[torontocbm] Re: WoC 2009
- From: "Daniel Kovacs" <danielkovacs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <torontocbm@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:56:40 -0500
To me, the date is a minor detail. Yes, it would be nice if it where held
earlier in the year, however, I see your point about American Thanksgiving and
black-friday. It's just that it seems every year I go (back when Commodore
held WOC, and for the years I went to ComputerFest) the weather would be
particularly bad (except computerfest in 2001 and 2002, no snow - I remember
one of those year I bought a 1581 from the TPUG booth there). On year - 2005 I
think, it was when National Amiga I think held World of Amiga at the
International Center we drove on closed roads to get home.
It was not my intention to turn this discussion into a dispute over who should
celebrate which holiday and when, however, October is a really nice time of
year around here and I have fond memories of spending nights on thanksgiving
weekend on the deck at the cottage drinking wine and chatting with family.
The nice thing about having it in December is it allows me more time to budget
for the show and for me it's a quieter time of the year, so getting the day off
isn't that hard. Back in the day (I was in grade 12 when Commodore filed for
bankruptcy), I would start saving all of my earnings at the end of summer for
the show and come home with some really cool stuff. My favorite memory of the
WOC events I think was in 1992 or 1993 (when Commodore had their history booth
at the back of the show, with their typewriters and whole 8 bit line).
What I was hoping to do at this years show was to sit down and play with a C65,
unfortunatley there where none at the show, but that B-Series computer was very
cool, as where the Demos I watched - IDE64, the Megacart and the UIEC. I had a
really great time, despite the rough drive home, and look forward to WOC 2009.
Dan
----- Original Message -----
From: joseph palumbo
To: torontocbm@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2008 8:43 PM
Subject: [torontocbm] Re: WoC 2009
A week or two earlier?!?....Please not again.... Okay, one more
time..... The week before WOC is the USA Thanks-Giving Holiday weekend. Their
Thanks-Giving is actually the Thursday before, but generally celebrated the
following weekend. Also this is the weekend the Americans (Who unlike
Canadians; celebrate Thanks-Giving at the WRONG time of the year) also have:
"Black-Friday" at this time! This is where the bulk of the X-mas shopping is
done. This is a ritual that we Canadians are not allowed to understand since we
leave that to the last minute.
The general consensus when asked about moving the WOC date at CCCC and
ECCC events was to leave it be. This is still up to the new TPUG Board of
Directors which will be chosen by the Membership at the upcoming AGM who will
then appoint a new Committee for WOC
2009 is TPUG's 30th Anniversary which is why at the Sunday morning
Round Table breakfast after WOC, we floated the proposal about holding 2009 at
a Hotel type venue as we did in 2004. If TPUG current funding permits this (or
a corporate sponsor steps up). This is a decision the new WOC Committee will
have to make.But is being recommended by the current exiting Committee.
A forum is being started but wasn't set-up in time for woc2008 to be
useful so it currently points to the "tpug.ca/woc" link, The forum will be at
www.worldofcommodore.ca
This will now fall to the new Committee to Continue to use and
structure. Possibly with information on how to receive the webcam feed live
from the event. And lots of room for improvements to getting information out
that the website, which was being updated almost daily, was not providing.
We Canadians find it strange that American Buffet Restaurants charge
you first before even finding you a table to sit down at to eat. (Pay it the
pump, or Pay first, at a gas station is only now creeping into this side of the
border.) So paying for food/drink tickets shouldn't be that bad....But yes,
both the kitchen staff and front table staff missed the rehearsal and set-up on
Friday night. which made thing (again) move away from the planned route. The
money at one location was to remove the responsibility of the kitchen to watch
a cash box while people are entering from two doors as well as watching the
counter. As it was, the stamps of Jim Butterfield that were at the front table
on display were STOLEN.
Also stolen...Two C= road signs...straps and all....let me know if they
show up on E-Bay.
Two more road signs Smashed. (but still tied to their Hydro pole)
Each venue had its individual advantages/disadvantages. In 2004 we held
it in a hotel, but no food was allowed in the room. We paid a $100 clean up fee
to allow the anniversary cake in the room that year. Many hotels looked at
would not allow outside food into the hall; as they want that source of
revenue. And while they may give a discounted room price if we allow them to
hold the breakfast/lunch/dinner, it ups the overall price to those staying at
the hotel, and in many cases uses them to finance the extra need for local
visitors for that same included meal....or even pop/water/tea/coffee
sandwiches, etc provided in the hall.
This is all things the new committee will have to look at with what
ever budget is available to them next year. Any TPUG member can nominate, or
be nominated to the Board of Directors; as well as be chosen to be on the WOC
committee. This is the time we invite you to voice your opinions on the
general direction of the club, and it's events. So come on out to the AGM
meeting, or send in your proxy.
Joseph Palumbo
TPUG Director & WOC2008 Committee
--- On Sun, 12/21/08, Daniel Kovacs <danielkovacs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
From: Daniel Kovacs <danielkovacs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [torontocbm] Re: WoC 2009
To: torontocbm@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Received: Sunday, December 21, 2008, 1:55 PM
Having the event a week or two earlier would make driving for some of
us alot easier. I hit a terrible storm on the way back to Goderich, and the
drive took 4 hours (normaly takes 2 1/2). Next year I will probably bring my
daughter (she will be 5), so an all in one venue would be great for me too. I
will likely bring some of my systems to set up for gaming at the show (C64s and
Amigas).
Dan
----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Brain
To: torontocbm@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2008 1:51 AM
Subject: [torontocbm] WoC 2009
I know no one is thinking of this as yet, but when you do, I'd like
to strongly encourage an all-in-one venue. I made a similar comment at the
Sunday breakfast, but events upon my return have elevated the suggestion (I
think TPUG members suggested it, actually, and I concurred)
a.. My son was so bummed he did not get to visit a new Country
this year, when he found out I had traveled to one. Yes, I know, you all think
that's nonsense, but to a 10 year old:
a.. Even though I would not consider the border a "fun" event,
my son would.
b.. Seeing everything in km/hr would mess with him
c.. Seeing French on all the signs would as well
a.. Hearing Robin Harbron say "eh" a few times would make his
day. Yeah, he's not exactly Toronto, but I'm not going to split hairs for an
11 year old.
b.. He could see how much alike the countries are (no offense,
but you drive on the same side of the road, with the same cars, have the same
restaurants, etc.)
b.. He bores easily. While it's possible he might stay
entertained the whole day playing games, it'd be nice to let him go back to the
room for a bite to eat, watch some TV, etc.
c.. I'd rather not worry about ensuring I've got my son when I
travel from the EXPO site to the hotel. Laugh if you want, but there are often
so many people asking questions and demanding my time, I can forget I actually
brought some of my family.
d.. On reflections, the "pack up at 11PM and then setup again in
this little hotel room", had significant drawbacks. To be fair, the same thing
occurs at ECCC, so it is not without precedent, but I simply love the CCCC
setup. Unpack gear on Friday, stay up till 3AM chatting and coding, roll out
of bed at 9AM and go to the floor directly, demo the day away, do the dinner at
6PM, come back and hack until 3AM, then roll out of bed at 10AM on Sunday,
pack, and leave.
I know the church provides a nice venue (big, unlike ECCC, which is
a drawback) and they offer it at a low cost (another plus), but I still prefer
a continuous presence from Friday till Sunday.
Take that for what it is worth, when the time comes to plan WoC
2009.
A few more thoughts, which I already noted:
a.. I enjoyed the demo room. My only concern was that other demo
folks who could not get away from their tables (I wouldn't count myself,
because I chose to stay and try to finish units, but I assume others fit into
this category) could not go to the demos. Since I like the demo room idea,
maybe it might be possible to get a "quick demo" of the projects for the other
demo folks, early in the day. Dunno, don't really have a great solution to my
concern.
b.. Two words: PA System (three if you expand the abbreviation).
If you can't source one from somewhere in Toronto, feel free to throw a line to
folks coming. Heck, I'll rent one here and bring it if need be.
c.. Lunch tickets? I can't believe that keeping all of the money
in one location overcame the fact those poor ladies had to practically chastise
many of us who did not understand the drink/food ticket system. For a
non-Canadian, it just made me feel stupid, like you all do this all the time,
and I am such a chump for not getting with the program.
d.. A forum for prepping for the WoC would be really nice. CCCC
offers one, where folks can trade rideshare info, plan to bring things, etc.
Most won't want to join this mailing list (and I don't think you want that
either) just to prep for the show.
e.. Some demo/sales information ahead of time. Maybe I just
missed that, but you really can't give out stuff the day of the show. I really
need to know everything ahead of time, when I am not stressed with last minute
details. Vendor setup, teardown, etc.
f.. To that end, I'd rather settle up sometime other than that
morning. I got all mixed up this year and made some stupid math mistakes in
settling up.
Jim
-- Jim Brain, Brain Innovations
(X)brain@xxxxxxxxxx Dabbling in WWW, Embedded Systems, Old CBM computers, and
Good Times! Home: http://www.jbrain.com
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