DC and SC, God knows I love my beef, and my wine. God, that just doesn't sound right, does it?

Save it for the Ladies' Thread, will ya?

I'm glad I was able to make you laugh :p I will get even with you so expect the unexpected

TO ALL GANGSTERBBers PLANNING ON ATTENDING THE 2006 WEEKEND

Mama Mig called me on Saturday and asked me to pass on the following information for her to all of you as she will not have any internet access until Monday.

Her daughter called her and told her that she was able to get a group rate for all of us at the Hilton Garden Inn in Philadelphia. http://www.hiltongardenphilly.com/

We need to book TEN (10) rooms and they will give us a rate of $89.00 per night. However in order for her to block those rooms she needs that first and last names of everyone who is attending. She will secure that rate for us with her own credit card but she needs all of our names. There is a cancellation policy which allows you to cancel charge free up to 48 hours before check in.

Mignon tells me that they are holding the rooms for us for until tommorrow evening and then will release them if they do not get the first and last names within the next day.

If all those planning on attending can send me a PM with their first and last names, I will call MAMA MIG on Sunday afternoon and give her the names so that she can hold the rooms for us at that $89 group rate.

Please let me know if you are all ok with going to the Hitlon Garden Inn.

Please PM me by Sunday 12:00 noon with the info amd I will pass it on to Mignon.


Don Cardi

Count me out for now-- I talked to my cousins tonight and it looks like my vacation's going to be in August too, so there's a very high probability that I'll be gone during the convention. If things change later and it turns out that I'll be back by then, I'll just get a regular price room. But it's not likely. I hope this doesn't throw off the minimum ten rooms, guys.

DC , thanks for passing on the message and organizing things!

I was looking around on their site and checked the smoking room (regular) rate for that weekend. They said there was no availability.

My question: Are you sure I can reserve a smoking room for that weekend?

EVERYONE GOING NEEDS TO CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE!

The place doesn't look anything SPECIAL, but it doesn't look bad either.

It's MIG that deserves the thanks. I'm only the messenger for her on this because she doesn't have any internet access this weekend.


Don Cardi

How can there be no smoking rooms this far in advance???? Or is this a non-smoking hotel???

TIS

Sounds good to me, but.....

What happens if we get 10 or 11 people to say that they're interested now, but in the end we wind up with only 9?

Will the nine of us still get the group rate, or will we then be charged a higher rate, and if so, what will that rate be?

If that rate is very high, perhaps we'd be better off locking in a lower rate somewhere else.

Plaw, I had the same though this morning, and I plan on asking that question to MIG.

I assume that we do need the TEN rooms to get that rate.

However so far it is looking as though it will be a moot point anyway as I have not recieved replies from enough people willing to commit.

I will be talking to MIG by noon today and will let everyone here know.

If we don't get the ten rooms booked then I think we simply shift our plans back to The Wyndham and then everyone can just book their rooms on their own.

But Mig and her daughter have given a real effort here and the least that I think we can do is give it a try to get the ten commitments.


Don Cardi

DC, I assume you PM'd everyone who was interested?

DC/Wife
SC/Lori
Mig/Daughter
DMC
PLaw
SB
Geoff
Me
What about Beth? Apple? Don Smittey, Mikey? Are they coming? That would be 10. Who am I forgetting?

I have seen some hotels that offer group rates with 5 rooms, but can't remember which ones.

And Mig, I do appreciate all your effort.

TIS

Turnbull.

We've also invited MaryCas and Just Lou to a number of dinners, but they've never been able to make one so far.

If I remember correctly, TB is usually at his summer hideaway during that month.

I see that many of those who I've PMed have read the PMs but do not seem to want to commit right now. And understandably so in many situations.

If that be the case by the time I talk to MIG, then my suggestion is that we go with the Wyndham ( which is only $20 more per night ) and then everyone can book their rooms on their own, at their leisure.

But again, for MIG and Becky's sake, I'm gonna go down trying for them because I truly appreciate, as I know we all do, the time, effort and commitment that they both have made in trying to put this thing together.


Don Cardi

I'm down as a maybe. I haven't committed yet.

I would like to add my appreciation to Mig and her daughter for their help.

Hilton Garden Inn's are nice for travel. We've stayed at a few, and their breakfast is good. As I've said, though, I don't know if I can be there due to unknown birthday plans for Mama Babe, plus we would only be there Saturday, not both nights, so even if we were coming, I don't think we would count for the 10 room minimum.

Mig and Becky - thank you, and thanks to your assistant DC .

Well I just got off the phone with MIG and of course the first thing I did was tell her how much we all appreciate her and her daughter's efforts.

I explained to her that right now it was hard for many to commit this far in advance and that even if 10 did commit there was the strong possibility that several would back out later on, which would nullify the discount rate.

I explained to her that it is understandable why some cannot commit this early, and at the same time that it was not fair to her, and especially Becky to continue to knock their brains out at this time.

She said she understood and told me to thank all those who were appreciative of her and Becky's efforts.

Of course she said that she will call Becky and pass the info onto her and see what she says. She will post after the weekend.

In the meantime, assuming that Becky needs at least 10 guarenteed reservations to hold that rate, and it don't look as though we are going to get ten guarentees, then maybe those of us who are really committed to this should consider MIGNON's other suggestion for a Hotel, The Wyndham.

Maybe those who are really serious about going should just book a room at The Wyndham, this way we are guarenteed to at least have a room, and if something changes down the road where MIG can still get us a rate with a less amount of people, and we all decide to do that, then all we have to do is cancel the Wyndham reservation. But If Becky cannot get us the discount rate with less than ten, then at least we'll have a room booked at the Wyndham.


Just a suggestion.


Don Cardi

See the advantages of planning early. We'll get it together yet. What about Just Lou????You gonna make it?? We'd love to meet you.

DJ mentioned the possibility of coming as well. Plus didn't one of our Chicago members mention an interst?

TIS

So where are we going in 2007?


Don Cardi

True. Mig, thanks a million, you've been great and totally on top of things with this! Thanks to Becky too, for hooking things up.

So where are we going in 2007?


Don Cardi [/b][/quote]CLEVELAND!!!!!!

No, I'm gonna talk all you guys into coming to CA in 07. I'll practice my sales pitch. :p

Mig, glad you're back. I thought you wouldn't be back til Monday.


TIS

Mig, how was your trip. I also thought that you told me that you would not have internet access until Monday when you returned?


Don Cardi

God bless your perseverance, TIS... I've already given up on that.

Welcome back Mig!

God bless your perseverance, TIS... I've already given up on that.

Welcome back Mig! [/b][/quote]Zia,

It's called "WestCoastOphobia. A condition brought on by the cold weather back East. The nice weather would be a "shock to the system."

So, you're not gonna make it for sure??????

TIS

On a somewhat serious note, just let me know when an exact date is confirmed so I can put in for it at work. Even tho I have the seniority, I'd hate to bump someone else if they choose the same date for vaction. I'm thinking we should know a date by first of the year no??


TIS

I thought that we had agreed on the weekend of August 18th?

I'm going to book a room for that weekend at the Wyndham.

Sort of an insurance policy. Hey, there's no charge to cancel it as long as you cancel up to 48 before check in, so as far as I'm concerned there's no risk.


Anyone else have something that they may want to add to this? Any other ideas?


Don Cardi

I just got back home to WV a little while ago. I was finally able to use my sis in law's computer a few mintues Sunday.

I haven't talked to Becky yet cuz I need to know how many smoking rooms we will need. I'm sorry guys I forgot to tell her about that. Or would you rather just stay at the Wyndham?? Let me know so I can tell her one way or the other.

You never know. I might surprise you.
If I do, I can always get a free room in A/C, and meet you guys (and gals).

URGENT! URGENT! URGENT!

Becky and her co-worker and the co-worker's cousin in Philly went through alot to get us the low rate of $89 a night. I need to let her know if we want the 8-10 rooms or not. I would like to get this over with so I can get some sleep at night and stop stressing about it. Thanks

Hi Mig,

That's ok with me, but I don't remember which hotel we're talking about. :p I think we figured around 8 rooms so that should work.

What's everyone else think? We don't want poor Mig to get too stressed-out.


TIS