TFA Convention - Up in the air

[johnharris]

I received a phone call this week about the planned TFA 10 year convention. It seems that trouble comes in multiples (I am absolutely covered up at work).

Anyhow, we had reserved the National Guard Armory in Nashville for Saturday May 14, 2005 for a 1:00pm to 4:00pm event. I was planning to have the event catered with BBQ for those who wanted to eat. Guest speakers were being lined up, etc.

The call comes in on 3/7 to tell me that the date is no longer available because the National Guard has scheduled drills for that weekend. So, we have to a) find another location for that same date or b) find another date for that location (June is available) or c) find another date and location.

I don't mind moving it to June but I think we might loose some people because vacations are starting.

I don't mind moving to another location but I have no idea how many to expect. I assumed it made sense to stay relatively near Nashville because of the convergence of the interstates minimized the travel from teh 4 corners of the state. I have thought about other venues which are casual and easily reconfigured for an unknown attendance. I have thought about eliminating the BBQ and perhaps going to a conference or meeting center with standard seating. I have thought about other options - when frankly I do not have the time to be working on this.

Here is what I need:

1) Help locating alternative location(s)

2) Help selecting a food vendor if we decide to provide lunch

3) Help orangizing the help.

I would really like to have a meeting this year but I cannot pull it together at this time by myself.

What does the membership want to do?