How about it? Would you fly, drive or swim to a central location in America to take part in a convention organized by TS? The focus of this convention would be to meet other forum members, LAN partying and other geeky computer stuff. It could last a few to several days as well... I'm sure everyone is open to suggestions.

This has been discussed before, but it seems it has been bought up again and there is more of a skeleton plan than just an idea now. ;) I would like to see how many would participate.

Too bad I can't come, i'm in Belgium right now :(

I'm sure Didou and I would come if we were in the US ...

Well maybe if it happens I join my GF in the US then I surely will :D

I'm in :D.

I know of a lot of places that would be great to host a get together like this from my own experience, such as Ybor City right beside Tampa Florida, and then there is Clearwater Beach about 15 miles away (which is rated as one of the nicest beaches in Florida). Plus a major airport right there.

I think those places would be too not-central to host a gathering.

If I had the money and the time (college = not a lot of time) I would definately do my best to show up. Money probably wouldn't be the issue, might be best to post it during summer or winter time, when most people would likely have time off.

I sort of suggested Colorado in another thread, I'm a bit more serious now. This is why.

1. Cost is minimal to fly from cali or ny or something to Colorado compared to the cost of getting there in the first place.
2. Foreigners hate us :) if they are going to come over to America to meet us, lets at least keep them away from the d0oDz in Cali and NY, let them see something worth remembering. Colorado is great for that, espically Denver, right on the mountain/flatland interface, plus there is tons of nice whitewater rafting there. (yes us geeks should get out and expierence stuff like that every once in a while).
Plus if someone from another country not in North America could only visit one place, I think I'd make them visit Colorado - its just beautiful, and avoids much of the stereotypical BS that surrounds the word "American".
3. None of us live in Colorado, eliminating the "preferential" treatement that people are bound to assume.

SNGX, I like that idea. I would love to visit a mountainous area, possibly go rafting or something. That would be pretty awesome.

I would fly if I had about 6 months at least in notice, so that I could save some money for a trip.

I could have to be able to get cheap accomodation, but I guess for me I could be happy with just a sleeping bag.

If its an excuse to go somewhere, why not?

I would happily go to a meet such as the one you are suggesting Rick, but it would heavily depend on the time of year and distance from my current location. But I guess there is a possibility that I might be in the US at such a time since I have a residence both in the UK and US, one pf which should be somewhere near to the meeting place. Overall the idea sounds very appealing, and I am sure there will be a reasonably large amount of people interested. The idea of meeting all of you sounds like fun; see you at the party ;) !

SNG, that doesn't sound too bad...!

I've got an ambivalent relationship with the US, so it would be nice to see something that won't be too much DuDe'd up...

But how much would it cost to take a roundtrip from NYC to Denver? Because as it is, just getting to NYC is going to be costly...
(Though I do have a couple of ideas on how to make it cheaper)

I suggest we create a list of people's locations and preferences and mark those on a map and try to find a location that is convenient for everyone, as in trying to make it so that everyone only has to travel a short distance compared to other locations. Or find out what location would be cheapest for everyone to make it to. It would take some reasearch but it could be done.

How about Las Vegas ??? Now, thats a city i could visit !!!

Yes, but how many people would want to meet in Las Vegas? It is a crazy, busy town. I would guess that most of us would say it would be better to meet somewhere smaller with not so much going on.

Las Vegas is out of the Q for my part...

If I'm going, it's going to be a place where I can find an OK hotel/B&B for a reasonable price, and I don't think that's possible in LV...

BTW: how much would a trip from the states to London (UK) cost? Maybe we could try to get our US members to come to Europe instead?
Hey, I can dream can't I?

I dont think I could afford to go overseas. I am an excellent price shopper when it comes to computers and travel, and could make it anywhere in the U.S. for anywhere from $600-800, but overseas I wouldn't have a option of driving and theres no way I could get the airplane ticket for as cheap as I normally do.

Though that would be really awesome. :(

Also you have to think about cost of getting a passport. They are at least $45 here but I'm not 100% sure.

you haven't actually got a passport? what age are you? Its sort-of seen as something you get when your 8 or 9 at the lastest here...

The U.S.A. is a very large country. Most of us never leave this countrys borders and have no need for a passport. The only time people here get passports is when they make plans to go out of the country then they buy a passport, until then they are of no use. I would say 85% of people in the USA never leave the country once in their lives, if they do then its usually only once.

I agree I just got my passport last month for my honeymoon, and if I wasn't going on that, I probably wouldn't have gotten it.

Originally posted by acidosmosis
Yes, but how many people would want to meet in Las Vegas? It is a crazy, busy town. I would guess that most of us would say it would be better to meet somewhere smaller with not so much going on.

Aawwhh...:( No gambling then...:(

:p

There are other places you can gamble legally. I know Kansas City and St. Louis both have casinos. There just isn't legalized prostitution in those cities.

Originally posted by SNGX1275
There are other places you can gamble legally. I know Kansas City and St. Louis both have casinos. There just isn't legalized prostitution in those cities.

What???? You mean prostitution is legally in Las Vegas??:confused:

Sod the gambling, let's go get some!!!;)

Only j/k (i think:cool: )

Just for reference, Smith County, Kansas is the central of the continental US.

Originally posted by wicka_wicka
Just for reference, Smith County, Kansas is the central of the continental US.
LOL,
Why would anyone want to go to Kansas aside from Kansas City and KU Basketball games ;) I also think Kansas has the lowest revenue from tourism of any of the 50 states.

Just making a point so you know generally where a central location is...

Yeh I know, you said it in that post, I was just taking a cheap shot at Kansas. (btw, I'm heading to grandparents in Kansas tomarrow morning, the population of that town is 300)

I think overall this is a great idea... but at minimum should be planned 6 months in advance, including reservations.

Perhaps a fund could be started for us to pitch in and perhaps rent a block of hotel rooms, or a convention hall for a few days or something.

I think this is a great chance for TS members to foster stronger bonds.

I m pretty sure that i m not goin to make it simply because i m living at the other side of the earth and i m student, financially dependent on my parents.

Hmm maybe a bit costly for a 4 day trip. I'd have to organise to holiday for 2 weeks in total, and no offense to any US members but there are a lot of things and places I would like to do and see before some brother geeks ;)

ok actually I think this:
1. we should shoot for somewhere in the US. (thats kind of obvious by our member distrobution)
2. we should meet somewhere where nobody is preferentially treated.
3. we should try to meet somewhere in the US (see above) that most people havne't been.
4. This is kind of important, it should be avaiable fairly easily from car, this allows us to pick up people from airports so they don't have to pay some dude they can't understand.

Originally posted by Arris
Hmm maybe a bit costly for a 4 day trip. I'd have to organise to holiday for 2 weeks in total, and no offense to any US members but there are a lot of things and places I would like to do and see before some brother geeks ;)
I understand.
But there are lots of things in the US that are maybe worth seeing. Contrary to what you may think we will not rape you :) lol

Originally posted by SNGX1275
Contrary to what you may think we will not rape you :) lol

Thats one of the few reasons I was thinking of coming ;)

I'm pretty new, so I don't have as much time invested as many of your (who have been on the board for year+).

I have a hard enough time getting out of the office for my family vacations, so a weekend event would make more sense with my work schedule.

I might be the closest one to Denver, CO (have driven for Broncos football game in 1999).

C

I think most "regulars" here are fairly serious on considering it, and I must restate that I'm pretty serious on Denver. I already mentioned the obvious reasons (scroll up), although I do realize its 1 more plane ticket for many people.
But if we are serious enough there are people from all over the US here, surely you could arrange a carpool of some sort with someone.

Originally posted by SNGX1275
I understand.
But there are lots of things in the US that are maybe worth seeing. Contrary to what you may think we will not rape you :) lol

not getting raped by you SNGX??

...well...suddenly it all just doesn't seem worth it then ;)

well if you are an attractive female between say 20 and 30 then maybe I can help you out. lol

oh man, now everyone is going to put the blame for the next rape they hear on the news on me.

/me hides

Originally posted by SNGX1275
well if you are an attractive female between say 20 and 30 then maybe I can help you out. lol

oh man, now everyone is going to put the blame for the next rape they hear on the news on me.

/me hides

:eek: Don't let Koby's defense lawyers get wind of this... esp if we meet in Denver

Originally posted by SNGX1275
There are other places you can gamble legally. I know Kansas City and St. Louis both have casinos. There just isn't legalized prostitution in those cities.

Actually prostitution isn't legal in Nevada counties with gambling. You have to do a roadtrip to visit the brothels.

After meeting you guys in realtime on IRC I'd enjoy meeting you in person. I think it should be somewhere central, but still fun, where all of us have to travel some distance....maybe Nashville, Colorado (no idea why), or Albequerque during the balloon festival.

has a handle on it............hehe............there goes karl malone's championship, crom.........

Originally posted by JSR
has a handle on it............hehe............there goes karl malone's championship, crom.........

!LOL!
just wish that ANYBODY was willing to relocate to our (UT Jazz) market... Its tough to rebuild a team when all the young talent is more intersted in the local night life.
I guess we'll just have to suck for a few years in order to get some good draft pics.

C

they are striking out............i do not think anyone wants to play in the shadow of those two greats.....would you?............nope
plus jerry sloan, is a ball buster, but , i like him.

Guys, lets consider cost.

The absolute cheapest place to fly to in the USA is FLORIDA.
Orlando has flights going out of the country, and its the cheapest you can get! Lodging is also cheap, and there is plenty to do!
Just my 5cents

Florida would be my first choice; it is typically the cheapest place to fly to/from anywhere in the US as mentioned. Depending on the origin, either Orlando or Tampa will be cheaper. Another plus for Florida is that it is more central for people from the US and Europe. I've also seen DIRECT, round-trip flights between Tampa/London around $400(winter) - $650(summer) on British Airways. It typically costs anywhere from $200-$400 to fly round-trip anywhere in the US to/from Florida.

If people are planning to stay for a week somewhere then Las Vegas is actually very affordable if you get a package deal with airfare/hotel combined. Denver would be a good choice for people who wish to see something less touristy and scenic. My choice for Europe would be London since it's rare to find direct flights to/from the US to other European cities.

I'm unlikely to be able to visit most places since I'm married with children but I would do my best to attend.

All prices are in US Dollars.

well - im currently rather tied down to the UK .... i have very little money and ive never left the UK before - i would LOVE to come...oh yeh and im 15

Steg