Day-ummm...I guess you'll understand why I won't be attending, then.

 

I think that the move would be great. It would give us a chance early on in the event to meet more people. Plus I would like to drink when gambling, but if it was held on Saturday, I wouldn't be able to because I plan on doing the "MIDNIGHT RUN". Plus it sounds like a nice thing to do to unwind from the long drive to the dragon.

 

Everything is still set for Saturday, for now.... of course we'll be watching the poll. But, yes, we would understand and we would also feel bad about any conflict with the Cigar Salon (which I hope to attend!). Should the poll results cause us to shift it to Thurs. night, (still a BIG IF at this point), the casino will be open for a while - until 11:000pm - and folks could potentially do both.

 

Yep, even Clo thinks it the two would be very complimentary of each other.

 

Dang it, I voted before I was reminded about the cigar thing. Never having been to this, I don't really know how long the cigar event is and how much of a conflict it would really be, but I would sure like to get my time and/or money's worth for both events. In other words, enjoying whatever time is allotted for each event. After the big dinner Thursday I really would rather puff gently and enjoy a nice cognac rather than a quick smoke and a chug. Let me ask you this... is cigar smoking welcome while gambling? My guess would be somebody would complain, somebody always does when it comes to smoking, especially cigars. And nothing ruins a good smoke than somebody complaining about it. So I guess I answered my own question! So unless the cigar event would not significantly cut into the casino (I would say a half hour but one of my good cigars properly smoked can last at least 45 minutes), then PLEASE CHANGE MY VOTE TO KEEP IT SATURDAY.

On a side note, I think it inherently unfair to those who have already registered and paid based upon a Saturday date, that can't make it for Thursday and would miss out. I'm not affected, it's just my $0.02. Anyway, have we considered that like so many of the events that we plan, that there might be a ton of last minute sign-ups and walk-ins? Maybe we can talk about it over a good cigar

 

I'll be there with bells on for either Thurs or Sat, although I remember being a bit green after last year's Brew Swap....

 

I don't think you can smoke in the banquet hall.

Yes, we know it would be unfair, we are just exploring options. I would feel worse if we have to cancel all together if we don't get enough attendees.

Last minute regs are fine and welcomed, however we have a significant cost for the event company providing the casino. Which is where the problem lies, not enough attendees to pay the event company means we have to cancel.

 

But you haven't signed up for Saturday night either.

 

Just so that we don't leave this all up in the air for too long, we'll be closing the poll this Sunday, March 25 at 12:00 noon EST. Get your votes in and say your piece by then!

Clearly, as the polling stands now, everything is staying as it is for Saturday night. There needs to be quite a few more in the first category and a significantly larger spread between the 3rd and 4th before things change.

 

Not sure why you felt you needed to refer to our event as the "only" other "competition," as this will be the Third Annual Cigar Sampling Salon. It is a very relaxed and mellow event. We welcome everyone to join us, no purchases necessary.


That was based on the earlier discussion of this event in 2006, when it was going to be held in the Dam Room. Since the Cigar Salon is on The Porch of the Dam Room, it seemed very simpatico to have a place for folks to come have a smoke-break and visit with their cigar-smoking friends.

Either way, if you have it on Saturday or Thursday, very best wishes to you.

 

You see I agree - and IF the night gets changed, they will be refunded.

I see some tension building in here. Let's make sure we're keeping our perspective! There is no competition. No "us vs. them." No "you vs. me." It is all of us together! We are all working very hard to make the best MOTD we can for 2007. Let's just keep working at it!

We all know that it is impossible to please EVERYBODY, but we still do our d@mndest to try!

 

True enough, but I thought I explained my reason in a PM to you earlier. I'd like to support you as I support other events at MOTD...just don't want to hurt our own event [which would be at the same time Thursday evening], ya know?

 

Perhaps competition was the wrong word... I should have said conflict. That being said, there's no need to get defensive about it Clover, I didn't intend any harm. I was speaking for myself, looking at the events calendar... and I don't smoke, so that's why I said for myself that there isn't a problem here, with either day.

Everybody knows it's the "Third Annual", it's posted everywhere the cigar event is mentioned. No need to remind once again. The fact remains that with over 600 people coming already, we need to have event conflicts. It will be impossible for everyone to attend any one event, as proven by the dinner sell-outs.

I'm happy to see that it won't really be an issue, as people will be able to go back and forth quite easily between the two... perhaps taking a break from the casino night to have a cigar, or vice versa.

As for those suggesting smoking inside the casino night, I wouldn't recommend it. Plenty of people will be very turned off by that idea (including me). There's no shortage of outside space for the cigars!

 

Jeff, I 'splained some of our PMs to my counterpart also. I'm sure he understands where you're coming from.

I'm sure hoping to share a smoke on the porch and we'd love to see both you and Clo at the Casino if everything works out.

 

After all's said and done, we'll ALL be needing some 'gars, refreshments and time at the slots and tables to calm down!

 

I will come either night but would greatly prefer Thursday. I don't want to have to worry about having a hangover for my drive home Sunday or feeling rushed to get to the Midnight run (as a passenger) & if on Thursday I feel like I could just relax & enjoy myself

 

I voted for either, but Thursday would be nice, since I'm coming in alone, I might get to meet a few people to hang out with over the rest of the weekend!

Still, I really hope this event gets to happen, whichever night it is on, because it sounds like a blast!

 

I just thought I'd throw out my thoughts and some ideas.

With 100 or so people interested in a night of gaming, the only thing keeping this event from being a HUGE success for both the participants and organizers, is the fact that many thousands of dollars must be given to a professional event organizer before a single dollar can be donated to support Autism research.

So my main idea is this: Change the format of the event to a more home-spun grassroots style night of gaming. As an example, it seems that poker tournaments are HUGELY popular these days. This would cut the actual necessary expenses by 90% or even more if you needed nothing more than 20 new decks of cards, a big giant sack of poker chips, and some bulk green felt to cover some tables. At the end of the night, those with the most chips get to choose their prize.

By switching formats, the total amount of $$$ raised for charity would be significantly increased even if you dropped the entry fee a bit to encourage greater participation. Seems like a win-win solution to me, especially if there is a chance the event would be cancelled just because the cost of the professional gaming company exceeds the amount of money raised.

If there is anything I can do to help, I'll do it. I'm not the fanciest car shuffler, but I'd volunteer to deal cards for couple hours.

 

Another idea, instead of canning the table games, (sorry Yucca, I'm not a hugh poker person ) how bout if we do away with the open bar. I don't mind paying for the two drinks I'm gonna have. Don't know what kind of allowance you had for booze, but I sure that will bring your break even number well under 200 people ?

 

Without the big event, we would lose vendor support and prizes, vendors will not want to support a group of people playing games, especially now that the "night" has been sold to them..

You can help by signing up?

 

The open bar is already paid for by a sponsor, so unless the sponser wants their money reallocated to something else, the bar is set, however that is not the real expense.

 

You explained to Mini2Go, who explained to me, unfortunately after I replied to your post.

i am sorry if my response came of bsd, I am under just a little stress.

 

Beside the fact that we have already placed a deposit with the event company, that is not refundable.

Steve

 

I didn't realize that the vendors would pull out of it if the format changed.

I just want to see the event succeed and tried to think of a way to keep the fun level the same while significantly dropping the cost of hosting the event.

Although I am unable to attend on Saturday night, I will drop by and make a donation to the Autism Society.

 

I am already registered for Monte Carlo and Cigar Sampling, so It will be one or the other, and I lived in Vegas, so Monte is out for me if it is changed.

Now, my wife may still attend because it is for a good cause and she can have some fun, though she smokes cigars, and can learn how to gamble when we go to AMVIV in the future.

Question: Let's say it is changed to Thursday. Since I am the one registered with a +1, meaning MININurse, can she attend without me attending and get both $25,000 in "chips"?