For those who wonder where, when & how much it will take to attend the 2001 Collectors Reunion, you might want to drop in on tonight's chat:

www.HarbourLights.com/chat.htm

If you missed this post, you can read the chat log at:
www.HarbourLights.com/chatlogs/aug_24_00.htm


[This message has been edited by JChidester (edited 08-24-2000).]

A reliable source told us in tonight's chat that the 2001 Harbour Lights Family Reunion will be held in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, in a Marriott Hotel not yet completed, on October 4th to 7th, 2001. The hotel will be included as part of the package. Put in for your vacation now. Registration will be by phone on October 14, 2000, starting at 9:00 AM Eastern (6:00 AM Pacific)for 6 hours. If any slots remain open, registration will continue on Monday morning (10/16). Partial payment by credit card will be required at that time. DO NOT call Harbour Lights Customer Service for any information at this time, they do not have any additional information. See everyone in Baltimore!
Details are at: http://www.HarbourLights.com/chatlogs/aug_24_00.htm
Jim
Johnson

[This message has been edited by JimJohnson (edited 08-25-2000).]

Yikes - that's gonna be a nice float for HL even if they hafta pony up to the unbuilt hotel people halfway out. But four days is good. It'll be nice to go back East.

__
/im

Bet this is the correct hotel...
http://www.marriotthotels.com/BWIWF/

Opens 2/15/00. That gives us 8 months of buffer. Hopefully they will have the water running and the hair dryers installed. Maybe even working elevators.

Dave

Great News Dave - thanks for finding that info page.

I see Mombo will be happy:

Work desk with lamp
2-line phone
Voice mail
Data ports on phone
TV with remote control
Cable/satellite TV
All-news channel
In-room movies
Newspaper delivered (Mon-Fri)
Complimentary in-room coffee
Iron and ironing board
Hairdryer
Cribs available

Any chance those "Data Ports" will be T1??

Make sure that you get a room with a harbor view. You will be able to look out your window and see Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse if you do.

Inner Harbor East is not right in the actual Inner Harbor but it is very close.
There are water taxis that take you anywhere that you want to go on the harbor and it really is not a long walk to Harbor Place.

The great thing about Inner Harbour East is that it is just a couple of blocks from Little Italy. Little Italy has probably 25-30 really good Italian restaurants. Just a couple of blocks east of Little Italy is Fells Point. There are dozens of pubs and taverns in a several square block area in Fells Point. There is a lot of great night life there.

If you want crabs Bo Brooks, which is the premere seafood restaurant in town, just moved to the harbor in Canton which is just a few blocks east of Fells Point.

I know everyone hears about the murder rate in Baltimore. All of the areas that I described above are basically safe with very low crime rates. Just don't go too far north or west. Those are the crime ridden areas that are not safe to go into.

It's a shame that the regular baseball season will be over by Oct. 4th. Camden Yards is really a great place to see a game. I guess we can hope for the Orioles to make the playoffs! (but I am not holding my breath).

It should be a great location to hold the reunion.

Jim Thomas

Thanks for sleuthing out the hotel information Dave. It looks like it will be a very nice place. Can't wait! BTW... being familiar with the Baltimore area, I'm sure you have partaken of the delectable bottom feeding crustaceans which that area has to offer!

Tim - Keeping the flame lit...

Well, looks like the Great Lakes was passed-up again! Of all the large cities located on the Great Lakes it seems like one of them could have hosted such an event and they have waterfront hotels that are already built. I think there is even 1 or 2 lighthouses located on them too! The East coast already had a reunion, it's time to give us mid-landers one!

Man, John, your rougher on Bill than me! I just used my Saint powers to score him 0 for 2 on his rumors for 2001, but you on the other hand have put an end to the rumors!

SaintWackoPaul '
Keep the Flame

Hey Gravedigger,

I AM WITH YOU ON THE GREAT LAKES WANT LIST!

MICHIGAN only has 116 lighthouses.. and oh

our shoreline.. and those million dollar

sunsets..but WE will get a lighthouse

reunion on the GREAT LAKES..sometime..

wanna plan one with us Michiganians?

Maybe, they are waiting for Mackinaw City to

build more lodging facilities!

KEEP THE FAITH!

"If you build it, he (They) will come."- Field of Dreams

There is a map link on the hotel page. It dows give you a pretty good perspective of where this hotel is. Man, I hope I found the right one!. (John, I just used your link and 'backed up' a little bit.)

Even though it isn't in the midwest, I know it will be a great time because of all the lights in the vicinty and especially because of all the really good people!

When do we start the official countdown? John, maybe someone could build an automatic countdown timer to display (tic).

Dave

Regarding the lodging issue in Mackinaw City, Mi. that was posted in my previous posting:
Spoke with the Chamber of Commerce in Mackinaw City this afternoon, and it was stated that there are 65 motels in the city, with 4000 lodging rooms available. (Collectors could choose their own lodging.)
The problem with having 500-800 HL collectors
in Mackinaw City is the banquet facility.
If and when the Great Lakes Museum (in Mackinaw City) is completed (ending date in
2003-2004) then there should be a banquet
facility large enough to hold everyone.
There are plenty of ferry boats to cruise
Lake Huron (to Mackinac Island and several surrounding lighthouses).
We just returned from Mackinaw City, and all of the gift stores are open till 11pm...people strolling the streets, eating fudge, and ice cream cones, buying t-shirts and such. A mild 75 degrees with a lake breeze.
Oh, I forgot to mention, there is a Corvette
show in Mackinaw City this weekend, and 300+
Corvettes had a cruise on the Mackinaw Bridge (5 miles long) to St. Ignace, MI. and
back.
Having a HL Reunion is this resort Northern
Michigan city would be ideal, but the total
facilities aren't right just yet.
Hopefully the day will come!!!

OK all you Great Lakers. Give it up for now. 2001 is going to be mid-Atlantic.

There still remain other choices for future reunions:


[*]Northwest - SF, Seattle, Portland, Vancouver

[*]Southeast - Savannah, Jax, Daytona Beach

[*]Gulf Coast - New Orleans
And of course the place with the most lighthouses...

[*]Great Lakes

But rather than be miserable that they didn't choose the Great Lakes again this time, I'm going to accept the choice HL has made after much consideration.

And postpone any lobbying for the next locale until after 2001.

>>OK all you Great Lakers. Give it up for now. <<

There's lots of folks who would've like the Reunion to feature the Great Lakes. Its a big dissapointment for some, and shushing won't change that. That doesn't mean folks are miserable, but its fair for opinions to be expressed.

With Bill Younger's personal connection to Baltimore, that choice doesn't really surprise me. However, I am very surprised at the need for families to commit one year out (and yes I understand about hotel booking) - particularly if they want half the money up front as they have with past reunions.

__
/im
[This message has been edited by JTimothyA (edited 08-26-2000).]

Tim, there is one line in the chat log that hints that perhaps this year the deposit might be a little less. I suspect that HL will ask us for the deposit that the hotel requires and no more than that at this point.
Jim
Johnson

Here's a question for the experts here. Here's the scenario- all spots are filled. Do they have waiting list if for some reason a person who has planned a trip a year in advance can't make it, or do they leave it up to the individual to find someone to take their place. i'm sure it must have happened with at least some people for the last reunion.

A year in advance is a long time to plan. A great number of things beyond your control can change. Just curious. The answer will not disuade me from trying to get spots at the reunion.

Dennis

In 1998 there was a waiting list.

HL was more willing to help collectors who got the "Bill is Dead" nessage and gave up trying to call. I believe anyone who was in that situation eventually was able to attend.

HL was able to book some rooms in a nearby hotel and allowed a few collectors to be 'day enrolled' meaning they didn't have a room or had to get one on their own.

HL will have to determine whether YOU own the slot and could transfer it to another or not.

Will HL let collectors who live in the area register for the reunion without booking a room in the hotel? I would prefer to come by boat and stay at the Inner Harbor East Marina.

Jim Thomas

For those of us who have not yet attended a reunion, can you explain the agenda? Is it breakfast together, on your own, groups? And then during the day, on your own, seminars, tours? Is dinner together every night, one night or your choice? Also, the reunion is from Thursday to Sunday. Is that Sunday, all day, after breakfast, actually after dinner Saturday?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Joanne

There may be a few changes from the last two reunions, but for the most part we will eat together and tour together etc. That is why Harbour Lights needed a place that could feed a thousand people at one time. We did split the group in half at Providence with half touring by bus and the other half touring by ship. We then had a bar-b-que for lunch and switched from ship to shore and finished the touring.

SaintWackoPaul '
Keep the Flame


[This message has been edited by engbrady (edited 08-29-2000).]

Mile Richards did a very nice writeup on the first reunion. You can read it at: http://hometown.aol.com/hrbrlights/reunion.htm
The second reunion, which I did attend, was different in several ways. There is a writeup at: http://www.HarbourLights.com/events/Reunion_98/
There seemed to be more group activities than in Mike's narrative. We also saw more lighthouses on both the boat and bus tours. It was a wonderful experience, and for me the start of many great friendships.
I think this years reunion will start with a dinner on Thursday evening, and end with breakfast on Sunday morning. Last reunion however, St. John arranged both pre and post reunion bus tours of area lighthouses.
Jim
Johnson

[This message has been edited by JimJohnson (edited 08-28-2000).]

Any idea on the cost yet? Round figure..? A close estimate..???
It was still a mystery during the chat on the 24th. I was working that night but got to read the chat log.
Cindy is already stashing $20's in the back of her purse to start saving for OCT 2001

Wow, have I ever missed out on a biggy chat!! Baltimore for 2001.....I can get me one of those "Crabby Dick" t-shirts I passed on when Larry and I were there this spring. Baltimore's waterfront area is really nice, clean, and lots of things to do and places to eat. We had a marvelous time, don't forget to plan on going up to the top of the World Trade Center...the view is nothing less than spectacular!! I am a bit disappointed we aren't going to be reunioning in the great lakes area but hey....anywhere there is a lighthouse and Harbour Lights your guaranteed a fantastic time!!! BALTIMORE HERE WE COME!

KAT