Call To Action: Regional FReeper Convention: Florida

Free Republic ^

[Roos_Girl]

Okay, I posted to the Florida board and I heard back from no one interested in helping out to get something set up locally. Below is a good starting point that I borrowed from a W. Va Freeper getting started in his neck of the woods. I think this is a good starting point that can be massaged. Is anyone interested in teaming up with me to get something worked out in Central Florida? No one else is going to do it except us.

9AM - MeetnGreet over coffee & donuts

10:30AM - Introductions and brainstorming session to

come up with initial goals for the group

Noon - Lunch on your own

1:30PM - Session to refine our goals & objectives

3:00PM - Activism 101 workshop

5:00PM - Special Guest Speaker

7:00PM - Dinner/Social

[woollyone]

in

[3D-JOY]

Thanks, I have been watching this thread.

The Florida notice of additions to the site no longer functions for me and when it did it was so far behind as to be useless.

I am TOTALLY OK with a meeting in Orlando. I would like to know that it would be productive and have specific action by Freepers pre-planned and ongoing.

It should be timed to some local political(?)event and include a FREEP in order to show those who have never done it, how easy and non-threatening it is to participate.

[George from New England]

North of Tampa here. 33523.

[musicman]

Volusia County (Ormond Beach) here. I would be interested in helping out. I have a mobile DJ biz and can provide various sizes of PA (public address) systems for any speakers to use, and if needed, can provide the music and PA for the evening social as well. Let me know.

[ken5050]

Hi..I’m in Tampa..would love to attend..please put me on you ping/email list for the future...one small suggestion.we should all try and eat together..it’s far more fun, and a good chance to get to know each other better..

[4integrity]

Roos_Girl......THANK YOU for taking the initiative! I think Regional meetings are a terrific idea. I’m in St. Pete so Orlando sounds good to me. Giving people enough advance time is important so they can adjust schedules, etc..

I would definitely like to attend...but can’t commit absolutely cause I care for my elderly Mom who has liver cancer so I kind of play it by ear. But, if there’s any way I can join in, I will!

I sent Carey Baker ‘shoe box’ packages when he served in Iraq. Think he’s a good guy.

My County Republican Party is establishing a technology committee, a legislative committee and a grass roots, voter registration committee......I plan to ask them to also establish an ACTIVISM committee. It would be great to have the Republican Party in each state arrange to have a contingent go to Washington D.C. to support/defend America. A while ago, I read that FR may have a Defend America rally in D.C. in May. Not sure if this has been finalized.....I’m hoping I can get to this....and the Repub Party, as well as, Hannity, Beck, Rush etc. should support and encourage people to attend.
The Repub Party SHOULD HAVE ARRANGED A MARCH ON WASHINGTON BEFORE THE STIMULUS BILL WAS VOTED ON! OOOO, sorry for ranting.

Will stay in touch...

[brytlea]

I will help if it’s near me (FL is a long state!) I’m in Palm Beach County.

[TrueKnightGalahad]

Count me in.

[Bob Ireland]

Back in the Age of the Druids we held this sort of council here in Orlando to strategize about the Stalinist influence here in the Sunshine State.

Some competent person set up hotel arrangements with discounts [probably MinuteGal]; some other competent person invited a noted speaker [who didn't show up.]

I arranged to rent our local Chamber of Commerce building for a Saturday [West Orlando]; gonzo paid for me to rent a large screen tv for the day for a tv-phone conference with JimRob [which also ran into troubled water, but by a chance of good luck I rescued the project with two tin cans and a long wire.]

Like JanMatch, I am in murky circumstances - healthwise with me. There were some problems with hotel accommodations too close to the meet place, and frankly they were a near disaster. However, this location is not injuriously far from International Drive and the tourist areas.

I am cautious to commit to too much at this point, but if you can get some momentum, and there is a consensus about trying the same meet place as before, I will approach the folks about costs and availability. Seating is at least 50 persons, there is a kitchen and serving area, and general climate control is as good as expected. Lighting is brighter than Paleolithic cave dwellings.

I suppose that is enough to get things rolling if there is general interest amongst Florida FReepers. Freep on!

IR

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

You will do better on attendance if you give at least a month’s notice, not on a holiday.

[Bob Ireland]

Hoo Boy! Reading my last post, it appears that MinuteGal arranged accommodations that were a disaster; that is not true. It was a hotel someone arranged close to the meet place which came up short of expectations.

[Roos_Girl]

I was writing this in response to a private mail I got, but I think I'd like to put this out there for everyone that's been following the thread.

I'd like to see this gathering happen sooner rather than later. I was thinking we should be able to have enough info together to have the event in late March or early April. I see this being a brainstorming session; certain people have certain passions, talents and contacts. So we need to find out what those are.

I'd like to see us all get together, meet each other, know that there really is a face to the names we see on the screen, feel that we have a base of like-minded people that we can call on for support, etc. I think we should come up with some goals leading up to the 2010 elections and then come up with some action items to start working on those goals.

I've already got two offers from two different individuals (thank you!) to give presentations on various topics. I don't think we should put the meeting off just because maybe we can't find an additional "special guest speaker" or whatever.

The difficult part may be this; we've got to find an appropriate location for us all to meet up. It's looking like maybe we'd have approx. 40 people attend from the response I've gotten now. We'll probably have to rent a facility, which means that every person/family attending would have to pony up a few bucks to cover the cost of the facility. Preliminarily we could use a meeting room at the downtown Orlando Public Library. I'm sure these will be "no frills" rooms. It looks like they have a conference room that can hold up to 60 people for $100 for the day. Or a room that can hold up to 150 people for $600. I don't think we'd be looking at more than $15 per person/family. Hopefully everyone will be okay with that?

Anyway, the more I think about it the less I think there is to "plan". So I want to throw out some dates and see what people are thinking...

March 28

April 18

April 25

All are Saturdays.

And sorry if I double pinged you.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Any of these dates is fine with me, although Saturday the 18th is Holy Saturday for the Orthodox.

[Guenevere]

April dates are better for me.

[seekthetruth]

Whatever date is decided upon is fine with me. Just let me know if there is anything I can do to help. :)

[MinuteGal]

LOL, I just read my name being taken in vain.....and I'm glad you cleared THAT up.....'cause I didn't have a thing to do with organizing the accomodations, I just attended.

Actually, I think when those of us who attended look back, the meeting was great and the accomodations were a hoot. What a night that was! My room had hot and cold running cockroaches. An all-night party with loud music and over-exuberant cats in the bar/restaurant kept everyone awake.

But I love getting together with freepers anywhere, anytime......and we have a lot of great memories from our freeps.

Don't get me started on our war stories.................

Leni/MinuteGal

[Bob Ireland]

The Orlando Public Library presents parking problems... not as critical on a Sunday, but inconvenient.

Should I presume you are not interested in the facility that I arranged for the previous FReep? Parking there is at the door, and plenty of eating places nearby - which the Orlando Public Library does NOT have.

The cost is unclear, but probably in line with the library for a day; the facility I am suggesting would unlikely be available on Sunday, but last time people wanted to use Sunday for returning home. We found one day adequate for concluding all business. Friday night and Sunday morning people can meet at a restaurant or hotel lounge.

I was charged with pre-ordering about a dozen pizzas for lunch during the Saturday festivities. /:-O

[Roos_Girl]

Here's why I suggested the library. There is a parking garage right across the street that I thought would be more than adequate; although I do not frequent the downtown library so I don't know how busy it is on Saturday. There are a number of restaurants within walking distance in any price range. And there are a number of hotels. The "Lymmo" runs through downtown, which is a free bus ride through the main portion of the central business district.

I'm open to any venue that will work for us; good location, good rate, sized appropriately, audio/visual equipment, etc. So if you think the place that you booked previous will work for us that's fine by me. I had not seen your post before I posted the info I found about the library. I was hoping everyone would agree to meet on a Saturday.

[danamco]

Hotel accommodations are cheaper in Kissimmee than in Orlando. I recommend “Old Town”!!!

[corkoman]

Count me in - Palm Beach Gardens.