Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Meeting in Georgia

I tried will again tomorrow, in your address is the O a number or cap letter

Bill I went both ways with it and had it bounce back each time. Just do a direct private message through your link above. That finally did the trick for me.

Deb

Hey guys I will Deffently be there....Who is going to organise this??

Since my name has been thrown around, I'll give my thoughts on what we did in Texas that seemed to work. Somebody has to take charge and just do it. Saying let's get together or y'all come just doesn't cut it. Trent Lewis kinda stuck me with the job. I don't remember how many attendees we had but it was around 15.

Step one was to find out when Lusk could be there. He is incredibly busy and working nationally but is also extremely interested in this type of thing. Pick the date and stick with it. This part can't be done by committee.

Next, find a place to have it. To do this, you really have to know how many are coming. Once you get a rough idea on numbers, find a place. Gary Condo (Pond Rookie) did it all on these arrangements. He has connections in the
hospitality industry. I wouldn't have known where to start. He also knows a Chef that provided, gratis, some damn good sub sandwiches. Since we were meeting at D/FW Airport, we couldn't wander around a lot so we ate and stayed put. Gary did a helluva job here. If anyone attending has experience in the hospitality industry, hustle them into doing this part. You might be well advised to get in touch with Gary to get his recommendations. We did not attempt to block out hotel rooms for those coming in to spend the night. Gary said we would have to personally guarantee ($) the room occupancy and we passed on this part.

You have to go into marketing mode. I went through past posts to find people in Texas and E-mailed them. Most responded but some didn't. I correctly surmised that some interested ponders only log on occasionally. Since we were meeting inside the Airport, we had to have a firm list of attendees to furnish to Airport Security. Make a list. Not everybody showed that said they would and a couple of people showed up that hadn't previously committed. Gary was able to get them in.

No matter what you do, you have to have some kind of commitment. Without it, you can't make arrangements or figure out an agenda.

For an agenda, we had Lusk talk about all of the steps in ponding from site selection to fishing. Mike Otto talked from his extensive experience on sites and the aspects of pond building. Lots of agreements and disagreements, cussing and discussing here. Lots of sharing on what had and hadn't worked. All of us, including Bob and Mike, learned from each other. Lots of interesting new ideas and experiences were thrown out.

In retrospect, I can't think of anything that we could have done differently. Some attendees might have other ideas and can chime in with suggestions. I hope they will. Eric West (EWEST) did a great job of chronicling the various aspects that we discussed.

The part that I think all of us enjoyed is putting real names and faces with the CB Handles that a lot of people use to post here. I hope we can do it again next year.

Oh yeah, bring pictures of your water holes.

I live here in Atlanta and often fly in & out. I don't suggest meeting at the airport. It would be great for the few people that will fly in, but a nightmare for most of the people driving to the meeting. Depending on the number of people coming, a suite or meeting room at a hotel closs to the airport would probably be the best way to go. My farm and 4A, .5A & .33A ponds are about 45 miles from airport, and I would be happy to offer it, but might be too far, and it's really not anything fancy. I'm not in the hospitality business, and have no connections, but will be glad to help find a place when we have more information. I can't volunteer to oversee the whole event - too busy trying to keep a couple off business's from going straight down the tubes............... Randy

It is the mumber zero in my email frankp0@cox.net

Thanks

Frank

Frank I am almost sure I can get us a comped meeting room at a nice hotel near the Atlanta airport if that is the way to go. Once we have a date I will firm it up.
Bill

Frank I will try email again, did you get it? I say let Duggan and Frank run this thing? Others agree? I guess you do not like the idea of being close to a lake? I think local folks would rather drive to metro ATL than in heart of ATL traffic, plus I think it will cost less at subdivision country club than hotel, but I'm probably wrong.

Gee wiz thanks Greg

Bill, that's the way it happened to me. Damn fish dealers!

Greg

I did not get your email.

The address is frankp0@cox.net

That is a zero not the letter O.

I have 4 responses so far.

Frank

I only have 4 folks that responded. Come on guys and gals surely there are more folks in Georgia interested?!

Deb and Jersey y'all intetested? Send me your info email frankp0@cox.net (that is a zero)

Frank

Frank,

By Deb I am assuming you mean me! I sent that info to you by private message first of the week. Please let me know if you did not get it.

Deb

Deb

Yes I got your message. Sorry I had not moved your info into the Access database I set up. You are in now! And thanks

Frank

YES Frank!!! I am intrested!!!!! what do I DO!!! HERE TAKE MY MONEY!!!

big_pond

shoot me an email at frankp0@cox.com (thats a zero in my email not the letter O) with the following info and I'll add you to the list. Please put GA PB MEETING in subject line.

Name
Address, City State Zip
email address
Telephone
Suggested dates in February 2006 (Feb 4'th, 11,18, 25 are Saturdays in Feb 2006)
Top 3 Topics you want to hear/learn/discuss

Frank

Bill Duggan

I sent you a message here. For some reason I had an email returned that I sent with a bad address. What's the correct address?

I sure hope you are in for assisting with local arrangements. Let's get in touch in the next few days.

But Not Saturday - I'm going to Hot'Lanta to hear the Rolling Stones - gonna watch Mick and the boys in their 60's at Phillips Arena.

Frank

I will be out of town for 9 days, good luck organzing. thanks guys for doing this.

Frank I am having a hard time e-mailing you to

bduggan@quingroup.com

770-380-9944

Bill

I sent you an email - hopefully this one will make it to you.

Its the da?? zero inmy email probably thats goofing you up. It is frankp0@cox.net

Frank

Hey Frank I keep getting this email to BOUNCE

Email me at: r_boulware@hotmail.com

Frank
Call me Sunday afternoon 770-380-9944

Bill Duggan

Bill I will call Sunday but probably late afternoon before I return from seeing Mick and the boys at Phillips Arena.

Frank

Rolling Stones LIVE and Keith Richards(old joke)

I think Ken should be invited to the meeting to defend his fish and procedures, and let Deb stay home with her son and/or play golf.
Deb, how 'bout that Michelle Wie?

Tigermeister