Well, yesterday was exciting, too. We met up for breakfast at the Worman House for a "conference" breakfast, as they call it. It was a buffet of eggs, potatoes, sausage, bacon, fresh fruit and pastries...and the food is excellent, prepared by chefs. It ain't no short order place, that Big Cedar Lodge. Every detail is attended to...that's Johnny Morris' way.
After breakfast, about two dozen folks (everyone there is looking to use Big Cedar for an event, conference, etc.) boarded two shuttle busses and headed out for a property tour.
The night before we toured the conference center--a classy, brand new facility.
But, next we took a look at the different lodge rooms and cabins. They have lots of choices. There are three lodges. Two are close to the conference center, just step out of the lodge and go less than 100 yards, about like Arlington, but a much, much nicer setting. We have asked them to block 100 rooms of different styles. But, when we sign the contract and you guys are ready to book rooms, you can book any available rooms or cabins they have. They also have four different places to eat, but what we've decided to do is give you choices. For the conference, we want our group to stay together, so I've asked Big Cedar to help us put together three meals a day. But, they've got several places to eat, as well as a bar.
After the property tour, Debbie and I sat down for two and a half hours with Carla Springer and Courtney Munday. Carla is our sales rep and Courtney will be our event/activities manager. We discussed a wide range of topics, from the agenda to wives to children's activities.
Here's what we roughed out.
Some folks want to arrive Wednesday. That's great. Book rooms as soon as we get the contract in order (within the next four days, we expect). There is a long list of activities from fishing to boating to golf to horseback riding to hiking to...we'll have a list from Courtney soon. We think most people will arrive Thursday, hence the idea to have a fishing tournament. But, there's plenty to do, for everyone...just look at the list and make reservations in advance for most of it. We'll get the list out as soon as we receive it.
Then, Thursday afternoon, we have booked one of their swimming pools and surrounding areas for an icebreaker (we need a sponsor for that). The icebreaker will be 6:30-8:30 pm. We will have a speakers dinner at 7:30 (anyone can sign up to hang out with the speakers, but space will be limited...first ones to sign up on the registration form can have dinner with the speakers, everyone else will be on your own at one of the restaurants).
Then, on Friday, breakfast from 7-8, trade opens at 8, first speaker at 9. Speakers from 9-10:30, coffee break, speakers from 10:45 to noon, walking-talking lunch in the trade show (included in registration fee) until 1:30, then speakers until 3. Then, head outside. There's a nice size pond where we can do electrofishing, set up some aeration systems and fountains, water chemistry lab, etc...good "hands-on" stuff until 5. Then, we have cool dinner planned on the lawn next to the conference center...cash bar at 6:30, then dinner at 7:30, then use the huge foyer for small group get togethers, etc. (Plus each lodge has nice foyers for small groups).
Then, Saturday, similar format with a banquet at the end of the day.
As soon as the contract is signed and we can put together a registration form, we'll get it on the website and in March-April issue of Pond Boss. But, I suggest you call and reserve your rooms as soon as they are available. The minute we finalize the contract, I'll post the room types and their costs and you can start calling in for reservations. Then, you can register for the conference.
There are tons of things to do. Debbie is working with Courtney on a spouse package. Big Cedar has a spa and all kinds of girlie stuff. Bring wives. They will even do a very cool culinary workshop and then the gals eat what they help make. Big Cedar also has a cool Kid's Club with organized activities for not much money. I think they said $25 per child for three hours of organized activities such as nature studies, tie-dying t-shirts, games and a snack. We'll find out the details about that, too.
We had lots to do in a short time, so we stayed focused on negotiating a contract and working out those details, first.
I'll tell you...this is a great destination for a vacation. Although, for the conference, we won't have much time to leave the property, there is so much to do, we won't be able to do it all. Some of you may want to plan a family vacation around this event. Branson is ten minutes away and that place is amazing. After we left Big Cedar, we just did a quick drive through. Although I've been to Branson a number of times, I still smile when I drive down the Hwy 76 strip.
We headed home at 3 pm yesterday and 6 hours and 15 minutes later, we were back in LL,2. 380 miles door to door for us. That's only 20 miles further than San Antonio.
Here are some photos for your review.
The Grandview Conference Center. Brand new, plenty large enough.
The big picture of the Grandview
Inside a small section of the ballroom
One type of conference set up in half of the ballroom
Lobby of the conference center
Big lobby of the conference center
The first place you go...to register for your room and pick up your Pond Boss packet.
Heading into Falls Lodge, close to the conference center.
The lobby of Falls Lodge
All kinds of cool stuff appoints the lodges
Typical room in Falls Lodge
Some of the rooms have remote-control gas fireplaces.
You'll see cool wood carvings all over the place.
Here's the view from your balcony at either of the two large lodges.
Look a little to the left and this is the view. The larger of the three ponds is the one they will let us survey and work on with the hands-on part of the conference.
Here's the pool for the first night ice-breaker.
A closer look at the pond where we will do the electrofishing and other watery hands-on stuff.
They have a 2500 square foot suite called the "Governor's Suite" It has 3 bedrooms, a loft with two double beds, a great room and two balconies. Great place for a hospitality room...I wanted to book it, but there were two things in the way...$1,400 per night and it was already booked.
Here's a typical double in the Valley View Lodge, right next to the conference center. This is where we blocked the most rooms.
More details as we get them.
Fish on!
