Illinois Regular Chicago area meeting

[ash13brook]

Maybe we should set up a regular meeting and whoever can make it can make it. It seems that we spend a couple or three months trying to get something going only to have one or two guys be able to make it for just one meet only to have to start the process all over again in a couple of months.
If we had a regular time - like the first Saturday of the month at xx o'clock at Where ever, folks could plan ahead and maybe allot time for a certain meeting as opposed to everybody trying to figure out a time when the most can make it.
It doesn't necessarily need to be monthly. It could be any time frame.
Would y'all from up dere in Wisconsin be interested in coming down this way occasionally. In exchange maybe a few of us could arrange to come up your way sometime, too. 'marke' from Milwaukee and I have touched briefly on this as my son goes to school up dere, eh. Milwaukee is a pretty neat city.
How about over there in Northwestern Indiana - Hammond, Gary, Portage...anyone there?
If anyone is interested, we could occasionally come up with a one day project to work on collectively as a change form just wandering around the area, which is fun on it's own, but sometimes becomes the same walk over and over.
Input from all encouraged.

 

[Ken Ford]

I think it's a great idea, and more along what I had originally proposed for a regular Chicago get-together. I still think there's merit to meeting at a bookstore for coffee followed by a photo jaunt.

 

[ash13brook]

Okay, that seems like a start. Which one did you have in mind and what time do they open?

 

[Ken Ford]

I was originally thinking a traveling meet-up utilizing Borders and B&N stores in the area. We're spread all over the area, so it seemed to make sense. However, if a fixed location works better for the group, great.

Is there a Borders or B&N with a good sized cafe and decent photo book section in the Oak Park area? It would be a start.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Liam and I met last December at the Borders on State Street, and then we walked to Central Camera. We could do something along those lines, like at 11 AM, and then continue the chat somewhere else.

I'm all up for something like this. Good idea, Matt!

PS. Hope your dad's doing fine...

 

[ash13brook]

A travelling meet-up area might be a good idea. Probably more so if we could position a few sort of toward some of the 'outer peoples' area. I know it's easier for some of us to get into downtown than others.
It does seem like it should be a repeating list of places/month so the months long decision making is left out. That way everyone would always know where the meet would be way in advance. If some car pooling needed to be arranged, or info on how to get somewhere was needed, there'd be plenty of time for plans to be made.

I think at least one or two of ought to be in the city, just because it's so wide open and is so different at different times of the year. That said, your Oak Park idea is fine with me. It's a neat area.


Would the following please weigh in (if you're around currently)? I'm not sure if all of y'all are from around here. I took the names off the 'Chicago meet 2007' sticky.

Skipkid
Rogue D.
Jeremy Z.
BillBingham2
andrewnelles
CVBLZ4
wpb
Ronald M
bensyverson
bean counter
Falcon Awesome
marke (from Milwaukee) we want your $.02 also.
navilluspm (also from Milwaukee) speak up!

 

[bean_counter]

I'm still around. I think 4 or 6 meetings per year, pre-planned well in advance, might get some folks out. Move them around the area a bit to keep it interesting, and not burden folks out on the fringes (geographically speaking 😀 ).

I could probably get out 2 or 3 times per year; tough with family, job, competing interests.

 

[rogue_designer]

I like the traveling meet-up idea, in principle.

However, I know myself and the odds of my actually leaving the city for one of the burbs - especially one not on the CTA (I don't deal much with the Metra either) not to mention my preference for urban locals when shooting, means I probably won't attend many out of the city.

Planning well in advance is good though, and does increase the odds.

But I don't want to be a party pooper here. I'll make an honest attempt to attend where other people are gathering. 😀

 

[ash13brook]

Rogue,
The beauty of standing dates/places is being able to maybe con a professional driver into a little carpooling! (might cost you a beer, tho')

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I think Oak Park is in a Metra line... at least, one of the two I can take when I come to the Loop. However, I'd get off in Oak Park downtown...

Heck, let's set a place and if I'm able to go, I'll be there. Like Liam, I have a strong preference for the downtown area but I can try to make it elsewhere if I figure out how to get there. 🙂

 

[Ken Ford]

Oak Park is also the end of the CTA Lake St. L (Green line).

 

[rogue_designer]

Oh - the Oak park one isn't a problem... I'm just dreading the first time someone suggests Naperville or something.

Matt - i might just take you up on that. The beer comes after you're done driving though. 😉

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Set a date and a time, and I'll do my best to go.

Who knows... if anything, we can do a carpool scheme from the Western suburbs 🙂 .

BTW, Liam... Naperville ain't that bad 😉 .

 

[ash13brook]

Okay, here's my proposal.

March 15 - Oak Park - I'll take a drive up by there and find a location close to trains, soon and let everyone know
May17 - Downtown @Borders (which one again?) @ 11am
July 19 open to suggestions
Sept 13 open to suggestions
Nov 8 - Downtown @ Border's @11am

I put the first two in to let everyone get started considering plans. I put downtown as the last one, in case it turns out sort of cold we can hang around and drink coffee for awhile, then go get a sandwich somewhere and whatever.

If anyone at all thinks we should make it every single month, that's fine with me, too.

I have been in contact with marke from Milwaukee. If anyone is interested in taking a trip up there, I would drive up to five besides driver. I promise not to drink beer while there...it IS Milwaukee, tho'...

 

[Ken Ford]

Sounds like a plan!

 

[whitecat]

Wish I could join you. I used to live in Chicago.

 

[ash13brook]

Whitecat-
Where are now? Maybe if you're somewhere nice and warm, we'll commute the thousand miles or so to include you.
If you're somewhere colder and snowier, though...well, I'm sorry, but I think we'll pass!!
By the way, you have too many cameras. Send the M7 my way so it will get the attention it deserves!

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Why no April? Just wondering...

I may make it to the March meeting, but I may be leaving the country on May 17th.

Again... why not April? 😕

 

[ash13brook]

I didn't know if everybody wanted a chance every month or not. If someone thinks a monthly gives everyone a better chance of making it sometime, that's AOK with me.
So, a little revision -

March 15 - Oak Park - I'll take a drive up by there (probably Sat., 16 Feb) and find a location close to trains, and let everyone know where it is.
Apr 19 - Downtown @ Borders (which one?) @11am
May17 - Location anyone?
Jun 14 - Downtown @ Border's @11am
July 19 - Location anyone?
Aug 16 - Downtown @ Border's @ 11am
Sept 13 - Location anyone?
Nov 8 - Downtown @ Border's @11am

In regards to all of the Downtown meets - if it gets boring, there's no reason we can't all walk to the nearest 'L' platform, and for a couple of bucks each way, go almost anywhere in the city.

I think I have selected dates that don't coincide with any holiday weekends, while still being about a month apart. Again, feel free to correct me.

Any location suggested will be plugged in unless someone has a strong objection. Obviously there are going to be locations everyone cannot or is not interested in making, but it only seems fair to let anyone whose access to Downtown may be limited to try and get something nearer to them.

After we get dates and locations solidified, we can post this as a sticky. Toward the end of the year, anyone should feel free to start setting up the next years dates.
Also, the reason I left December out is because I figured most might be too busy with holiday plans. If that's not the case, someone say so and we can add it. Probably also downtown. Yes? No?

 

[marke]

Hi Matt, and all!

Sorry for the late reply, but I just got back from my honeymoon yesterday. 😀

Now, it's time to get our new house in order, as I've only been living in it about 3 weeks myself, and my wife just moved in last Saturday.

For now, I could see meeting in Milwaukee, but as spring enters the picture, I'm sure I could manage a trip to Chicago. Thanks for keeping things alive here guys!