I have a worrying feeling that I'm going to regret this - but as you may have seen there has been discussion of a GWF get-together. To try and keep this simple to begin with, please would you "vote" in the polls above - even if you are not interested at all (in which case vote that way for each question), it would be useful if you could indicate that in the first question, to check that idea has some legs. Please bear in mind how much things are likely to cost for the various options - I would imagine that deposits would be required

Regarding location, I have added the only options I can really see as practical - and I'm not really sure if London or the Western Front are sensible choices. So apologies to anyone who'd like to meet in Belfast, Cardiff or Edinburgh

I've asked about preferred date - of course it's going to be very difficult for anyone to commit to this sort of idea many months ahead, so I suppose again it's just asking for an approximate preference. There is no way it will be possible to pick a date to suit everybody

If you have any other thoughts, please feel free to add them

Alan

My general thoughts:
- needs to be realistic if it's going to happen
- this suggests a 1 day do rather than a weekend
- location needs to be central to give the largest catchment area
- Birmingham looks best option (suggesting MK might show bias!)
- Birmingham also has the Centre for First World War Studies which might provide a venue & a pool of speakers

Brian

The moat house hotel in Stoke (half way between Manchester and Birmingham and half way between Glasgow and London) is a cracking venue, it will cater for upto 400. If the night goes on there are rooms to let for £49 inc breakfast. Please let me know if more info is required as I am meeting a member of the staff tomorrow to book the ball room for a special birthday for the darling wife.

Kevin

Alan, the poll declines to accept the option 'Not interested in the idea'. It simply sends back a rather confused message saying: You did not choose a poll choice to vote against. Please go back and ensure you click on one of the radio buttons next to the choice you wish to vote for.

Ah - I am guessing that it requires each question to be answered - which is a little pointless if you've said "not interested" to the first question!

I've added "not interested" as an option on each question - which I accept is a bit of a nuisance.

Alan

Thanks! That works.

Gwyn

Hello Alan,

I think it is a great idea, although I have had to vote as not interested, simply because I have neither time nor money available for a crossing to the big island. One of the most attractive aspects of the GWF is that I can devote as much or as little time to it as I choose on the day and it is already paid for with our monthly broadband subs. That is a reason why although still a WFA member, I don't attend very many meetings and didn't get very involved in any of the discussions about opening a new Ireland branch even though I can see a need for one.

You might regret the decision not to have Belfast as a possible venue......Inst's front lawn is looking lovely in the sun today!

I hope this idea takes off though.

Cheers,

Nigel

Would it be possible to be able to vote for more than one option in each section? Not being able to do so may skew the result. For example, in Section 1 I would like to vote for the Manchester area and the Western Front but voting for only one suggests that I have no interest in t'other.

On a less serious note, I'm happy to travel anywhere that's too far for John Hartley.

Ken - I've (hopefully) editted the poll options to allow multiple answers. I have refrained from adding the "wherever John Hartley isn't" option to locations!

If you keep it outside term time many Universities will do a reasonable deal on conference facilities plus accomodation and can lay on a dinner. I used to deal with Warwick univerity (a long time ago) who were very good at this.

Thanks, but it only allows multiple answers on the first section.

You're right again, Ken, now fixed

Alan

It may vary, Centurion, but, in my limited experience, many universities are looking for fully-commercial rates for conferences these days and where they were once a cheap alternative they can often be a very expensive one.

As this would be the first event, I think that a one-dayer would be a good way of testing the waters, even if a weekend one would be better value overall. I'm on the Committee of the Catfish Study Group, which runs a weekend conference at a hotel each year. It ran as a one-day event for quite a long time before moving to two days and it now starts with an opening dinner on Friday that's followed by a short talk by one of our members. With two full days it's possible to bring in speakers from abroad but I don't think I'd like to commit to anything like that until we'd run a couple and made sure the demand is consistently there.

The CSG Convention is very successful but it's an enormous amount of work and grief to make sure that it runs smoothly. Although some of the work can be delegated, it definitely needs someone at the focus to co-ordinate everything and that isn't something to be lightly undertaken. I'd love this to happen but not at the risk of burning out any of our merry band.

Keith

Alan

I've ticked three boxes as acceptable areas but would it not be better if we could indicate a numerical preference i.e. area A = 1 B=2 etc.

From experience I know that Birmingham University has a 'hotel' area that is used for conferences. Room and full board is available. I did a 2 day RAFA welfare officers course there recently. It isn't brilliant but is acceptable though I would suggest that people attending should sneak in their own supplies of alcohol.

Garth

Garth - I don't think it is possible to set a poll with numerical choices - my thought would be to see what the results are like in a few days time, then consider whether there is a clear winner, or another way is needed to come up with the location.

Alan

I hadn't even realised that catfish were so interesting as to take two days talking about them!

Bruce

Humph! You can go off people, Bruce!

Keith

Bump

I know you took my comment in good part, but i wasn't taking the p*ss.
I really didn't realise that catfish could be that interesting......but I sit corrected.
Mind you, I like dogfish.....in batter.....sold as huss....yum.yum.

Bruce
(I am also aware, with a name like mine,that "fish are friends, not food!")

Sorry folks, I had to vote for not interested. I found it difficult to determine why Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh were unsuitable, yet Manchester and the Midlands were suitable.

Nevertheless, I wish the venture every success.

Roxy

Roxy - simply that Manchester and the Midlands are more central and thus easier to reach for most people. It'll be impossible to choose somewhere that will satisfy everyone. But I'm really making this up as I go along, and any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks for your good wishes

Alan

OK so I have voted for my preferences to fit with travelling, time off work and what is already diaried.
Would still depend on where and when the final venue is to be held though.

Totally understand, Squirrel - at this stage it is nothing more than seeing if enough people are interested in theory in the idea, and what their preferred format would be.

If it does take off, it is inevitable that the date, place or cost (whatever any of these might be) won't suit some people

Alan

As Alan said above, wherever and whenever it happens there's going to be a clutch of people who will be disappointed, and the chances are that it's those of us farthest from the main population centres of the UK. C'est la vie.

There's quite a difficult trade off. For those who live away from the main centres in UK, the event needs to justify the time and expense of getting there and taking part. ie a shorter event would be cheaper to offer but would probably only attract those within reasonable striking distance; a longer and more extensive event would be more expensive but might tempt pals from further away. Can't please everyone, I suppose.

Do we go with a 10 am start, buffet dinner, more talks then finish around 5pm or a 12pm start, no buffet and then evening meal around 7 pm. Option 2 would be the dearer as it would probably mean a night in a hotel or b&b option 1 would make getting home afterwards for the majority rather than a night in a hotel or b&b. Buffet dinner would be cheaper than the meal. Or do you have an early start, buffet lunch, more talks and a late evening meal, thus allowing a full day of talks making the travelling worthwhile. I dont know what would be best to suit the majority.

Kevin

Once the original poll has settled down & a general concept has been arrived at - I suspect what will be needed is a refined poll which could deal with the kind of points that Kevin raised. This would show whichever format is capable of bringing in the most attendees.

Chris' point is also valid - but I think we have more chance of success with a 1 day do initially. If this one works, no reason of course why the next one couldn't be a longer affair - or even a spin-off version in France/Belgium...

Brian

Another point that's just struck me is the format of the event. If it's on one day, which I suggested on cost grounds, then the chances are it will have to concentrate on one area of WW1. That may not matter to military historians but would put off those of us who have a more specific interest. Going against what I wrote earlier, having the event over a weekend would allow the range of topics to be increased and ought to attract more people.

Keith

Having organised a dinner in Ypres for the LPA buglers (with other Pals assistance) , I can confirm that it's very rewarding thing to do and great to meet up.

Those of us in the South East can nip over to the WF easily but that doesn't apply to a lot of Pals - that said many go over there in any case after a substantial journey. A Forum day could be tacked onto the planned trip. It's so special to gather "over there", it must be said.

But as has been said, you can't please everyone. I will go with the majority and make every effort to attend wherever.

Regards Ian

I think the evening meal at a venue with or close to accommodation is a vital part of any event. There's much more scope to meet each other and chat if we have an overnight.

Another thought is that with a primarily one day event, for example, the Saturday morning could be a "light" topic as some might still be to arrive, with time for two sessions or three between lunch and the evening meal which need not be too special. If we have an appropriate after dinner speaker, that would leave an hour or two at the bar for some strictly informal exchanges of interests and some Skindling! Can we have a chocolate fountain please?

Finally - there would be the possibility of a Sunday morning session - either at the venue, or if on the WF a short walk after checkout.

Keith

If one where to think of this as a International meeting, then dates where the most visitors are likely to travel for, might be thought of.
If one is thinking of a UK based meet up, then it is another dimension.

For the record, I picked Midlands and the Western Front, one day meet, July/August 2010, as I think that many might travel to Fromelles.

What other dates are going to be big for overseas visitors in 09/10?

Cheers
Kim

I think we've hopefully established that there is enough interest in this idea - so well done Phil (WW1PrivatePatteson) for suggesting it a few days ago. There are some excellent suggestions and points raised above, so thanks to those who have made them.

What I am suggesting doing is seeing how the votes go over the weekend, and what the preferred option is in terms of format, approximate date and location, then carrying on the discussion from there - maybe a secondary poll to narrow down the options a bit more. At some point a firm proposal will need to be put forward.

I'm also conscious to not be seen to be taking over the process - so please let me know if at any time I seem to be appointing myself organiser against anyone's wishes. As the plan develops, it's going to be very tricky to walk the line between firm decisions and trying to be all things to all men (or women) - but I think it's important to let everyone have their say now, then perhaps a few of us can take it forward.

Thanks

Alan

Alan, welcome to being an organiser!!

I always take the safe bet, and go by majority rules!

You are doing great!

Cheers
Kim

If the event goes ahead may I suggest that for the Pals traveling from Northern and Southern Ireland it could start around 11 o`clock as this enable us to stay one night rather than two and make it more affordable as we will also incur flight costs as well.


Alan I would be more and glad for you to take the lead and well done for the work you have done so far.



Regards,

Phil

Arguably it might be worth planning for lunchtime to lunchtime, with the option for members "Fringe" activities on either side. there could be an opener in late morning, but ultimately all that hangs on the location.

BTW I have no fringe.


keith

And of course if anyone wants to volunteer early to be a speaker, please feel free!

Well if you guys cant make up your minds about where you would like to meetup you could add another option and have
it in Oz.
David

Yes, David. We'll all walk the Yellow Brick Road.......

Keith

Not sure I could convince Mrs Ice Tiger that I was just popping out to a GWF dinner if I returned 4 days later & approx £1000 lighter

Andy

Well if you guys cant make up your minds about where you would like to meetup you could add another option and have
it in Oz.
David

Or, somewhere in the middle, like Beersheva?

Teleconferencing or some such?

She might appreciate it if you lost a few pounds

Any more thoughts on this? At the end of today, I'm suggesting seeing what the poll results are saying and then taking it forward from there

Alan

Me and my big mouth!
I mentioned that this idea had been floated within earshot of Ayesha.
Whenever it is, wherever it is, put me down for two places (thereby doubling the cost....)
If it is a one day in the Midlands, she wants it somewhere near somewhere to stay overnight too!
Nonetheless, it is a cracking good idea, and we will be there....whenever, wherever....God willing.

Bruce

I'd sooner have it in Rum Jungle. (Hope I've got youse guys on that one) or as Keith suggests in Kansas.

But whatever venue it is I am sure a great time will be had by all

David

Just pushing this back up the list to give anyone else the chance to register their views.

Brian

I've voted 'cos I think it is a good idea although looking at the results so far I will probably not be ablt to make it as it would involve a trip to the UK and outside summer hols that is not usually a possibility. Good luck on the venture though and if chance be it that everything fits I will endeavour to be there.

Jim

Why not arrange one to tie in with Ozzie and co's tour next year?

With their proposed itinerary, you think they'll be at a loose end?

Ta Kate, but if anything went wrong and we didn't make it, I'd feel terrible if the date was against the majority.
We will be in Fromelles 19th July. Everything else will be around that. So would be hoping to catch up with as many pals as possible there, and on our trips around UK , France and Belgium.


Cheers
Kim