Good morning, all;

Many of us could not go to Humboldt for the APUG gathering there.

At the instigation of John Nikon F, we had a small gathering at one of our local camera pusher's facility, Kenmore Camera at the north end of Lake Washington in Kenmore, Washington. John Nikon F, Flatulent1, Brian Legge, and I were in attendance. Yes, we had a small gathering of APUG people right here in Seattle today. Another person was also invited, but may have had other commitments at that hour.

There is still something about actually being in the same room with someone and talking with them directly. Reading the messages we post occasionally, and even sending a "Personal Message" to other members is nice, but it is not the same. If I can offer an analogy, it may be a little like the difference in watching a photograph come out of the paper delivery port of a digital printer, and watching the magic of an image begin forming in the developing tray after you have waited the needed length of time and you can turn on the safelight and watch that magic taking place.

We even had a bit of discussion about having a real APUG US Pacific Northwest Regional Group gathering in the Puget Sound area.

Enjoy; Ralph, Latte Land, Washington

YES, Do it! Host us!

Hi Ralph,

Congratulations on your informal get-together. I agree wholeheartedly. There's nothing like real people and real conversation. Don't you get the impression that a lot of us are beginning to remember that?

On a related note, you bring up an important point: travel distance. Maybe we should be thinking about more frequent, smaller meetings, closer to home. Anyone, from anywhere, would be welcome of course, but mainly it's kind of a rebirth of the old-fashioned camera club. Anyway, on that thought, if you decide to host a meeting in Latte Land, maybe you could schedule it at least a couple of weeks away from the second weekend in October, so I can use the Newport VAC for something fun and photo'y.

The best to you,
d

Good morning, Robert and Denise;

Robert, you have provided confirmation that people really do read these messages all the way to the bottom. Thank you. Now we need to talk about how to go about arranging for a major APUG gathering, although I do not know if I can find a place equally enticing as the one provided by Denise. Or, at least at some reasonably affordable level.

Denise, co-ordinating the dates is a logical thing to do. You already have a facility scheduled. That is the main thing to have ready first. Then we also have the traditional second weekend in September for the APUG USPNWRGWAORIDSJ gathering. A discussion on exactly how we are going to do this certainly is appropriate. If I am going to try to do something like this, there might even be merit in my striking for 2012 and having you do another one for 2011. That would give me more time to observe how it is done and to see all the kinds of things that should be done to make one of these things work. Lots of things to discuss. And, if we go back to Newport in 2011, perhaps we will still be able to encourage that Harbor Seal to come see us again. (Actually, I am quite impressed that you remembered that seal also.)

Enjoy; Ralph, Latte Land, Washington

Ralph,

You bring up a point I'd forgotten. I set the 2nd weekend in September as our 'traditional date' back in the 1st Annual in Newport. The 2nd Annual in Vancouver followed that pattern. Then, when he was planning the 3rd Annual, Vaughn fielded the idea of changing to the 2nd weekend in October and people seemed to agree, though, as expected, it wasn't unanimous. My brain burp bad that I didn't remember the history of all that. If we decide to hold just one meeting and it's in Newport, and we decide to return the 2nd weekend in September date, I'm pretty sure I could still transfer my reservation from October to September. Complicated enough for you. But, as you sagely pointed out, planning takes conversation.
d