Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Meeting in Georgia

I am hearing the talk about a Pond Boss meeting in Georgia. Let's do it. We need a few volunteers to step forward and put it together. I fly often, and typically connect in Atlanta. It would be fairly easy for me to stay a day, participate in a meeting, and fly on. If a group of you wants to do something similar to the meeting in Texas, let's start talking about it. Dave Davidson sparked the Texas group and can give you details what he did. It snowballed, and we had a huge time.
We have a great group in Georgia and surrounding area, and could potentially put together an interesting event.
Someone start something.

I'm only a couple of hours from Atlanta. I'm sure I could attend.

I live in Atlanta and have a farm in Buchanan (about 60 miles W on I20). Bob, we havd a mutual friend in Carrollton (Johnny T.) - we need to get him involved. Count me in.
Randy

Count me in just a few hour drive for me.

Lord knows I asked for it so count me in also. I don't know how much help I can be with the planning (4 hours South and a single mom), but I would love the experience!

Thanks Bob,

Deb

I'm in, but if Deb and Greg are going to be in the same room lets pay for this by selling tickets

I am in. I am in Macon 90 miles south of Hot-lanta

When Where?

I would offer my 3 acre pond for a location.

Frank

We need someone to step up and help set things up. We need a meeting place and some tentative dates. Anyone?

I'm going to check tomorrow I think I can get us a freebe meeting room at a hotel near the airport

Bill :

Try for a meeting room in the airport. That worked great in DFW . Set the date far enough in advance so all the people have time to plan. You may want to talk to Dave Davidson about what worked well in DFW. ewest

Count me in!
Let's see how many people we have before I offer facilities.

Bob I just got in. I somehow missed this thread and got a voicemail from Duggan. Great idea. Is this exclusive to pond boss memebers? If others come now that are not memebers I bet they would be after the meeting. What timeframe? I work hard to take off time for hunting and will be hard pressed to help out the next two months. If Feb is timeframe I think we can do some good planning this out and Yes Bill I will help anyway fit. Bill I promise to be nice to Deb. I'm the one scared she can argue me under the table.

Good start, all. February is a great month. I don't necessarily think it should be limited to Pond Boss members. Planning is essential, and the organizer needs to have a list of everyone who will attend, before the meeting. If space is limited, we should limit attendance.

I live in Macon Georgia 90 miles south of Hot-lanta and would be willing to start keeping track of attendees, or whatever I can do to help organize. I can post notices and other info on my website if necessary.

email me at frankp0@cox.com with the following info and I'll start a list. Please put GA PB MEETING in subject line.

Name
Address, City State Zip
email address
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

Any other comments or suggestions are welcome

Frank

Febuary is a GREAT month football season is OVER!!! What part of the city would you all like to have it? Greg Man we should REALY put alot into this I have other people who want to build ponds and get into this!!

Boy this sounds Great!!!! We all who live here need to get together some where and work this OUT!!

COol, DUggan I suggest working with Frank. He is way more organized than I. Ever been to his personal pond website? WOW! Bob do you want to have some pond talks? Frank your place might be a bit far if most are around Atlanta, but I have no problem with it. First like always, what are the goals of the meeting? To meet folks in perosn or also learn something via a presentation, field study, etc? The ideal place I would think would be with a pond but facility close for eating, talking and listening. Thoughts?

what about charge for food, etc? $15 or something and if money was left give it to POnd Boss?

Some thoughts to consider. Keep in mind weather and location and numbers. Outside at a pond in Feb. can be wet , cold or both. The easier the access to the location the better. You also have to plan a flexible location that will work if you have 20 or 50 people. With limited time to meet (you will be shocked how fast the time will run out) the focus should be on exchanging ideas and discussion of topics . DFW was an open forum which worked well because with a little advanced thinking the topics people were interested in were covered. If you have set talks on specific topics you lose the interaction of the attendees and someone has to prepare to give the talks. ewest

I thought the D/FW meeting was great. We all sat around a square set of tables, so everyone could make eye contact. We started at the start, talking about pond construction, then free-lanced our way through the day. There was a free exchange of ideas, and if anyone wanted to speak, they could. Questions were addressed to different people, with interjections from anyone compelled. It was refreshing, to break bread with fellow pondmeisters. We had people from all walks. There was an attorney, nuclear physicist, dentist, retired manufacturer, consultants, entreprenuers...it was great. We went in without an agenda and that was pretty neat. Dave Davidson was in charge, and he had several key people around him to find the venue, to provide subway sandwiches and drinks. It was a fun event. Heck, I might be able to talk Otto into flying with me.

Come on guys send me your name and info!

Hey Greg thanks for the kind comments about my website. If anyone wants to see its www.frankpinkston.com - click on Finney Farm link.

Frank

Frank,

I'd appreciate being on your list. I've got some "free" Southwest tickets to use...can't think of a more potentially entertaining way to spend a Saturday. Maybe Greg will finally realize I'm not the monster he thinks I am...maybe not also.

ML hope you can talk Southwest into flying to Atlanta by Feb.

Ooops. Bill, you folks are really deprived.

No Southwest in Georgia at all? I have flown them to Birmingham, but that's not exactly close...anything close to Atlanta?

ML, Hope to see you to make ammends. Ever heard of Clark Howard, consumer advocate? He talks all the time about driving the two hours to Brham to save money. It is not that far from ATL is my point. Frank I will email my info so you have it. DId the Dallas meeting charge any money or did you just buy your own food? I have to diff clients that live on nice lakes with clubhouse right beside. Want me to look into rental fee? I think one, toph20, said his is $50.

ML
email me your info I'l add you to the database I set up

Deb already responded

Greg responded

Keep 'em comming and Ill keep yal posted

Frank