OK maybe not another full reunion, but how about at least an official wacko gathering for next year. I was talking with the folks on the chat last night about how much I had missed by not going to this year's event and how they were going through Wacko withdrawal already. We discussed the possibility of taking an existing event next year and hijacking it for our own purposes to make it the official wacko gathering of 2006. Maybe Kim could be persuaded to have a regional where we (Dave) could use as the basis for our event and plan from there. Maybe we could do the west coast somewhere so Fred doesn't have to drive as far. We have done events at Navy Pier, at Rosemont, other collector shows, regionals, reunions, Door County, and about any other lighthouse gathering that you could think of. So, lets pick an event or suggest a new one and do the wacko thing among great friends with enough time for everyone to plan to attend. Kim likes to partner with other groups and we are the best group that I know of, so let's see what everyone thinks!

Jim,

I'd like to do that as well. I'm game for the West coast if I have enough lead time.


Dennis

A WACKO CRUISE !!!!!!

The SF Bay area was under discussion by a few of us as a place for a WACKO reunion during the Mackinac event. Lots of lighthouses, cheaper air fares. There's a Club Quarters hotel near the Embarcadero area.

And the Lighthouse Pixie knows her way around CA very well. If we twisted her magic wand, maybe she could get us into some of the tough ones.

Let's get a date early so we have some time to plan. It would be nice for a HL Event and a Wacko event, and a Derith LH trip to coincide. West Coast would be a Great idea!
Bob

No way I'd convince Patti to travel out to the West Coast with the kids just yet, as much as I'd like to.

Does anyone have any idea if H.L.has several regionals planned again for next year? Last year there was really only one that they called a Regional. It would be nice to have two or three spread out for those that can't make just the one.

Mike

Personally, I would love to see more regionals that would amount to "Wacko Weekends" in various parts of the country. These could be coordinated with specific lighthouse events or Younger Family signings.

Perhaps a one or two night weekend stay-over would be appropriate. Bus trip, lighthouse tours, organized meals at an area restaurant or two could be a fabulous time.

The key is participation without a real major expense. I feel we could draw a nice crowd if people didn't have to pay a lot of money for traveling. I believe people would attend if they could drive to it in a reasonable time. Flying and renting cars can be cost prohibitive for some people, who otherwise would love to attend.

Bob

Bob - while I, too, would like to see more regionals, I don't think it's going to happen. Maybe more than just 1 in 2006 (like in 2005), but HL wants to piggy-back on existing lighthouse events to maximize exposure to potential new collectors.

The idea of the Bay area was that with Southwest and other low-fare airlines flying in there, you could probably get there for under $250 per person. You DON'T need to rent a car to get around the Bay area -- only adds to your trip expense with parking, gas, rental costs.

If we packed a 3 day weekend with group tours, boat and bus, we could see many of the ligths.

The Club Quarters hotel contact would get us rooms for an estimated $80-$150 a night (cheap in SF).

That's also why it needs to be over a weekend because the hotel has more weekend vacancies that during the week.

So when in the year? Spring, Summer, Fall? What dates to avoid? Holiday weekends?

If not the Bay area, where? Back to Chicago? Washington DC? New York City? Boston? These all have Club Quarters hotels, too.

I could go for all of these; Perhaps NYC would offer the most interest for me because there are many lights there I haven't seen.

How many people would it take to make you want to be there (wherever it is?) If we used coach tours, we'd need minimum of 44-54 to fill one coach. If we went over 54, it would be best to have 80-90 total.

Is 2006 too soon? Would it be better to wait until 2007?

Let's hear from anyone -- if it's not of interest to you, just say so too. (Please no polls yet until we get more input here.)

I'd personally LOVE a gathering in NYC - I might not even need to stay in a hotel! We've got tons of great lighthouses here, too, and if you havn't been to the area, you can see a lot of new ones in a short amount of time. You can go across Connecticut; down Long Island; up the Hudson; down NJ; or just around the city itself.

Although the West Coast would be great, I would have to miss it, too, because of distance. I don't really like to fly, and it's really expensive to do so, anyway. Somewhere like Boston or DC we can get to in a few hours.

Also....if we look back at the Wacko Map I did a few months ago, the majority of us are located east of the Mississippi. That could make travel easier for what might be the majority of attendees (the Wacko Map wasn't, and couldn't be a complete study, so this might not be a true statement. I'm going to do another one this year, so maybe more Westerners will join in.)

We've never done stuff in NYC or DC, or maybe even Boston. They are all lighthouse-rich areas (well, except DC...but we can go to the Chesapeake, and it's a great city besides.) It might be a nice change. And, I'm tired of having Wacko gatherings that I can't go to.

Hey, if we did New York, any chance we could get the Nation Park Service to let us climb up to the torch in the Statue of Liberty? It is the tallest lighthouse, would be cool to go to the top.

NYC would be a disaster with traffic, etc. It's a Real City. Even on weekends. Mass transit is confusing even for the locals. Everything would be expensive. Taxis, enough said. Hard to coordinate. Everyone wants you to sign your life away. You'd have to be in the Battery Park area to access the the ferries. 400 people carrying zoom lenses would drive security crazy.

Now if you could get a small cruise ship that could get close, and even navigate up the Hudson ala the Wild Cruise, and find some hotels along the way. You could start in Staten Island and maybe get the National Lighthouse museum to let us park. Only suggesting, it not something I'd want to put together.

I'd love attend one in 2006 but would hope to have add ons open both sides of a long weekend. Need lots of lighthouses.

Bob

As far as time frame, Spring or Fall would be best in my opinion.

I'd say if you want to keep it on the East Coast go for MA. You've got plenty to choose from- Cape Cod, Boston, North Shore.

You of course would still have the traffic problem- especially between late May and early September. Go for the end of September beginning of October and you get a good chance of decent weather and many things are still open.

You do a Fri to Mon and you could get to a fairly good number of Lighthouses. You'd probably be able to get Jeremy Detremont to be the guide if you planned ahead enough. Get the NELL people involved and dovetail it with their quarterly meeting.

I agree with Bob on NYC- very difficult to plan for a large group of people. You spend much of your time getting from one place to the next and it could be literally around the corner. the other aspect of NYC is cost- hotels, etc are not cheap in NYC- even the cheap ones aren't cheap.

Dennis

NYC sounds interesting, I would like to see the next Reunion in Seattle, perhaps in 2008.

Well Folks,

I agree with the overall concept of a WACKO get together over a weekend. But due to the fact that we all spent a great deal of money this year, might it not be a good idea to wait until 2007?

Any time of the year (except winter) is fine with me. And any part of the country is great -- as long as it has lighthouses in the near proximity.

bobo

I agree with Bob Ott on the money thing... and Sean on the Reunion being in 2008 and in Seattle... Lots of lighthouses in a fairly close area with big hotels available, transportation in and out of the area (big airport) plus plenty of time to save up to pay for it and time for Dave to plan it thoroughly..

We (Sue and I just did San Francisco Regional a couple of years back as a lot of others did) need to go someplace different for a gathering not just all the same locations, that is one of the reasons why the Mackinac Island Reunion was so nice, it was a brand new location for a WACKO gathering...

Avery Point is suppose to be re-lit in Spring, perhaps we could go that time frame and location.

Seattle would be wonderful. Except we'd all have to pray real hard for good weather. I'm 100% for the location. I've been to Seattle many times in the past, ad it's a fantastic city. But that was long before I even knew what a lighthouse was.

bobo

I agree with Seattle being a good choice. We were just there this past June and enjoyed it very much but we didn't get to that many Lighthouses right in the area.

I also can see that some would want to wait until 2007 due to the cost factor.

I think the original idea was to set up something that would work for 2006 that wouldn't break the bank for most people.

I'm not sure if we'll be able to pull that concept off, though.

Dennis

As to scheduling. I think a good solution would gather on a Friday in some city and spend Saturday together maybe a limited lighthouse tour or two in the immediate area. Do local things on Sunday (some will depart), then those who want to could begin a tour on Monday morning that might allow them to fly home from a different city.

Just an example:

Gather in Boston Friday
Party Friday evening

Saturday am - tour some lights, but not a real ambitious 7AM - 7PM thing.
Saturday pm - dinner & discussion. Maybe a speaker or entertainer - Wayne Faust?

Sunday - relaxing day, talking, touring other city things. Some would leave for home, others would leave early Monday.

Monday - a coach tour to Cape Cod Lights or lower Maine lights. Maybe a 2-day tour into Maine. Some could fly home from Portland ME, or return Boston Tuesday afternoon?

BTW, Avery Point light is 105 miles from the Club Quarters in Boston. But there are lots of other lights within 50 miles of Boston; Scituate is 30 miles, for example.

I can't get 2006 rate information from the Club Quarters website, and Boston doesn't seem to have the weekend special rates. So here are examples for the SF Club Quarters: 2 persons - room rates from $69-$119 per night + tax. The weekday rates for these rooms are $119-$194.

I think we could pull this off next year without breaking the bank. If we center around a Saturday event somewhere, with a wacko get together the night before then the cost would be mostly getting there and 1 or 2 nights in a motel, which we have had good luck with in the past. More extensive pre or post bus trips could be added for those wishing to extend their vacations as has also been done in the past, or hooking up with an existing tour somewhere along the way might work. I think of the great turnouts that we had in San Diego, Door County, and the one I really wish I hadn't missed, the Bar-B-Q at Paul's beach house in the outer banks as examples. And I agree with Paul's point that someplace new for most of us would be neat.

Boston has lots of cruise tours which the nonProfit might set up for us ala Schepler. Friends of Boston Harbor Islands I've been trying to do these for years. Conflicts.

There's also a Marriott right on the Harbor that was having a sale this August. Sorry,$259 this weekend.

3500
Mombo 6300

Excellent example, Bob... Daytime Fall Foilage and Lighthouse Cruise Saturday October 1 $40 for adults 10AM to 4PM. 15+ lighthouses seen from the water.

If I've mapped the Long Wharf where this departs correctly, it's less than a mile from the Club Quarters.

If we could gather 100+ collectors in one place, I think we could talk Bill into joining us, especially if there were HL dealers nearby where he could do a signing the day before or after. 85 miles from Lighthouse Depot in Wells ME.

Out of curiosity, what's special about Club Quarters? I looked on their website, and they have something with membership, but your friends can use it too...very confused.

Boston could be great....great city, great (and plentiful) lighthouses, and lots of places to go pre- and post-trip. Plus, it's easy to get to, being a major city.

I must agree with Bob.

NYC always is. Boston would be much easier to handle. But I believe that Seattle would be the best in 2007.

bobo

Well, I just told Randy that we would only take one major vacation next year because he's taking so many unpaid days this year due to our Alaska vacation, WILD trip and our upcoming trip to Florida.

Nevertheless, I'm interested as long as you don't choose the end of June. A fall color/lighthouse tours sounds great!! I would love it if it extending into Maine. I've always wanted to go there.

A late spring trip would be nice, too. Well, I'm just suggesting that because I've wanted to go to Maine to photograph lighthouses and Puffins! Maybe a whale or two... OK, I'm getting off the subject here.

Personally, I'd hope that anything we did, would be when I'm off from school. After all this, I wouldn't want to miss the event because it was in May or something. I always miss stuff for that reason - I don't want to miss this one, if it happens!

I have to say that last years Door County and last years Oakland Regional were a great size. We can even keep it smaller. Let's keep it small and sweet and more frequent. A few a year works for me!

It's obvious that we won't be able to please everyone. If we have several a year then you can choose which "get together" that you want to attend.

Just like the Regionals but on a much smaller scale and to focus on just lighthousing and friendships. If the Youngers can't make it that's also fine. Let's just get together.

Ken

Would love to have something happen in Boston, or North Carolina area in 2007
The next big reunion in the Pacific Northwest in either 2008 or 2009 ( I vote 2009)
Larry and I are doing Hawaii Dec 2006 for our 30th wedding anniversary so wouldn't want another big travel expense next year.

Hey, let's keep discussing this at the Chat tonight at 10pm est?
Bob

We had an active discussion on last weeks chat about this subject, as well as several others. The main suggestions for a weekend (Friday night get together, Saturday Event, Sunday optional event), with possible pre and post extensions for bus trips seem to be:
1. Boston
2. Charleston
3. Virginia Beach

What do you think? Come to the chat tomorrow night at 9:00 Eastern to talk about it some more.

What came out the chat September 21?

My 1st choice would be Boston.
Then Virginia Beach.
Then Charleston.