Constant Reader discussion

This is where we can discuss possibilities for upcoming conventions. 2010 will be Minneapolis. 2011 will be New York City. Washington, DC, and Phoenix have been discussed as possibilities for other years. Any other ideas?

Are you volunteering to host, NE?

I'm against Phoenix. Admittedly that probably shouldn't carry a lot of weight, as I'm unlikely to attend unless the thing is held at my house. :)

That gave me a laugh. The conventions are always the third weekend of September, to my knowledge.

I nominate Pittsburgh. I will host.

That sounds like a plan, MAP. We might have a run-off between DC and Pittsburgh.

Has San Frnacisco, Los Angeles, or San Diego been a destination yet?

Boston, Cape Cod, Hartford, CT?

San Francisco twice, Los Angeles no, San Diego once, Boston once, Cape Cod no (but Allen would love it) and Hartford, no.

If I have to read The Mysteries of Pittsburgh again, count me out. :)

But Cape Cod would be wonderful!

One of the problems with places like that is cost and accessibility. It's not near an airline hub. But it would be wonderful.

I have resort/hotel connections on the Cape, and the providence airport is an hour away (as is boston's however I prefer PVD)

Wow the old Teacher's college where my father is an administrator. Small world - I do love ME, well I love New England actually.

But, NE. We can't schedule a meeting unless someone volunteers to host. We've done it without a host before, but it's much better with.

that'll get him, Sherry!

Los Angeles is well nigh impossible to do without renting cars. Public transportation is abysmal.

NE, we have quite a few teachers who've attended regularly over the years. We start Thursday night. You don't teach nights, do you? So if you couldn't get Friday free, that's all you'd miss. Join us Fri night, Sat, Sun am.

NE, I am planning on relocating to Portland, ME in no fewer than 7 years. If you can be patient, I will be happy to host then.

I think Pittsburgh is an excellent idea. I would go to Pittsburgh.

I would volunteer to host in Phoenix since it's not this year. Or next. This September, I'd be "too new" in Phoenix, but this year is spoken for anyway. (And I wish I could go, but I have to be in Italy with my husband.) Portland, Maine would be my favorite, but I'll have to rename myself "Patience," too.

Pittsburgh is close now, but I don't know if I could make it all the way from Phoenix. I don't see why not. I fly all over the world.

I agree. Cape Cod would be lovely, but harder to get to.

I'll nominate Phoenix and can guarantee sun.

How is the transportation in San Diego, we always have a car, so I don't know. It is a very lovely town although I don't live there.

I know nothing about the transportation situation in San Diego, but I know it a gorgeous place.

If anyone wants to read about Phoenix, this site gives a good overview:

http://www.visitphoenix.com/index.aspx

There appears to be good transportation around San Diego,now we need to find a host. This is just like the Olympics.

We did San Diego about 6 years ago, and had a great time.

Is San Diego decided on then? I didn't know anyone even nominated it. It's a lovely city, though, with wonderful September weather.

Carol (akittykat) wrote: "There appears to be good transportation around San Diego,now we need to find a host. This is just like the Olympics."

Please don't say it's like the Olympics. I like to feel it's more fair than that. When Turin won, Sion, Switzerland was expecting to win. John-Claude Killy, who's been a longtime resident of Switzerland, had assured Switzerland's President and Parliament that it would as most of the Olympic Committee wanted the games held in Sion. However, after Turin won in a shocking upset, Killy told the Swiss that it's really the wives who choose the city. They tell their husbands what to vote for based on where they want to travel and shop.

I've never watched one minute of the Olympics since and never will again. I don't know if Killy's story is true or not (I suspect the truth lies some where in between), but it struck a sour note with me.

I'm losing track. I didn't even know that San Diego was a possibility. I don't think we should do this too far in advance. This is what I have: 2010--Minneapolis; 2011--New York, 2012--Pittsburgh, as far as I know. At least those are the three definite cities with definite hosts. MAP has been a CR for a long time, and I think it would be wonderful to have it in Pittsburgh.

Is Pittsburgh a definite? I think it would be confusing to choose for 2013 now, too. People move, they decide to take vacations, they change jobs. That's three years away. Seems a commitment should be made only one or two years in advance. Just my opinion, though. I might be terribly wrong as I don't plan much at all. I just do, which is too far in the other direction.

Pittsburgh is only four or five hours driving time for me now, maybe less, but I'll be in Phoenix by that time. But planes fly from Phoenix to Pittsburgh! :)

I'm just curious. Who is the host for New York? I know who's hosting Minneapolis.

I'm hosting in New York.

Okay, thanks, Yulia! Cool! :) Planes fly from Phoenix to New York, too!

Ny sounds like fun. Who knows maybe I will show up.

I thought we'd planned on the city, but if people would prefer elsewhere, I'd need someone else to take my place as host.

I think people are planning on the city, Yulia.

I have never been to NYC. I would like to be able to come.

I think you'll love it, Carol. Lot to do, so many book shops, art galleries, places to eat. People won't be ready to leave!

Oh I didn't know there were conventions in the group! Could anybody participate? What are the activities involved? I might be able to join you next year in NY.

Oh I didn't know there were conventions in the group! Could anybody participate? What are the activities involved? I might be able to join you next year in NY.

Absolutely. Any member can come. Activities depend on where we are, but they always include good eating. Often we go to museums. We've done hikes, walks, ferry rides, tours connected with writing/reading, a little tourist stuff, talks by authors, picnics...

I've never been to NYC either. I am a native oregonian and lived here all my life. I've been to the east coast but just never made NY. This may be a definite for me. Can't make it this year to Minneapolis, but next year I will try to make it happen. I will be watching and listening and planning.
Thanks to everyone.

I haven't been to NYC since 1956. Think it may have changed a bit?

Newengland wrote: "Yulia has her work cut out for her. NYC is an embarrassment of riches."

I agree. It will be hard for Yulia to choose what to see. A person could stay there for a year and not see everything.

Ruth, I'm sure much has changed, but there are things that are still the same. That's what's so great.

Someone please bring me a cinnamon babka! :)

Sherry, I'm sorry, but I don't think I can host the NYC conference after all. I do sincerely apologize.

Yulia, I think you must have misunderstood. No one is snickering at you. And I expect that many people are unaware of any limitations you have. Please reconsider. We promise not to wear you out, and will do lots of things on our own.

Please Yulia, don't bail. I don't think anyone meant to be insensitive. It's just that to us out-of-towners NYC seems overwhelming in its choice of things to do. We'll need you to give us some guidance. And I, for one, was looking forward to meeting you.

I apologize, though I'm not sure what for. In no way was I implying anything about you, Yulia. Nor was I snickering. Everything I wrote was about the city and its abundance -- a compliment. Nothing I wrote was about you or your character or your ability to host. In fact, I don't even know you, much less what your situation is. Also, I'm not in the habit of being rude (my mother brought me up better than THAT, I hope).

Nevertheless, with you in mind -- and in case I'm missing something that's obvious to others (which I have been known to do before) -- I am removing my posts here so as to catch any possible offending ones. I also promise not to post on the topic again here or in the future. Over and out. Really.

All the best. I hope you reconsider!

I apologize, too, Yulia. I meant absolutely nothing derogatory. I wouldn't snicker at an enemy, let alone jeopardize the friendship I've shared with you. Though I know a little about your limitations, I only meant that there is so much to choose from in New York City that you'll make sure everyone has a wonderful time. I'm sure no one expects to see all of New York. I'm sure everyone trusts the choices you'll make. I know I do.

We all have our limitations, Yulia. I don't think anyone in this group would make light of anyone's limitations. CR is a more caring and safe place than that. Please know that and know you're among people who care about you here.

I was a little afraid you were going to be hurt by the mention of places outside New York City, and that's why I mentioned that there were so many things to do IN the city there was no reason to go out of it. I never meant to hurt your feelings or make a suggestion that you should take on more than you can handle. I was just trying to point out that staying within New York City, even one area of New York City, is plenty. I'm sorry!

I'm sure everyone will love having you host and will have a marvelous time. You're a wonderful person. Intent in a message board post is difficult. Please don't take things too much to heart. Your sensitivity is a virtue, but it can hurt you unduly at times, I know. I'm that way, too.

From what I've read of the conventions, people often go off on their own, and people wanting more can stay in the city a little longer and do things on their own, like Ruth and her husband do. They might even wander into Canada after Milwaukee. Good grief! LOL (I'm just joking, Ruth. I wish I could travel like that. I used to. No more.)

I'm sorry, I get overwhelmed at the thought of hosting New York in capitals. Logically, I recognize it's impossible to do even a fraction of what's worth doing or seeing in that short period, but I also know I'd take it as a personal failing if anyone were disappointed he or she hadn't done other things as well, which is of course inevitable.

Yulia, I don't think anyone expects you to show them the whole city. If people want to do more, they can and will stay on and do it. It IS impossible to see all of New York in two and one-half days. We know that. No one will be disappointed unless you pull out. People want to meet you as well as see New York. I've been to New York. I've lived there. For me, the draw is meeting other CR members, especially you. I can see New York anytime.

I know you get overwhelmed at times. It's only natural. You're a sensitive person. I get that way, too, but we just have to take a deep breath and tell ourselves it's going to be fine. All the CR members adore you, Yulia! As long as you're there, no one will be disappointed. If you aren't, that will cause some disappointment. Take heart! We all want this to be very laid back and relaxed. Don't worry. Just don't worry, okay? It's going to go wonderfully.

Yulia any event you organize would be a treat for me. I would be grateful for the guidance. If I am able to go.

I haven't even seen all of Asheville, and it's a tiny city. So any part of new york (not in capitals) especially the part where we get together with dear friends will be great. I have long-time friends who live in Yonkers and I'll probably meet them before or after the official weekend.

Yulia, I think that it's great that you have so much stuff to choose from in a place like NYC! And I think it's more about the group getting together than specifically having the perfect line-up of activities. I'm sure that you'll do fine and that everyone will have a fabulous time.