Friday, May 18, 2007

Friday Five: Big Event Edition

Songbird brings us today's RGBP Friday Five which is all about planning The Big Meetup.

Did you know that the major purpose for forming a non-profit, RevGalBlogPals, Inc., was to be able to attract grant support for a large scale RevGalBlogPal meetup? My dream from the beginning has been attracting financial support that would allow as many of our bloggers to be together as possible. RGBP, Inc. now has a planning committee, and we are in the early stages of planning the RevGalBlogPal Big Event. What, When, Where and Who are all on the table at the moment. In that spirit, I bring you the Big Event Friday Five.

1. What would the meeting be like? (Continuing Ed? Retreat? Outside Speakers? Interest Groups? Workshops? Hot Stone Massages? Pedicures? Glorified Slumber Party?)

I'd like to see this first meetup be a retreat with emphasis on getting to know each other and building fellowship in the group. I don't know about you, but I'm workshopped and seminar-ed out! Interest groups could have their own meetings at the retreat and the hot stone massage/pedicure/pampering ideas would be really swell.

If we did have a workshop, I suggest it be something that improves our technical blogging skills, since we all blog. We have several RGBP members who could conduct workshops on html, creating different blog templates, importing sidebar goodies, and what to do when you get the blue screen of death. We could also have a workshop on blog content.

2. When in 2008 might you be able to attend? January? Shortly after Easter? Summer? Fall? Some other time?

Right now I'm pretty open except for presbytery meetings, which aren't all scheduled yet.

3. Where would your dream meeting location be? (Urban Hotel? Rural Retreat Center? New England Camp? Southwestern Fantasy Hotel? Far away from civilization? Nearby Outlets or Really Great Thrift Stores?)

A retreat center would be great, but the rural ones would be more expensive to get to. We probably should plan to meet in a major metro area. Personally, I'm a lot more flexible than most of the group so I'll go along with the consensus on this.

4. Who would make a great keynote speaker? (That's if #1 leads us in that direction.)

For this first gathering, I would prefer not to have a keynote speaker unless we need to do that to enable Continuing Ed credits or to get a grant. If we had a keynote speaker, I would not choose someone who is identified with one denomination or who is controversial for this first meeting. Someone like Diana Butler Bass (who is too expensive for our presbytery when we asked her last month but we have no money, remember) would be ideal.

5. Did I leave out something you want to suggest?

Come to Texas! We'll meet you with the TTOJ and my Texas Lexus of Justice. Margaritas, Mexican food, real BBQ and nice weather will greet you as long as we don't meet in the summer....

14 comments:

will smama said...

I am so with you on the con ed/seminar thing. I will answer at my own place eventually but just wanted to 'have your back' on that one.

Di said...

I'm workshopped-out too, but I think your blog workshop idea is fantastic!

Lori said...

A blogging workshop would be perfect!!! I'd take that one twice.

Texas would be a good location too. Could finally get a ride in the TTOJ.

Sally said...

thanks for this QG- it sounds so good- I'm with you on the getting to know one another and planning how to save for the trip already! :-)

Diane M. Roth said...

I never thought of the idea that rural would be more difficult... and yes, I would love a blogging workshop, I am just learning as I go, and sometimes I don't have time to experiment...

Connie said...

Oh I like the idea of a blogging or a writing workshop.

I may have to go back and update my answers.

spookyrach said...

Umm... do any of us texas people actually own a towncar? 'cause I drive a truck. But yer more than welcome to ride in the back!!

Princess of Everything (and then some) said...

LOL....and mine is a CRV. I think we are getting antsy that ya'll will be really disappointed in our vehicles!!

~whispers please please please Texas~

Unknown said...

Blogging etiquette would be a great topic, too. We have our own horror stories about being discovered by people we wish hadn't read our blogs. (In my case it's the ex-husband rather than church folk, but same difference.)

Sue said...

Good answers QG!

I would love to come to Texas in January!

I'll post my answers later, but right now your answers are all working for me.

leah said...

Hey, I hadn't even thought of Texas! Great idea. thanks for playing; see you soon...

Deb said...

OOOhhh.. margaritas. hot stone massage. yeah. sounds great.

Give me enough time and I bet I can make some poorly constructed theological significance from that...

:)
d

Unknown said...

really good ideas.

Dorcas (aka SingingOwl) said...

I'm with you...no speaker, lots of getting aquainted, massages, etc. etc.