Beer & Pancakes 2009

[Russ H]

OK, this is the "official" B&P thread.

I will update this first post regularly to provide info., so it will be easy to get info without wading through all the fun posts.

What we are doing NOW:

SteveO is checking into various options for a nice conference room.

We can get last year's for $1500 (total for 3 days, before taxes/additional charges).

He's checking into a nicer spot, and waiting for them to get back to him.

:groove: Thanks Steve! :groove:

*********

What we have so far:

-B&P 2009 will be in Phoenix, for 3 full days (Fri, Sat, Sun)

-Most probably Feb or March. However, March is VERY booked (and expensive) due to Spring Training.

-Tentative Schedule:

Thursday
5pm Early dinner for those who are in town
7:30pm Cashflow for those who want, Bar hopping for those who want
(I will join the cashflow group as soon as I get KT to sleep)

Friday
9am-5pm Sessions
6pm-9pm Dinner at a local (walk to) spot
9pm-? Men escort the ladies to Chippendales Club (just kidding)

Saturday
9:30 am-5:30pm Sessions (different format from Fri)
6:30-8:00 Dinner at a local (walk to) spot

Sunday
9:00 am Breakfast for those of us who don't drink
10:00 Fastlane Mastermind Sessions (all day)
plus time to network and plan Fastlane Mentors for '09-10.

*******

Please feel free to contribute any ideas or thoughts!

-Russ H.

 

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[AroundTheWorld]

Mastermind sessions would be nice if interspersed through out the day...

Sessions (mornings)
Mastermind activities (afternoons)

I've got some ideas for some structured mastermind activities... nothing too formal, just a few starting points to help the groups get going.

Thanks for your work on this Russ. ++ We all appreciate what you do for this get together.

 

[Russ H]

thanks, ATW.

We've had our hands very full planning a B&B tour for 350 guests and 12 inns (took place yesterday).

Whew!

Now, all we have is next weekend's landmark tour of 10 houses (4 of them ours), and estate sale (same time), plus outdoor lights for all of those houses (ack!).

Should have 700+ people at that one (plus more for the estate sale).

Gonna be a busy week!

-Russ H.

 

[TaxGuy]

So it starts on a Thu?

Plus side of that is cheaper flight :coolgleamA:

But hopefully I can use sick/personal days to get Thu and Fri off instead of using vacation time, man I can't wait to be back in the fastlane where I don't have to work with 7 sick days, 2 personal days and 2 weeks of vacation :cheers:

 

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[andviv]

Thanks for starting this thread.

 

[Fitz7099]

Odd question but, I won't be 21 when B&P 2009 happens. Is it still worth it for me to come? I've never been to any thing like this before.

 

[Russ H]

Good question.

As much as we joke about going out and drinking each night, only about half of the group does this.

The other half either crashes (turns in early) or goes back and plays cashflow/talks/networks. I'm part of that group.

And when we go out to dinner, there are some beers and wine here and there, but the vast majority of what is consumed is soda pop and water (the bar hopping comes later, after dinner, when the group splits up).

We never did have beer and pancakes for breakfast last year-- the title was humorous, chosen by Yveskleinsky because MJ had just added some fun smilies:

:cheers::smx7::cheers::smx7::cheers::smx7::cheers:

So that's where "Beer and Pancakes" came from!

I'd like other past attendees to weigh in here-- whether you went out drinking or not-- do you think someone under 21 would find this get together worthwhile?

-Russ H.

 

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[SteveO]

There are plenty of us that don't drink. Come on along!

 

[bflbob]

I haven't drank in about twenty years.

My son went to the first gathering (at RD HQ) four year's ago.
I think he was 20 at the time, so he didn't drink (still doesn't).

But he was motivated enough to come home and partner on a 5-unit with me.

You'll learn a lot. Come join us.

 

[CVentures1B12]

I know that no dates are set yet (I don't think), but is there a general idea of when this will be taking place? Hopefully this year...

 

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[Russ H]

CVentures1B12-

Dates will be set shortly, once SteveO et al have found a facility that is available and we can afford.

Plan on sometime in Feb/Mar/April (tho March is typically expensive/booked b/c of spring training)

-Russ H.

 

[BeingChewsie]

We attended last year and we did not drink. Robert was very sick from about the first night on so any time not spent in a session, he spent in meetings with the porcelain gods at the hotel. I think even though you are under 21 you should go.

Sue

 

[Jill]

Yes! I definitely think you should go. If you garner what you believe to be beneficial information form this website, then you will definitely get the same type of stuff there at B&P, only better IMO.

 

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[TaxGuy]

It sounds like the non-drinkers get more out of this, lol, I'd much rather play Cashflow than "Beerflow"

And on that note, I'm not a big drinker myself and will most likely stick to the networking activities :coolgleamA:

 

[Russ H]

bump.

How's the venue search going, SteveO?

(andviv is getting antsy)

-Russ H.

 

[wildambitions]

I agree about being antsy about getting dates. I need to request my time off. Even if you have to put out the two options for the dates (I will request BOTH off and then cancel the one not needed).

As far as not being a drinker... well, OK, I don't qualify but YES come to the meet up. No one is there for the drinking! That's just a benny if you want it.

 

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[SteveO]

We can get the same room as last year for $500/day. It is not ideal and I am searching for an alternative that has better chairs and taller ceilings. I am waiting for a quote from Chaparral Suites. They have a number of meeting rooms of different configurations.

Scottsdale Conference Hotel & Executive Meetings Center | Chaparral Suites Scottsdale Conference Center

This would be a great option if it is affordable. It is across the street from RealOG's house. It is very close to downtown (2 blocks north of the spot from last year) and close to a number of hotels of all price ranges.

 

[andviv]

Steve, thx a lot for taking care of this.

Is it march yet?

 

[Russ H]

Thanks for the update, SteveO.

And thanks again for scouting and checking into all of this for us. :thankyousign::wave::thankyousign:

-Russ H.

 

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[mtnman]

Bump.

Dates? If no dates, how bout a month??

 

[Jonleehacker]

I motion for the B&P to be held Thursday Feb 26. -> Sunday March 1.

:smash:

 

[RealOG]

I second that motion.:smx4:

 

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[andviv]

the dates really depend on the availability of the room where we will be meeting. Does any of the locals have found the place/rates for those dates?

 

[Russ H]

To all of the folks making dates, do you plan on sitting in a parking lot for the meet up?

SteveO was working on trying to get us a meeting room that was affordable, and AVAILABLE.

Setting a date is lots of fun, especially when you don't have a PLACE TO MEET! :smx4:

Give Steve a chance, eh?

Or bug him w/PMs.

-Russ H.

 

[mtnman]

"wow" was going to be my response, but it was too short. Guess I'll settle for jimp.

 

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[Jonleehacker]

Didn't mean to step on any toes, I do have a condo in Scottsdale for those dates, it certainly wouldn't be ideal, but worst case scenario we can meet in my living room.

It was just meant a little nudge, I agree with it not being a "free for all" but I think for people who have to travel from cold places to Phoenix, it is way past the optimal time to book flights, and every day delayed will mean less availability.

Booking flights seems to me to more crucial than finding a place for us to meet. 'Cuz if you can't get there, it doesn't really matter if we have the best meeting room in Phoenix.

To all of the folks making dates, do you plan on sitting in a parking lot for the meet up?

SteveO was working on trying to get us a meeting room that was affordable, and AVAILABLE.

Setting a date is lots of fun, especially when you don't have a PLACE TO MEET! :smx4:

Give Steve a chance, eh?

Or bug him w/PMs.

If this does become a free for all, with people just setting dates and doing no legwork, count us out.

-Russ H.

 

[biophase]

We have found a place for $400 a day for each day for any weekend in March. Steve or I will go check it out tomorrow to make sure the rooms are big enough.

 

[CactusWren]

Yes!!!!!

 

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[Russ H]

Way cool--

a big THANKS, guys!



-Russ H.

 

[Russ H]

Apologies for my earlier grumpy response.

We just got done doing our annual "B&B Tour" with 11 other Napa B&Bs.

This year, all kinds of crud hit the fan, and the other inns were having a really hard time delivering on what they'd promised to do:

-The head of our PR was conflicted, and didn't want to sell out the event (WTF?!). She told me-- just a week or so out-- that she hated turning people away the year before, and intentionally withheld the PR so that she would not have to go through this again. I was pissed.

-The person in charge of our banner (who had really spearheaded the whole banner idea) all of a sudden said she was too busy to do any of it. So I priced them out, designed the whole thing, and found a place to make it. I then found a local installer, and got it up.

-The main organizer of the event (the tour was her idea, originally) had real health issues w/her hubby (he lost a kidney this year). He's still not doing well, about 3 steps away from dialysis. And she had just lost 2 of her 4 innkeepers-- one being the live in, so she was *really* stretched thin. Sharon and I did as much as we could to lighten her load (will call, printing tickets, organizing, printing and distributing the program, doing the signs, etc).

-I did the rack card for the event when, after months of promises, the head of PR still hadn't gotten it done. Upside was that everyone loved the new design/said it looked so much more professional. Downside was the PR person treated me like her personal assistant, sending in edits whenever she decided she didn't like the wording of something. I was again, pissed, and tired of being treated like an employee when all I was trying to do was be a good volunteer.

-Sharon did the online calendars when, just a month or so out, she found that our event was not listed ANYWHERE online. Turns out the guy who was in charge of it just didn't do it this year-- until like 2 weeks out.

-One of our members sent me DOZENS of emails (cc'd to the entire group) complaining about our holiday tour website, and what a lousy job we were doing, blah blah blah. Sharon was in charge of the updates, and let me tell you, we did literally 30+ updates -- within MINUTES of the info coming in from the other inns. So it really sucked, again, when we were busting our butts, to get treated like we were underperforming employees.

-A few other members of this group did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to help organize the event, save for doing their own inns. This is the 4th year we've done this, and these dead beats have done this EVERY F'ing YEAR. I was tired of it.

Sorry for the rant-- but it all lead to my resigning as president of the group (a position I've held for years). I found that I was no longer able to maintain a civil tone w/some of the whiners-- that's when I knew I needed to step down.

So for any of you who try to push me, or push the event, and I frigging bite your head off--- please, understand-- it's not really your problem. It's mine. I'm just totally burnt out from this holiday event. Blech.

On the bright side, the event was a total success, and we took in over $19,000-- much of which will get donated to charity. So I feel pretty good about that.

********

My suggestion:

If you are dying to come to the B&P meet-up, and you really, REALLY want to get something done-- why not volunteer to help? And I don't just mean saying "hey, how can I help?". What I mean is, if you really, really want a date, then PM SteveO and bio and tell them why.

If you REALLY REALLY want something else, then instead of asking when we're going to have it for you, PM us instead and ask if you can help-- or if there is anything you can do to get the answer you want/need.

Hoping that makes sense. I really do love you guys, and I'm very much looking forward to this next get together.

And I really don't want to bite anyone's heads off in the process.

But I'm way too stressed out right now. So I bite without realizing it.

My apologies for this crappy behavior.

-Russ H.