Animation Source Forums

Thanks for that link! If you all feel I have something of value to offer, and can be of help, then I would be grateful to do so, and expect nothing in return save for a good time, free of any bad vibes. I will look over everything, and contact Kari and Nick, and keep up with each of you on this. With the time factor, I just might be able to put some good stuff together. Besides, by that time, I will probably have made my trip to Wasilla, Anchorage and Nome! And that should produce a LOT of good material to present! No promises, but I am making plans for such a trip to happen within the year!

Okay...here's what I'm thinking. Whitewolf(uk), you suggested that I could contribute to a discussion about the real history. I'm game for that. In fact, given the time factor, I could probably come up with some nice materials, and perhaps even set up a display!

Additionally, since I am planning a trip to Nome within the coming year, I expect to take a video camera there (as well as a digital camera), and take pictures and movies of Nome itself, and the surrounding area. If there is time and opportunity, I could show the results (even before posting them on the internet)...throw something nice together with a music bed and everything!

I had a great discussion with Kari today about how cool it would be to really have a future meeting in Nome. However, when I see how many people here, who even live close to Chicago (and are minors) expressing concern about their parents even letting them out of the house long enough to attend an event LOCAL to them, I cannot possibly see how a large gathering in Nome would be possible. Even remotely. Though it would be awesome.

But back on track.

It would seem that what you are all talking about, basically, is a fan convention of sorts. That's what you're really planning. Only, the convention is exclusive to Balto Source members. It seems you have covered most of the bases. But what about insurance? You might need that. And a contingency plan for emergencies? And what about funding? All of this is going to cost BUCKS (money). Renting a conference room at a hotel? MUCHO BUCKS. Catering? BUCKS. Where will the funding for all of this come from? Of course, room rates can easily be defrayed a little simply by arranging a group rate with whichever hotel you decide upon. That could help a lot. Especially if families attend, and you maximize room space that way.

I saw Tibb's name tag art. It's all very awesome! But shouldn't nametags be easy to read? That means any background should be light-colored (for dark text, or dark-colored for light text), and simple in design so as not to create too much "noise" which would drown out the important information.

I think the organizers do need to (if they haven't already) get a more formal planning meeting together. And since this might be a large-scale activity, it might require several meetings. The problem there is that everyone's spread out, and at least one member (Whitewolf) is in Europe. Sure...having a private chat in one of the services (AIM, Yahoo, etc.) might be helpful, but will it be enough?

It's all an excellent concept. But throwing this stuff together is much more complex than I think some of you may realize...and involves a lot of "i" dotting and "t" crossing. And funds. And sit-down, hammer-out planning meetings. And blood, sweat and tears. That's why the planners of most conventions have little private wind-down parties after the whole magilla is over with! To celebrate the hard work of those who put it all together, and volunteered their time to work it instead of just enjoy it!

I would be honored to be of service, if you need my assistance in any capacity. I have had some small experience in such things. Though not on a grand scale.

I also noted that some of you are concerned about securing permission from Steet to even do this. It would seem to me that the only thing you'd need his permission for is to associate such a gathering, officially, with the Balto Source web site. And if I read the past posts correctly, it seems you already have that. It's a shame that Steet doesn't want to be associated with it otherwise. However, if the first one comes off as a resounding success, perhaps he'll have a change of heart for a future one.

LOL - and some of you were worried about the costs of travel from points in the U.S. to Chicago! LOL!

Imagine what it would be if you decided to hold it in NOME! ROFL!

Of course, in one sense, holding it without Steet's participation is sort of like holding a Star Wars gathering without George Lucas, huh? Heh heh...

It'd be fantastic if you could get some stuff from Nome to show us and a display would be great if you manage to get enough stuff together.

It would be so cool to have one in Nome (I think it was mentioned ages ago) but as you said, with so many young members and members from other countries it'd be almost impossible to pull off.

To be completely honest I'd forgotten all about something like insurance and I don't know much about it either but I'll ask my mum and search the net so I understand it a bit better (although help would be great).

I'm currently working on something for emergencies, it'll take a while for me to get all the ideas I need but I'm getting help over here from my local surgery on what sort of thing we'd need at something like this if an emergency should occur (especially seeing as it'll be held in the summer).

As for funding, I'm raising money for this with the help of my mum who thinks this idea is great, MayaHuskee is also helping out finding ways to pay for it and Dingowolf is also thinking of ways to pay for it.

Nametags, yeah, I've been thinking about that and thought maybe we should have one tag all people use but have either a pic of Balto on it (real or cartoon or both) or, seeing as this is BS members only, asking Steet if we could use a banner design from BS on it.

I'll be getting MSN soon and as long as everyone can get on at the same time on the same thing then that'd really help, 'live' meetings could be a problem, as far as I know I'm the only organizer in the UK and even though I'll be taking a vacation to USA this winter I don't know how we'd plan it.

It would be great if you could lend us a hand (or paw) with this Seppala, we need all the good help we can get.

So, ummm...gang. How far along has the planning proceeded? And what still needs to be done? And would the actual planners be willing to meet on AOL/AIM for a scheduled series of chats (temporary chat rooms)?

I dunno, MSN hates me and won't work, I'm gonna get a different one I think.

We've hopefully got somewhere thanks to Dingowolf and MayaHuskee helping out, unfortunately Drew can no longer do the fan vids for us , I was hoping to have more ideas by now but it's not working, I'll have to find a new way to get help for this coz so far it's not going as well as I'd hoped.

If you ever need any help, UK, I'll see what I can do. I'll also try to get this back up and running again. I know none of us had really had much time to work on it or plan anything (heck, I still have permission slips to send people, and I have to write a document for the adults who want to go like Seppala), but I'm sure that we'll get back on track soon enough. I'll be looking for anyone who can help.

Also, I'll give you the links to download any of these chat programs.

MSN: http://get.live.com/messenger/overview
AIM: http://www.aim.com/get_aim/win/other_win.adp?aolp=0
Yahoo: http://messenger.yahoo.com/
ICQ: http://download.icq.com/download/

Maybe some of these will work better for you. I have AIM, MSN, and Yahoo.

Thanks Kari, I've sent a PM to Steet asking if a sticky topic somewhere would be accepable then everything would be easier to keep track of and thank you soooo much for the links, they'll help me a lot and hopefully one will work...

Please note my resignation from this 'trip'. I will not be coming, nor providing anything.

Best wishes
Drew

Yep. I think I missed something again. This sounds rather ominous...

You missed nothing.

Oooooookay