Sukoshi and I flew back to CA yesterday and arrived about 7:00 pm, and then I had to run home, unpack, and repack to leave for Vegas early this morning for my work staff conference. I checked into my flight late last night and all was well, but when I got to the airport this morning, they told me my flight was cancelled
! I was already "in the doghouse" with my boss since I missed the first day of our staff conference for the YT meet-up (I already had my airline tickets booked for YT when she scheduled the conference), so I was NOT happy to find out the next flight out on the government's contract carrier wasn't for 5 HOURS! I ended up calling my boss and getting permission to NOT fly the contract carrier. I cancelled that ticket and was able to rebook on another airline to get to Vegas the same time as originally planned this morning. Now, I'm finally in my hotel room after a day of BORING seminars, and all I want to do is check all the meet-up pics, but I have several people waiting for my work wireless aircard that we're using to get on the internet, so I can't stay online for long
. I'll respond to your posts and pics just as soon as I get another chance.
One thing to note about the pet fee, our contract with the hotel was for a $50 NON-REFUNDABLE pet fee per room for the first 2 dogs in the room. I debated this with that hotel at the time as their fee is normally 1/2 refundable upon check-out, and they said that would NOT be the case with our group since they were allowing us to bring so many dogs at once and would need to do additional sanitation in the rooms and ballroom after we left. Now, if you can get the hotel to refund 1/2 your money, then more power to you, but if they will not agree to do so, that is completely within their right, as that is what is in our contract with them - NON-REFUNDABLE. I'm sure the individual hotel confirmations said the standard text, as it would if you were a "normal" person coming off the street and not bringing so many dogs at once in conjunction with our group.
I will be posting a list of who won all the raffle prizes, but I probably won't have a chance to do that until this weekend. Thank you again to all who donated to the raffle and goodie bags! Both were a great success!
Also, many thanks to Jodie for organizing the vendors, Michele for heading up the raffle and goodie bags, Kathy for donating the prizes for the Crazy Conundrum game, and my mom for being our home base! She was able to accept and organize everyone's raffle and goodie bag items as they shipped them, get us some coupons from some of the Plaza stores (and wonderful samples from Three Dog Bakery), and she helped me stuff all the goodie bags Friday morning before the meet! Oh! And she de-labeled all the water bottles for me too, so I could relabel them with my own labels when I got into town
. And thanks to those of you who went to the meet-up, as it wouldn't have happened without each of you! Sukoshi and I had a GREAT time, and I LOVED seeing everyone so happy! I almost lost my voice from all the talking...LOL! It's so nice to have a face and personality to put with each of you as I read your posts now.
One thing I forgot to mention at the meet - I included an evaluation form in your packet of handouts, and I'd appreciate if you could fill that out and mail it back to me if you didn't hand deliver it to me at the meet-up. My address is on your "Attendees List" - also in your registration packet. The evaluation form is a little overwhelming, but it shouldn't take but just a few minutes to fill out, and I think it will be invaluable to me if I go insane again and decide to take on another meet-up in the future
. I can't make it better if I don't know what you did/did not like about this one
.
And one last admin item before I have to sign off...I don't know yet the final total that we'll be able to donate to the rescue, but as soon as I can sit down and look at the final numbers (I'm waiting for one last charge from the hotel to go through), I'll let you know for sure (probably this weekend)! One thing I ask on the evaluation form is what Yorkie rescue you'd like to see the money go to, and I'd really appreciate your feedback! Thanks!