Who's up for an end of July Midwestern DU Meet Up?

[Gonzo Gardener]

Most of you might be thinking, “Isn’t it awfully early to begin planning a July meet up NOW?!”

Well, yes it is, but it will give us all something to look forward to and, as we all know, herding a bunch of DU’rs is not a simple task.

I’ll start by throwing out a couple of ideas that I hope might interest the group, but I would love input from anyone who’s interested in helping plan some kind of meet up.


Plan #1. I thought it might be fun to do a DU Meet Up revolving around the 4th Annual Traverse City Film Festival scheduled for the last week in July through August 3rd, 2008.

The festival kicks off with some amazing events prior to opening night, shows some great movies in several area venues, has free panel discussions each morning with prominent writers, directors, and actors. There's a free feature movie each evening outdoors and after sunset at the 'Open Space' on West Traverse Bay.

The surrounding area is beautiful... rolling hills dotted with orchards, wineries, small inland lakes, roadside artisan shops, quaint little villages... It's an awesome vacation spot.

I've got room for a few people plus outdoor space for tents and a couple of campers or RVs. The cottage is about a 30 minute drive from TC. I'd be up for hosting a mid-week day tour of local artists studios, or wineries… a studio or winery crawl, if you will and DU-weenie roast Saturday, August 2nd! Also, there are plenty of hotels, condos, and cabins in the area and campgrounds nearby.

Check out the TC Film Fest here: http://www.traversecityfilmfest.org/
(some travel and accommodation info is included on the TCFF site)

Link to TC Visitors Bureau here: http://www.visittraversecity.com/


My second idea may be a bit ambitious and help from several people would be needed to plan for this…

Plan #2. A DU Weekend Retreat somewhere in the Midwest where they have group facilities, like, The Cuyahoga Valley National Park at the Environmental Education Center in Peninsula, OH. They have a lodge that is a passive solar, “green” building and group bunk-rooms that sleep up to 60. There are other facilities similar to this, like, Huston Woods in Ohio or Mc Cormick Creek State Park in Spencer, Indiana. A place with a lodge or meeting space, kitchen, and with little cabins would be great. This event would take some serious organizing... It would be awesome to have a couple of speakers come in to talk about political/environmental activism and I would be happy to arrange for live music around the bonfire on Saturday night.

Well, there it is…

What say you DU... Yea or Nay?

Please, keep this kicked!

:hi:
Happy 2008 everyone!!!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear Green Meanie!

You know I'm interested!

I would actually prefer something less structured...

But that's just me...

Getting together with other DU'ers is high on my priority list...

I don't really require films or enviro/political talks to want to be involved...

But again, that's just me!

I'll still plan on being there!

:hi:

[Gonzo Gardener]

5. Cal-Peggy, the Midwest awaits you!!!

Structure is not my thing either. I just thought it might enhance a meet up to have a simple group activity with LOTS of free time to mingle. I'm open to any suggestions!!!

[RetroLounge]

2. "group bunk-rooms that sleep up to 60"

OMG! That is just asking for lounge trouble...

:evilgrin:

I think it's a great idea!

RL

[Gonzo Gardener]

6. ...

Red Union Suits for everyone... PILLOW FIGHT!!!

:bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce:

Any suggestions you might have are welcome, Retro!

[bridgit]

23. round here they refer to that as county lock-up, but it is a good idea...

:rofl:

[Gonzo Gardener]

32. Are you offering...

to bring the handcuffs?! :D

Could. Not. Resist.

[bridgit]

36. with this outfit...

:wtf: i'll bring my mace :thumbsup:

[RainDog]

3. I don't know where I'll be in July

maybe in the midwest, maybe not. I'd love to be able to see (again) and make new friends, but who knows?

as far as meet up stuff - to keep your sanity you might want to keep it reaaaaally simple. speakers, etc. sounds more seminar than meet up, and I'm sure if I travel from wherever to meet up w/ DU-ers, I'd rather have the time to do other things. but maybe that's just me.

[Gonzo Gardener]

8. Simple is best.

It's not my intention to hold a seminar. I prefer LOTS of FREE TIME to PLAY!!! :evilgrin:

I was thinking that having a couple of semi-organized group activities might be fun for some.

[IndianaJones]

4. I'm down for Chi town. nt.

[RetroLounge]

7. Oooh, good choice.

Central. Good airport. Pretty good public transportation.

RL

[Gonzo Gardener]

9. Great idea, IndianaJones

Chicago is my FAVORITE US city! I lived there for five years while attending the School of the Art Institute. I'd be up for a Chi-town meet up anytime (after February)!!! It's too damn c-c-cold there when the icy winds blow.

[fudge stripe cookays]

24. Another vote for Chicago.

There are tons of us around Milwaukee and Chicago. Not far at all.

[Gonzo Gardener]

39. DU Midwest Summer Tour, coming to a town near you!!!

:silly:

Tons of DU'rs?! Do you get together often?

I'd love an excuse to get up there for a day or two.

[fudge stripe cookays]

46. Not really since I"ve been up here (September),

but I have a favorite group of Chicago and Milwaukee DUers I like hanging out with.

[Solon]

37. Chicago is a lot closer to me. n/t

[prolesunited]

40. CHICAGO!!!

During the Green Festival, May 17 and 18
http://www.greenfestivals.org/content/view/230/200/

And why go to the trouble of organizing speakers when it's done for you? Here's who they has last year:
Greg Palast
Amy Goodman
Jim Hightower
Frances Moore Lappé
Dennis Kucinich
Bill McKibben
Riane Eisler
Paul Stamets
Judy Wicks
Van Jones

And if there was enough of us, they may agree to do something with us during the off hours since they're in town anyway.

And talk about affordable:
Better World Books and Green Festival are partnering to offer $5 off Green Festival admission to attendees who bring in 3 or more books. And you'll get your money's worth. We're still using free samples from vendors from last year's event.

Book some blocks of rooms at festival rates and we would be all set. No fuss, no muss.

Unless, of course, you're dying to do it all from scratch.

[Gonzo Gardener]

43. !

Man, I'm outta da loop.
Looks good...

:toast:

I'll need to get in touch with my Chi-town peeps to see if someone can put me up for the weekend or if we can get a group rate the Ramada looks like the best deal...

Ramada Lake Shore
4900 S Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60615
Rates: $129.00/night for 3 or more nights; $159.00 for Friday and Saturday nights only, plus tax of 15.4% (reserve by April 13)
Reservations: 773-288-5800 (mention Green Festival)
The Ramada is located just 12 minutes south of Navy Pier at 47th and Lake Shore Drive. The Metra Train and CTA bus, two options that will get you downtown quickly and affordably, are two blocks away. The Ramada is a full-service hotel with a restaurant, and many of our rooms look out over Lake Michigan. We’re also just blocks away from an assortment of neighborhood shops and restaurants. Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry is just a half-mile south of us, and parks, the lakefront and museums are right outside our door.

*:hi:*I'll get back to you on this ASAP!

[Nickster]

49. Wow, that would be an awesome lineup. I'd love to see Palast at the very least.

[mzteris]

51. Chicago, Chicago

my kinda town . . .

That sounds convenient enough.

[Gonzo Gardener]

10. .

[SallyMander]

11. Kickin' for GM

(not my fiancee)

:rofl:



I'm up for anything! I have a pretty intensive teaching schedule through mid-July (i think), so later summer is probably better.

I'm all in for camping/bonfires/kickin' it. :D


Edit for typo :silly:

[Gonzo Gardener]

12. Thanks...

for the kick, my wild mare!



Yours truly,

MrMander Green Meanie

[SallyMander]

15. ...

:spray:


Just found this now :rofl:

:spank:

[Pierre.Suave]

13. I LOVE Traverse City

I really do.

There are tons of places to go and tons of things to do outdoors.

Plus I got friends there.

I think we could really have a lot of fun going from bar to bar that I was thrown out of at one time or another...

[Gonzo Gardener]

16. Kid Rock... is that YOU?!!

:rofl:

[Pierre.Suave]

18. no, not by a long shot

but damn did I enjoy myself in traverse city.

[momophile]

14. my two cents - Denver in August! you know you want to!

and there will probably be lots of us already here for the convention.

[meegbear]

17. Wouldn't a meet-up in Denver during the convention be more apropos?

[Connonym]

20. not if you factor in hotel room price/availability and the need to fly out

for me anyway that would definitely put it out of my price range

[Connonym]

19. How far is it from the car ferry in Ludington?

Not that I'm sure it would be any more efficient than just going down around the tip of the lake. Chicago would also be cool but I'm really skint and it's an expensive city to get a hotel room. The idea of a park and camping sounds like fun too and probably easiest on the budget. I think it would be a lot of fun.

[Gonzo Gardener]

21. Ah, yes, the SS Badger... a great way to travel!

Ludington to Traverse City is less than 95 miles. Ludington to the cottage is 130 miles.

Check the ferry rates: http://ssbadger.com/

It might be less expensive to drive around the lake. :shrug:

The more you can save on travel expenses the more movie tickets, wine, and black cherries you can afford! :9

:hi:

[knitter4democracy]

30. The high speed ferry in Muskegon is cheaper.

You'd still have a couple hour drive, but it's a gorgeous one. :)

[KitchenWitch]

22. I LOVE Traverse City!

:D

Not sure if I can make it this year, but I will keep it in mind.

[Pierre.Suave]

25. HEY

if I can make it, then you better damn well make it too...

:P

[Gonzo Gardener]

26. Oh, you big tease...

You'd be welcome any summer and pick up yer boy on the way! :pals:

How ya doin'?

[KitchenWitch]

28. Hanging in there.

Less sad. Ready for the 6 year old to go back to school.

:D

[Gonzo Gardener]

33. I'm ready too...

school resumes tomorrow.

I'd like a couple more weeks with my kid, but the sooner we get our noses to the grindstone the closer we move toward our reward, Spring Break!!!

:bounce::bounce::bounce:

Less sad is progress! :hug:

[Tyler Durden]

27. Me and D are going to retire there!

Would be cooler than cool to meet there for the Film Festival.

PLEASE keep me on your list...?

[Gonzo Gardener]

34. Oh yeah, yer on my list, buddy!

:rofl:

This is the list, so far... ;)

[Tyler Durden]

47. Not sure how that sounds!

You aren't on the LOOOOOOONG list of people around here I've pissed off recently...are you?

:hide:

[Gonzo Gardener]

48. You're not on THAT list!

:pals:

[GigiMommy]

29. I LOVE Traverse City...

and we were thinking of attending MM's Traverse City Film Festival someday.

[Gonzo Gardener]

35. Someday = July 2008, GigiMommy!

:hi:

[knitter4democracy]

31. Heck, I'd move to T.C. if I could.

I might be able to talk Hubby into that one. :)

[Gonzo Gardener]

38. As the saying goes...

"A view of the bay with half the pay".

We would sell our souls to the devil to live up there full time!

[SPKrazy]

41. hell why not just a national convention

with that kind of planning in advance

a kick assed place

DU runs amock in ________

I'm there...

[Gonzo Gardener]

45. A DU Rollin' Red States Bus Tour?!

SPK is on the bus!!!

:bounce::applause::bounce:

[RetroLounge]

42. A National Meetup / Convention

With speakers, workshops, break-off groups, nametags and everything.

:hi:

RL

[Gonzo Gardener]

44. I'll make the popcorn!

:popcorn:

[bullwinkle428]

50. I live in Iowa and don't really see MI or OH as truly "Midwest" -

Chicago is definitely do-able, however!