BBQ and Ghosts '08

[HauntedWebby]

This is our 3rd year. Time to start planning :)

Do we want to keep it in the Exchange Building or at a hotel?

Should we continue to use computers and video projectors for presentations?

More speakers? or informal discussions?

Which topics should stay? which should go?

[Joff]

I don't know if would be popular with yourself or anyone else but I really would like to see the Ghosts & BBQ weekend be the whole weekend. Introduction and breakfast followed by classes Saturday morning and afternoon with a break for lunch. Maybe a visit to a local 'haunted' location in the early evening. Then equipment setup and the actual 'hunt' at night. Sunday could be a group evidence review or further classes. Maybe another local visit and a big group meal in the evening to end the weekend.

I liked the setup from the '07 Convention (ignoring the IT issues!) It worked great and was a LOT of fun. It would be nice to have an hour or two at '08 to review and discuss previous years findings. Perhaps people can submit evidence for review prior to the convention (?)

I enjoyed the classes this last year. They were informative and sparked interest and debate. I think the informal discussions naturally occurred as we covered various topics. I'd personally like to see more speakers; on any relevant subject.

Webby, I would honestly and impartially suggest you charge more for attendance this next time. You've gone above and beyond for all your guests the last couple years and we all appreciate it SO much. You open up your building, your time and your resources to all of us and it means the world. I think doing local visits was a good idea - seeing the mausoleum (though a lucky break!) and visiting the bookstore was a really cool touch! Thank you Webs for hosting the previous two and planning a third!

I personally think having a large group meal would be awesome. Perhaps a local restaurant and a reserved private area. It would cost more and maybe be considered part of the attendance charge but I'd REALLY be up for that!

Regards topics; covering basics like capturing and reviewing evidence is always a winner. A rather specific topic but one I have a lot of personal interest in is religion, faith and how both influence the way we handle phenomena.

I'm suggesting way too much I'm sure (does it show I've been giving it some thought?) but I just wanted to start bouncing some ideas around.

[Vila]

DITTO to what Joff said. I'm quite willing to fork out more for the weekend and the informal debate brought up a lot of things that were good to talk about.

[Julie]

I agree with Joff. This last year's set up was great, with the hotel such. I would be willing to pay more as well for dinners and luncheons. It would be great to hear what else everyone else is doing and have 1 or 2 case studies that we may want to share, or hearabout interesting (but true) investigations. It would be beneficial to get together the next day and have evidence review, the more opinions, sometimes the results are more clearly defined.

[HauntedWebby]

I've been working on this year's locations. One of the most exciting is inside a 100 year catholic church. The Priest wants to do a talk about the conflicks of paranormal vs religion. He doesn't want to bash paranormal, but talk about where the religious fear comes from (at least from a catholic point of view). Since I'm not religious I'm curious as to what he'd talk about. He also has come recordings that he gathered in the church when he was there by himself. He says it's people praying, but I don't understand what they are saying. He says he also has some demons on tape.

I have a business owner that may talk on how to approach business owners that shy away from paranormal publicity.

I'd like someone to talk about when you should or shouldn't join/form paranormal groups. The pros and cons of them.

Of course a '07 in review roundtable for everyone to show what they collected over the year.

Lunch (maybe whole conference) at The Warehouse, a nortoriously (sp?) haunted resturant.

I need dates for those that are traveling!!! Since it's harder for you guys what would be best????

[Joff]

Very excited about the catholic Church.

I'd still be excited if he WAS going to attack paranormal. The fact that he's going to approach it constructively from a religious viewpoint enthralls me. Can't wait for his EVPs.

I should point out I'm not religious, raised by a Spiritualist and a die-hard Atheist.

I don't know if I'd be comfortable talking solo (painful shyness) about the Pros and Cons of joining organizations but I'd certainly bounce off of someone else with eagerness. I like the subject - I'd just have to tone it down and NOT bash people or groups. JUST methods and practices.

As for dates... does the last weekend in July (26th, 27th) work for anyone at all?

[HauntedWebby]

July works for me. Might be harder to find hotels since that is our Pinoeer Days. This place turns into a major Rodeo town around the 24th.

[Vila]

Well, we could spend the night in the exchange building......We pretty much spent the night there last time anyway. Of course, getting showered and changed would be a problem, so I guess that's a bad idea.

[HauntedWebby]

Who know we may have a shower by then. We've been working on the plumbing for about 3 weeks now. :)

[Joff]

Transpires that I'm a bit of a tard - I'd forgotten we'd discussed this in the Silver Society MySpace group and you'd suggested Aug 16th - 17th which works perfectly for us.

Sorry for being so slow :/

[Bee]

But you're a better investigator for not always being right.

And I know I wouldn't want to be the only one spacing out.

[Joff]

Yes - we truly are Dumb & Dumber

[HauntedWebby]

LOL ... ya better investigator :p You guys crack me up!!!


Now I've hit a snag. SInce I told my boss, in not so nice words, to piss off. All my extra play funds are gone.

We may have to go back to the exchange building, and just break for lunch or do a night investigation at the resturant.

I'm trying to see if the Union Station will donate a room for us to use.