Where you Are / US TS Meet?

[Silvanus]

Cool, it sounds like there's quite a bit of interest in it! I'm really glad to hear that. Thanks for offering to help, Ayame, I can see myself needing it!

It looks like the overwhelming majority of our willing members are in the southern US, so I guess Texas, Florida, or some point in between would be good. If it does end up in Texas, it will likely be in one of the large cities like Dallas or Houston (which is a huge city, there's almost certainly direct flights from any major airport to it). If it ends up in Florida, I like the sound of Miami, hehe. I'm open for points in between though, preferably another large city unless there are other ideas. Assuming this idea becomes less of a thought and more of a sure thing, I'm sure we could arrange carpools and/or group flight plans for people in the same state that want to travel together.

The time frame would most likely be sometime in (early-mid?) 2009...to give everyone a chance to plan for it and save up. Especially if an outing to Disneyworld or something like that is planned. Road trips are fun but unfortunately a little expensive, but worth it.

And for you with parent or age issues, we'll understand if you can't make it. However, if the first TS Meet turns out to be a fun time, maybe we could take pictures and turn it more into an established, possibly annual event...then it would be less of an internet-y thing and more of a legitimate event that parents might be more comfortable with.

Thanks for all the input so far, guys! Any more ideas and suggestions are definitely welcome! I'm going to start trying to figure out a location and date and see how many people could attend.

[Della]

I'm in the Northeast. New York, to be exact. However, I love this idea. I don't really think we should go through with it unless at least 15-30 people would be going. I feel like it'd be unsafe, or a waste, otherwise.

I also think this should be done far from right now, so everyone would have the chance to save up and put together transportation. And perhaps if it works out make it a yearly thing?

I'd be very willing to host this, but seeing as I live o far away from everyone
, I don't know if that'd be a great idea. Perhaps we could all meet up in between the two most popular regions?

Silvanus, contact me if you feel like you're going to go through with this. I'd love to help you plan this and really get it all together! If we work hard enough, or maybe set up a mini fundraiser here on TS, I'm sure this could work!


EDIT: ...Opp! You said everything I just said. Sorry for being a bum and TL;DRing the thread.

[Krystal Zanguzen]

I'd certainly be all for the Miami idea, no brainer ^^

If we do wind up doing a road trip to Disney, I'd like to volenteer to be one of the drivers. I love driving and I wouldn't mind at all ^^

[Zwi]

I too really like the idea of a trip to Disney!
Only, thinking about it last night, me coming is only a maybe, since I have to try and schedule things around my husbands work schedule. Even if he's just taking me to the airport, he works 7-5 mon-fri, and goes to bed early. =/ which makes scheduling a fly out and in rather annoying. Well, I'll have to talk it all over with him later any way, I just thought I would put that out there.

EDIT: Okay well, I talked to my husband and he said he'll just ask for leave and come with me. He says if he doesn't go, I don't go, because he's one of those paranoid people who assumes every one on the internet is a 42 year old perverted male until proven other wise. XP he does say that while you guys probably aren't, it only takes one to ruin it. So yeah, expect me and my husband to be joining the fun. And I still vote Disney. If its out that way then we'll be flying in, but if we decided to do something in the Huston area, then we are going to be driving in and bringing the dogs. (boarding can be expensive...)

[Della]

I feel like Disney would be terribly hard. I know I am terribly off financial wise. I'm going to be moving into my own apartment this summer, with two roommates. And I'll be 17. That means I'll have to deal with a lot more financially wise, and definitely far too much to pay for a Disney pass.

I could save up the money to carpool with Wolfbane and the other Northeast Coast Vargies down to Texas and buy my own food, but other then that, there'd be no way for me to attend. I'm sure this would be the case for many other members.

Also, I think it'd be important to set up something semi-official for this, to ward off potential internet villians, though I really don't think internet villians would use their time on a wolf roleplay site, and perhaps open up more parental minds to this idea. Perhaps have a small councel in charge of this that parents can call and get all the information of?

[Faolan]

i really like Della's idea with the council-thingy, though i'll probably have more of a chance if i ask my mom, cause my dad won't even consider it. -.- maybe chaperones, if your under a certain age? i dunno, but if my mom can get off work, she's been wanting to do a roadtrip for a while.

[Monster]

I like that idea of around mid '09, gives me enough time to save up ^^ If we do settle for somewhere in FL, I'd be driving. I don't know what's in most places, if ya'll would want to just hang out somewhere, or do something together (I think that would be nice). I know the Gulf coast beaches are great for hanging out financially (Panama is just about half way between Jax and Houston, though I don't know how good that would be for Krys), and I also know that Savannah GA is a nice place as well. Wild Adventures is much cheaper than Disney, and is located in Valdosta GA. Still, I guess that wouldn't help out our Northern friends much, but I dunno what else is out there?

I'll be 20 but still, I'm more than likely bringing a friend along or my brother, just because I too get a bit paranoid about the internet. That and it would give me some other kind of excuse than saying "hey mom, I'm driving to __ to meet up with some internet friend!" I dunno about you, but even at 20- that wouldn't fly in my house (lol look at me setting a bad example lying). Maybe we all can have a big AIM chat sometime? I dunno if everyone has AIM, but I do see the majority of us do- and if not, you can sign up free here, and not need to download anything.

(And Della, I don't mean to be a stickler, but could you just edit your post instead of double posting? It can clog up the thread and is kinda against the rules. )


Mist Edit: It's taken care of. ^_^ I edited Della's second post into her first and deleted the second.

[Krystal Zanguzen]

I don't mind the idea of a carpool so long as it's in the FL or GA area. Would you be good for the idea of Car Pooling Monster? I think Falone or someone else is also from FL. We could all car pool and that cuts down on gas price.

I like the mass AIM chat idea, and the idea Della mentioned.

[Ayasha]

Southwest Baby! Woo

Everyone can come visit me in CO!

I like the idea of the mass get together. Unfortunately I'll still be in school and doubtful that I will have the money to do it. Gotta pay tuition .

[Della]

I'm sorry about the double-posting, guys! It didn't even really occur to me. I try harder not to from now on.

I think we should set up a schedule for the meet. (It should be longer than a day or two, because honestly, I'm not driving all the way down to Texas for a DAY then driving back.) That way, it's more like a going-to-camp kinda thing, and give parents even more reason to say yes. We wouldn't have to stik to it strictly if it ended up we all didn't want to, but if there was a big show-up, we porbably would want one anyway to avoid chaos.

I'm totally down for the AIM conversations! That would be nice. We could learn everyone's real names and get more comfortable just talking to each other. And we should have applications and stuff so the 'councel' members can keep track of everyone coming and not have strangers showing up. Perhaps have everyone whose going provide a picture of themselves so we can be safe and ID people at the door?

I think we should set something up for the parents/friends who are going and wouldn't really want to stick around with a bunch of wolf crazies for a few days, after they learn they're not safe. Perhaps we can have some activities and a special couple of rooms speficially for the parents/chaperones so we wouldn't all have to be embarrassed by them< or have them ruin our time by launching down our baxcks and complaining. We have many people here who are 20 and up as far as I know, so if we had a few people volunteer to be chaperones, then we'd look even more safe.

Also, if we were all getting together, I'd suggest a very cheap amusement park if we're going to go to one, and perhaps going to a resteraunt together, but I think we should just find a big house or cheap hotel who could host us and for us to do everything on our own, and have TS-related, CHEAP fun! If someone had a big backyard, we could even bring tents and camp outside during the night if two TSers don't live too close together and we all wanted to sleep in the same areas! There are so many loose ideas I could throw out.

...I really want to do this, guys. X=

[Mist]

*high fives Ayasha* Yay for westernish people! Considering I'm just like 9 hours away from you at home or at school.

Heh, I have a big yard It's just on the wrong side of the country. C'mon though, WY is a good place to visit!

The age thing isn't an issue for me, considering I'm 20 (and will still be in early/mid '09), but bummerness, FL/TX might just be too far away. Oh, there are definitely good and bad things about living in a huge country... *sigh* Who knows though...

EDIT: Ah, yes, and Ayasha's right about the school thing. I will definitely be in school then, so that's a problem as well, even if I could go otherwise...

[Della]

We could set it up so it's during a time that works out for everyone. Or at least most everyone, and accommodate school times. Everyone should post a schedule later on, so we can find the most plausable time for everyone.

[Silvanus]

I'm loving these ideas! I also really like the idea of a council...Della, Ayame, would you guys like to help me head it up?

As to the duration, I agree that one day wouldn't be worth everyone's time. Most conventions (not that we're that scale, but still good for comparison) last from Friday through Sunday inclusive. That still might not be worth it for those of you that will be traveling from afar, say New York, but on the other hand a week long venture would be hard on those of us with full time jobs and/or school. What if we did a 4 day weekend, Friday through Monday or Thursday through Sunday, and to address the issue of school, made it during the Summer? I realize some people attend summer classes, but it seems like the most likely bubble of time that we all might have some vacation time intersecting. That's one possibility, anyway.

I agree wholeheartedly that we register the people who are planning on attending...we can even mail out "badges" if need be, or like Della said, check ID. That seems like a much safer way to do it and keep out any riff raff. I can set up and host a website for information and registration perhaps...if I get some free time I'll start on that.

I'll be 23 by the time this rolls around, and I'd be glad to be a designated chaperon. Anyone else is welcome to as well!

It sounds like Disneyworld may have to wait until one of the next annual TS Meets, since we want a good turnout and don't want to ask too much of the attendees financially speaking. I like the idea of other outings though...amusement parks, movies, restaurants...maybe I can even find some sort of wolf habitat or other wolf related activity depending on where it would be (edit: I've found wolf preserves in Colorado and Florida so far, fyi). I was initially shying away from the idea of asking a hotel to host it, but its starting to sound like a good idea, or at least maybe we could all reserve rooms in the same vicinity and have some available for the concerned parents. Once we get it set up though, perhaps the council could offer to have our contact information available for parents who want to know more. I'm fine fielding calls and emails as long as I don't get screamed at unduly.

One more random thought someone mentioned earlier...fundraisers. Would there be any interest in commemorative T-shirts being printed, or badges as I mentioned? Depending on what we want to do, we might need "group" funds for items like that if we want them.

Well, I've rambled long enough. I love the ideas, guys! By the way, you can contact me at MerysticCharest on AIM. I can be online most evenings if we want to organize a group chat. This is starting to sound like so much fun!

[Zwi]

Well, if we do it in summer of ‘09 then I’ll be 22, and my husband will be 20-21 depending on the time, and he’s in the USAF (United States Air Force) if that makes any parents feel any better XP I don’t know if it will, but it does sometimes.

Depending on if you need me to or not, I would be willing to talk to parents about it and things, as long as I’m kept up to date with all the information of curse.

[Monster]

Krys: depends on where we're going. I don't think gas would be too much of an issue on my part since gas is going down (woot! I saw it for 2.99 today!). If it's anywhere farther than 6-8hrs I might just take you up on that offer, we can split the gas and split the time driving.
Though if we do settle for somewhere close by, I wouldn't mind arranging a place where we can meet and and follow each other.

For everyone, my AIM is RottDawg0600. I'm usually on any time after 6 east coast time (-5hrs), and I think I'm free all day Friday (not sure if I have that day off or if I'm working at the other office).