was entered by kumiko yvonne watanabe, an external user of MyDLV.)