2009 International YorkieTalk Meetup - Alexandria, VA - July 17 to 19, 2009

[RebelBelle]

Please remember that today is the LAST day to reserve your rooms at the Sheraton for the meetup! All reservations must be made by 5:00PM.

[xxmxaxrxyxx]

hehe thank you!

[ricosmom]

Is there still a way to attend the meetup if I don't get a room at the Sheraton? I live in southern Virginia so I intend to make a day trip to go meet everyone. Thanks.

[momimi]

Did anyone reply to your request? I live in Maryland, and would like to make a day trip also.

[xxmxaxrxyxx]

well i believe it's too late to register for the event but you can stay anywhere...doesn't even have to be at the Sheraton...for some are staying at a RV park.

[Pinehaven]

I live an hour south of Alexandria and if I can find some free time that Saturday, I'd like to swing up and visit for couple of hours, mid day. I'd like to know if I can do that and if so, what do I need to do?

[momimi]

I was thinking in terms of just attending the events at the sheraton not staying overnight, since I live close by. But i guess if you are not registerd you can't just show up, which I can understand.

[RebelBelle]

Oh no! We had to put the June 15th deadline on registration due to the fact that we had to give the hotel an exact number of people attending for dinner on Saturday night. As the registration fees go towards the cost of the Saturday meeting room, it would be unfair to allow unregistered members at the event. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

[LuvMySissy]

Originally Posted by RebelBelle

Oh no! We had to put the June 15th deadline on registration due to the fact that we had to give the hotel an exact number of people attending for dinner on Saturday night. As the registration fees go towards the cost of the Saturday meeting room, it would be unfair to allow unregistered members at the event. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Isn't there someway you can come up with a registration price that does not include dinner to allow these folks to come and join in for a while on Saturday?

[mypreciouspups]

Originally Posted by LuvMySissy

Isn't there someway you can come up with a registration price that does not include dinner to allow these folks to come and join in for a while on Saturday?

Jody that would be a good way for people living close to pay for the day only without the dinner.. and that money could go towards what ever else might be needed.. espeically if they pay up front.. before the day.. anne

[saphire]

Originally Posted by LuvMySissy

Isn't there someway you can come up with a registration price that does not include dinner to allow these folks to come and join in for a while on Saturday?

If possible, this would be wonderful. Good idea Jodie

[Pinehaven]

Maybe for future meet-ups, you could think about having a set fee for general admittance into the meeting room. Maybe stamp the people's hand with a special stamp who don't want to stay for dinner but just want to spend a portion of the day meeting YT members and their pups? Just an idea

[yorkiesmiles]

Originally Posted by Pinehaven

Maybe for future meet-ups, you could think about having a set fee for general admittance into the meeting room. Maybe stamp the people's hand with a special stamp who don't want to stay for dinner but just want to spend a portion of the day meeting YT members and their pups? Just an idea

I hope they can work this out for all of you to come --- but I have to tell you - you will be missing out on the most fun event if you just come for part of the day! Last year the best part was the pj party!

Actually, I wish the pajama party was Friday night after we go to the park - that was the most relaxed down time - and the weekend was almost over

[shawnzeppi]

Originally Posted by Pinehaven

Maybe for future meet-ups, you could think about having a set fee for general admittance into the meeting room. Maybe stamp the people's hand with a special stamp who don't want to stay for dinner but just want to spend a portion of the day meeting YT members and their pups? Just an idea

I'm just another local attendee, but having been involved in setting up this type of event in the past, the way it works is that you negotiate everything with the hotel. They give you a "discount" on the room rate and auditorium/ballroom cost based on a projected number of folks renting rooms. Many of us do live very close, and have paid the $85 per person, which, of course, is a steep price to pay for a hotel dinner. What we are doing is subsidizing the room discount/ball room rental/clean up fee and any other costs for the out of town folks based on the money the hotel is making from room rentals, IMO, since there is no way the dinner is that expensive. At least that is my experience having been on volunteer teams arranging professional conferences in the past. I figure that I am lucky that this national meet up is local, so I am happy to subsidize some additional expense for those paying much more who have to travel/rent rooms. The hotel wins becuase this is primarily on the weekend, and most of the business around here takes place during the work week.

[yorkiesmiles]

Could we PLEASE have a list of everyone who is attending now that registration is closed?? Pretty, please? I would love to see the list of who is coming in one place along with when they arrive, how many dogs they are bringing and how many guests.

The arriving part is so important - not sure if you've pulled that together yet, but i do want to know who besides me will be there on Thursday so I can meetup then to see the sites, etc.