The Apolyton Convention of 2006.

[JohnT]

Wonderful! I'm going to give everybody who is interested a chance to read the .doc, so no decisions will be coming immediately... but you're now at the top of my list.

[to everybody] In regards to the committee, it's open for volunteers but read the document first - we really need 1 person in the Baltimore area (to act as a local liaison), and we really need somebody willing to be Treasurer. If you meet either one of those qualifications... [/to everybody]

[conmcb25]

Ill send Zargon_X and Trip an email both live in Baltimore now and one actually works as a programmer for Firaxis.

[ZargonX]

I do, in fact, live about 2 minutes from Firaxis I can provide plenty of information on the area for anyone interested, recommend some hotels and attractions, etc. Just let me know what is needed!

[conmcb25]

Thanks ZX

[JohnT]

Thanks ZargonX, Conm!

Since you volunteered... I do have two questions:

1. Do you have any experience with either of the two hotels mentioned in this thread, especially in regards to meetings? We've mentioned the Hunt Valley Marriott and the Holiday Inn Select in Trimonium (also Hunt Valley, but I guess you know that).

2. Can you recommend some local public golf courses?

Any other Baltimorans who read this, please, feel free to respond.

[ZargonX]

1. Do you have any experience with either of the two hotels mentioned in this thread, especially in regards to meetings? We've mentioned the Hunt Valley Marriott and the Holiday Inn Select in Trimonium (also Hunt Valley, but I guess you know that).

The Marriott is nice and large, and is often used for conventions in the area. It's definitely the main hotel in the area. Don't know as much about the Holiday Inn, other than that it's around the corner from me I'll look into it. There are also a few other medium-sized hotels in the immediate area that I'll pull up.

As for golf, there are several public courses. Longview is the closest to Hunt Valley, and is a pretty cheap, easy to get into, course. It's not the best, but it's not terrible by any means. Pine Ridge, just slightly further away, is a little more expensive and harder to get into, but it's a really nice course, set along the edge of the resevior. That's where I normally play.

The best public course is Graystone, which is about 15 minutes from Hunt Valley. It was supposed to be a private course, but something happened to make it public. It's pretty pricey, but it's a very nice course

[JohnT]

$50 green fees aren't too bad for a one-time event.

http://www.baltimoregolfing.com/greystone/fees.html

[Zopperoni]

I can do the Promotion / PR stuff, it seems like something I would have the time and skills to do.

I have a few comments about the startup document:

- Location: I'm wondering whether it would be possible to save money by having the event hosted in-house at Firaxis and BHG. We could do a morning session at one company and an afternoon session at the other company.
I haven't found the Marriott's rent costs, but I don't think the convention fees will cover it. I don't know any viable alternatives, but I found this on the Baltimore website: http://www.baltimore.org/meeting/mp_....jsp?scat=CONF

- We could get additional sponsoring from local companies, like game shops.

- For transportation, we could look into renting nine-person-carriers to save money.

- A closing date of two weeks prior to the event may be too short. To settle on the location and accommodation, I think it may be desirable to stretch it to six weeks.

- Might I also suggest the (project) name ApolyCon?

[DanQ]

Originally posted by Zopperoni
- Might I also suggest the (project) name ApolyCon?

Agreed!

Done.

---------
Dan; Apolyton CS

[Imran Siddiqui]

I don't play golf .

Hey John, you flying in or driving? If driving, may I suggest... CAR POOL!!

[JohnT]

I'll likely drive, but any cost savings would be obliterated by the fact that I'll have to arrive 1-3 days prior to the start.

In other words: Contact Ogie.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Mr No Fun!

[JohnT]

Hell, Zop, I wanted to send you a PM with an attachment... but you can't attach to PM's. And your email is unavailable. PM me with an email address if you may...

Thanks!

[OzzyKP]

Is the convention going to cost anything?

I don't have much (any) cash.

[JohnT]

Originally posted by Zopperoni
I can do the Promotion / PR stuff, it seems like something I would have the time and skills to do.

I have a few comments about the startup document:

- Location: I'm wondering whether it would be possible to save money by having the event hosted in-house at Firaxis and BHG. We could do a morning session at one company and an afternoon session at the other company.
I haven't found the Marriott's rent costs, but I don't think the convention fees will cover it. I don't know any viable alternatives, but I found this on the Baltimore website: http://www.baltimore.org/meeting/mp_....jsp?scat=CONF

- We could get additional sponsoring from local companies, like game shops.

- For transportation, we could look into renting nine-person-carriers to save money.

- A closing date of two weeks prior to the event may be too short. To settle on the location and accommodation, I think it may be desirable to stretch it to six weeks.

- Might I also suggest the (project) name ApolyCon?

For starters... What is a "nine-person carrier"? I've never heard of such a thing.

In regards to going to Firaxis and BHG offices, that is likely not the best solution as it imposes quite a burden onto our own guests - "Hi! We're coming to see you in July and guess what? We're going to crash at your place! Isn't that great?"

But seriously, we will impede and prevent a lot of work for a lot of people who will have no association with the convention in the first place. Even if we meet on Saturday, there will still be plenty of people at work and, even if not, BHG and Firaxis will have to expend time, cost, and effort in setting up a meeting space for us. That is, if they have one in the first place.

A nearby hotel is really the best way to go because once you're there, you're there. The convention center we'll keep in mind, but do note that it is 20 miles away from BHG, 26 miles away from Firaxis. I'll send an email to the proper person at the Marriott and see if I can't get a price sheet by Monday night (GMT -5).

The hotel will probably tell us the latest date they can accept a final number from us - that will likely end up being our closing date.

Great name, btw!