RFF Conference ???

[desmo]

Polite reminder:

The world is a far bigger place than America so a meet in the middle would be more like Turkey, Sri Lanka or Spain etc.
This is an international forum isn't it or have I stumbled onto the xenophobe club?

Given that America has a greater income level than most places, doesn't it make more sense to hold it in a third world nation so us peasants can attend?

Definately!!.... Only question I have is why West Coast? How about a meet in the middle, like Chicago for instance

Just wondering

Thanks,

Scott

 

[FrankS]

Reginal conferences it is then!

 

[Uncle Bill]

After APUG I am going to be conferenced out. I like the idea of it but being in school and working, it would work better in say Chicago than the west coast. I don't know, this will be the classic I will have to think about it.

Bill

 

[ch1]

Actually, I divide my time b/w NY and AZ but agree with Ted that AZ only "works" if it's in Feb through April (maybe May).

T.O. is okay with me - but it's already hosting the APUG thing this year so I think the "wealth" should be shared.

Sorry, desmo, I am not willing to take personal responsibility for current politics such that I would "exclude" my country on the basis of the current clown-in-chief. I think you're a bit over the line on that point.

Oh, and BTW, I think most teenage boys (and those of us who remain in that intellectual capacity) would disagree with your current tag line ("A bird in the hand is always better than a hand in the bush!")

In adolesence it took me forever to get the former into the latter!

 

[desmo]

Thanks Doug

We have a lot of members in Europe... maybe a get-together in the south of France would be convenient? How about Bermuda or the Azores as somewhere in between? RFF also has a number of members in Asia and Australia/NZ... Take a look at the RFF member map at http://pub20.bravenet.com/guestmap/view.php?usernum=1637362376 Let's see, what conference location would be fairer to all... maybe South Africa? Whatever, it just seems that we've been US-centric in considering locations.

There really is no one spot convenient for all, so I suppose (if the conference idea flies) it might move annually....

 

[ch1]

Oh, oh....looks like this one is heading down the slippery slope of politics!

May the whole idea of an in-person RFF conference makes no sense - after all is every day a web-based RFF conference?

BTW: come springtime, anyone up for a NYC get together. Folks from everywhere are always welcome in NYC. Heck, chances are you already have realtives here!

 

[desmo]

Ditto for me. No point voting if I don't know where it would be.

And yes, the concerns I raised are real not inventions aimed at pissing members off.
I AM an outspoken socialist and AM a Union leader and there really IS a chance I would be red flagged travelling into the USA.
(Not that I really want to anyway, as I've said)

Anyway, if the vote was just a simple "Should we hold a conference or not" without any specific location, I would vote yes. If the location was USA or Britain, I would vote no.

I can't vote until I know the location. Depending on where it will be, maybe I can go, maybe I can't.

 

[ch1]

Oh, oh....looks like this one is heading down the slippery slope of politics!

Maybe the whole idea of an in-person RFF conference makes no sense - after all is every day a web-based RFF conference?

BTW: come springtime, anyone up for a NYC get together? [NOT A CONFERENCE!!!]

Folks from everywhere are always welcome in NYC. Heck, chances are you already have realtives here whether you know it or not!

 

[desmo]

George, everything is political whether we admit it or not.

It's not a question of money for me: I have enough air points for a return ticket to anywhere in the world.
If I were to say yes to the USA but was red flagged at the border, would you reimburse me?

Oh, oh....looks like this one is heading down the slippery slope of politics!

May the whole idea of an in-person RFF conference makes no sense - after all is every day a web-based RFF conference?

BTW: come springtime, anyone up for a NYC get together. Folks from everywhere are always welcome in NYC. Heck, chances are you already have realtives here!

 

[tedwhite]

George:

I looked at the APUG conference schedule of events and, indeed, it is a conference. Somehow I feel as if we here are perhaps less formal, less organized, looser, perhaps more laissez faire?

I would rather fancy a plain old-fashioned get-together wherein we could meet one another and, basically, shoot the bull, share experiences, tips, look at gear that perhaps we've never seen before, quaff a few brewskies, and maybe wander around and shoot up some film. That sort of thing.

And you're right: spread it around. Toronto's got APUG, and I had forgotten about that. I guess I initially thought of Toronto simply because I've never been there, and it's always exciting to go to someplace you've never been (well, with a few qualifications).

Perhaps regional get-togethers might be more practical and cheaper?

Ted

 

[ch1]

Ted,

As has been said here, for some $ or family matters are a constraint. That's why I would vote for Chicago. As I noted, it is central to most of NA (and at least the first of these is likely to be NA-oriented) and because so many conferences are conducted near O'Hare Airport - there is a well-established infrastructure of reasonable priced hotels near to the airport. [Of course this does mean that those wanting to visit the Loop etc. will have to plan separate "extracurricular" activities - but that's easy to arrange given the well developed transportation system in greater Chicago.

desmo,

Cannot handle your concerns. As demonstrated above, already you're attracting the lunatic fringe with your comments. I don't know if your political status is such that you would not be permitted entry. I doubt it would be a problem unless YOU want it to be. And I guess these posts establish that you do want it to be a problem.

Sorry, but much as I'd like to visit NZ, I doubt many RFF'ers could do so given that they don't even seem to want to go to CA or OR.

As I noted earlier, I am able with reasonable notice to go anywhere in the world - but I don't think most here share my flexibility.

Please cease your line of icommentary so the rants don't get worse.

 

[FrankS]

Of course it is, but then again, who cares? America is all that matters. We've got all the money, remember. Just keep making those nice sheepskin uggs and there will be no trouble.
I dislike peasants. They stink up the joint. Do you promise to bathe?


You into the sauce again Bill?
If you are serious (doubt it) this is disgusting.
If it's your humour, it's a bit off.

 

[bmattock]

Of course it is, but then again, who cares? America is all that matters. We've got all the money, remember. Just keep making those nice sheepskin uggs and there will be no trouble.
I dislike peasants. They stink up the joint. Do you promise to bathe?


You into the sauce again Bill?
If you are serious (doubt it) this is disgusting.
If it's your humour, it's a bit off.

Heaven forfend, I've merely had my customary evening tipple, no drop into the gin gimlets again. I only tend to do that every six months or so. And in any case, it would have been a joke if it actually existed. Which it doesn't seem to. Strange days indeed.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[dadsm3]

Why not get together for a couple at the APUG in Toronto May4-7? Maybe the GTA RFF club could host something?
We have as many looney lefties as ridiculous righties, so come election time we usually land somewhere in the middle...isn't that what democracy is all about? But I think tolerance is the keyword here. I'm sure we can accomodate red union leaders as well as guys who think painting a line down the middle of the highway is too much government.....
George, I'm with you, I went with Chicago because of location, it's a good central point. Toronto is also great, and give me an excuse to go to NYC, please!
Bill, I want to think you're kidding......you are, right?

Canada in the winter? Fugeddaboutit.....too damn cold even for the natives.
Mike

 

[ch1]

dadsm3 etc.

There are 2 reasons why I would discourage NYC as the venue:

1) We NY'ers are so accused of "chauvanism" that to advance it as a venue would seem to be a sterotype of how non-NY'ers think of us.

2) This is, admittedly, one very expensive city. Unlike Chicago, there is no cluster of inexpensive conference hotels near our airports and Manhattan is prohibitively expensive for folks traveling on their own (as opposed to the boss's) dime.

Don't get me wrong - I'd love to have RFF folks gather here - but I suspect you'd all wind up somewhere in Parsnippany, New Jersey and wonder where "the City" is!

Come to think of it - to make it reasonable - how about a place like Albany, NY or Kingston, ON ?

Do it during the summer and you can probably get reasonable rates at the college dormitories - I know a lot of upstate NY colleges host such affairs during the summer to turn a buck or two that way!

 

[dadsm3]

George, agree with most of what you said, NY's pretty pricey, but you get what you pay for. Let's face it, you just can't beat it for RF photography. The other major NA city's are great as well, but come a distant second.
I think Chicago is best for this conference....those of us that want to do the NYC thing can come down for one of your 'Greater NYC Area' RFF meetings, something I haven't seen posted yet......do you have them?

 

[Stephanie Brim]

I could seriously hop a bus to about anywhere...where I'd *stay*, though, is another matter. Hotels are expensive. I'm going to be a broke student when this comes about.

 

[ch1]

George, agree with most of what you said, NY's pretty pricey, but you get what you pay for. Let's face it, you just can't beat it for RF photography. The other major NA city's are great as well, but come a distant second.
I think Chicago is best for this conference....those of us that want to do the NYC thing can come down for one of your 'Greater NYC Area' RFF meetings, something I haven't seen posted yet......do you have them?

Mike,

Unfortunately for us here in NYC-area we're not as "cohesive" as you guys in T.O. or the SF-area folk.

I know a bunch of guys (sorry, no gals, unfortunately) gathered down here last Summer (before I was a member - I read about it after the fact).

I'd love a NYC get together - but perhaps we're all too shy and reserved?

Or maybe we do need some visitors to get us to put our clean T-shirts on and get out and do some shooting?

You know, as mild as it's been, it's been a long, long winter!

 

[ch1]

Whew!.....

 

[vincentbenoit]

Would you be willing to pay for attending a rangefinderforum.com conference? The conference would be in Oregon or California.

JT

The dollar is cheap at the moment but not that cheap...

Vincent (England)