Mike and Mike,

I'm glad you guys got this discussion going because I think we need to get a plan going soon for '09. My perspective is that I was hoping for a DC gathering, but some comments in other threads made myself and Robb Tavill wonder about that possibility. Robb put it out there that Omaha might be a good city. Mike Njus and I have always kicked around the idea of hosting a convention in Omaha, but didn't feel like we had established a strong enough local group to take it on. With the possibility of no DC convention, Dayv and Andy moving on (very understandable....many thanks to those guys over the last three years), and our local group growing strong, I thought we could pull this off and put on a good convention.

I have put myself out there to my local group and Mike Stillwell that if DC isn't done this year, I would lead the charge to have it in Omaha. It was my understanding, along with other dads who I have communicated with, that DC was on tap for '09. I understand Mike's concerns over getting something put together. I have emailed with Mike and let him know that if he needed another year to put things together, that we could fill the gap in Omaha. I don't see this as an Omaha vs DC thing because I feel DC would and should win out. Omaha is simply a "Plan B". If we do DC in '09, I have let Mike know that he will have whatever help and support he needs from me.

Our local group is getting together Wed night for a DNO and will discuss ideas for an Omaha convention. We hope to have an idea of an overall plan when Al Watts and I travel to Sactown. As everyone understands, we need to decide pretty quickly on what road we plan to take.

Wherever this next convention is held, we need to come together as a community and support it. This event has had a positive impact on myself, my family, and our local at home dad community. We need to energize our local groups and various message boards to come together and build the relationships in our small but important community.

I've never been there, but I know they have good peeps there. Except for that Phil guy...

Seriously though. Phil's an exceptional guy and would be a great candidate to lead/host the event. I went to the Omaha Tourism website and ordered a brochure on the town to learn more about it.

I know the the topic/subject matter will be great and the people attending the convention are top notch too, so the town it's in, as long as it as a couple of decent bars and restaurants and a good airport and highway system running through it with good accommodations (and maybe a university?), seems like would be the basic bones for a convention. The rest, like cool stuff to do (jazz and art museums, Harley tours, Wine Country, ect. ) is added bonus that really makes the trip a great getaway for me.

The November season of the convention has worked out for our family since 2001. Summers are super busy, but a trip to DC might be fun. We'll just have to see what happens.

Tim Writes: From what I have heard around past conventions, cost is a real make or break issue for a lot of guys.

Tim, that's what I've heard as well and that's what concerns me the most. Checking out local community centers may be the thing that makes the difference, I will add these to my list of locations to call and check. I'm virtually positive we can get a local high school to use for the convention. The cost goes by the hour for the custodians needed and is usually a minimum of $350. However, the school system may be able to help nonprofits more than a hotel or convention center.

Mike Stilwell
Daddyshome, Inc.
DC Metro Dads

I think Nebraska is a great central location that's not too far from anywhere in the US but a long way from somewhere and it takes forever to get across.
Airfare is reasonable as well.
I’ve had an awesome steak in Omaha at the Nebraska Cattle Company next to a Hampton Inn, but that’s neither here nor there related to this threads topic, just a pleasant memory of a quality chow session I had in Omaha!
If a big football game is scheduled that weekend in Lincoln, it might prove as a deterrent so careful planning should take account of the Husker schedule. Who knows, they may show up and next year and the time frame being discussed is around the CU/Hasker game so lodging may be tight, and yes, quite a few Coloradoans make the trek for a non-game and fill the town.
As far as a possible venue, maybe check with the local YMCA or the local Children’s Hospital as possibilities for meeting space and then plan lodging leads around the selected venue.
OK 2.5 bits, sorry…

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-MHD

There's a dad's group in Kalamazoo? Really? I'm from the Grand Rapids dad's group. Cool, we're neighbors!

Check out my ramblings on life at http://www.sahdguy.blogspot.com/

How about meeting in the middle of DC and Nebraska. Kalamazoo would love to host the 09 convention. Other than my two cents, I can go either way because its six of one or a half dozen the other.
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Kevin

We are open to almost any location, can Kalamazoo be a convention location, sure. Does your local group have enough dads to be the ground support needed to put on a convention? Can dkremers and the Grand Rapids group help out?

The reason why we ask is that the convention does rely on the local dads group to help out with the ground support. They should be able to check out locations for the hotel, the meeting space and be available to run the convention attendees from the hotel to the meeting location if they are in different locations. There’s other things that the dad group helps with, but these are the main ones. If you think you are ready, we can certainly add Kalamazoo to the list.

Mike Stilwell
Daddyshome, Inc.
DC Metro Dads

Omaha in the Summer time, ever been there and done that? But I do agree the pinch right before the holidays makes it tough.
Denver can be brutal in the summer months but at least the humidity is low so it's just a slow dry bake, but Omaha in the Summer time could be cruel and inhumane punishment, and other than a pool what's there to do and see in the swelter? I only pass through late at night on the wife's yearly pilgrimage to Milwaukee.
I’d be a Huckleberry and give it a try though
____
-MHD I Wanna Know How Forever Feels

As an East Coaster (Central NJ) I'd love to see it in DC next year and would love to be involved in the planning process if slots are open.

Here are my thoughts about where and why a conference should be in DC. Chicago worked for 4 reasons:
1 - Incredibly active local community
2 - Location on major interstates and travel routes
3 - Destination location people wouldn't mind visiting
4 - Relatively fair drive for a large number of people

While living in Ann Arbor, Chicago was an easy drive, was on major roads and a cool place to shop the week before Thanksgiving. I know many people came with their families and just left them for Saturday even.

KC was neat, a longer drive for me, but easy access on highways, a cool city and something to do. The problem for Sacramento was that for the "old guard" it wasn't an easy drive, so attendees would have to be new people. I am sure there were some, but not enough to make up the difference.

Moving it to Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philly or someplace in NJ outside of NYC would boost attendance in that first a large percentage of the population of the US is within a 5 hour drive of these locations. That is key and why the east coast is both popular and expensive.

Second, I can see people coming here, by car or plane, just to come to one of those locations. There is plenty to do in DC aside from the convention and without a local guide/expert. You could tour DC alone, with other dads or your family before and/or after the convention.

I'm bigoted here, I'm an east coaster now, I admit that. But if I were still in Ann Arbor, I would be very interested in the long drive or short flight to DC to be honest. I'm fortunate, I had extended family in Chicago and only stayed at the hotel once. I have the same extended family in DC (Marine Headquarters) so my costs will be fuel alone for the weekend and my family will come with and visit.

Seriously, just going with demographics and basic business models, I think the convention should return to Chicagoland or somewhere in the NYC/DC corridor. My vote is for DC/Baltimore or Philly.

PittCaleb

I agree with brianc. Location wasn't the problem. Sacramento was a reasonable drive and I had planned on taking my family so they could visit some friends in the area. I was already becoming worried about the cost when they decided to cancel the formal part of the conference. At that point, the decision to cancel the trip was easy. If the economy remains the same next year, cost will again be a big factor. It might be too expensive regardless of whether it is in Omaha or DC, but I'm more likely to go if it costs less.

but, so far no one has stepped up to say that they would organize it in Chicago. Since you are new and there are probably a number like you who don't know the history, I'll give you a brief rundown. The convention left Chicago simply because the organizing crew decided for a number of reasons to stop. The dads who stepped up and wanted to keep it going were spread around the country. Andy Ferguson was in KC at the time and found a free meeting space at UMKC and the ball started rolling. Dayv Glusing was another one of the leaders and he was interested in having it near his home in Sacremento (and Andy now in San Fran, Ca) after two years in KC. I was a member of the new planning committee and I have offered to host the event in Omaha. The convention is a tremendous amount of work and needs a good group of people on the ground in the city to organize it. There are a number of dads who are involved in the convention from Chicago who don't mind travelling to support the event (Brian Chalmers, Dave Lux, etc.) I would be happy to travel to Chicago in the future if you are interested in stepping up and saying that you would organize it. The at home dad community and the convention are made up of dads who volunteer their time. It is very rare to find people like Dayv and Andy who step up without any monetary benefit. Everyone likes to say "do it here" or "that is a bad location", but want someone else to do all the work.

I enjoyed the three trips that I made to Chicago as I have enjoyed the KC and Sacremento trips. I agree with what Brian Chalmers and most of the dads who have attended this event have said.....location doesn't matter as long as its accessible, has decent accomodations, food and beverage, and a place to meet. All those years that I attended in Chicago, I mowed yards in the summer to save money to be able to go. I did this because of the benefit I received from attending. I would like the guys who drove or could drive to the Chicago event to return the favor and give Omaha a chance this next year. There were a number of dads from local Chicago, but there were a large number of us dads who travelled long distances to support it. Because, if the at home dad community does not support it again, I'm afraid no one will do the work again and it will fade away.

(I've edited this message from it's original content)

...JonJon has an excellent point bringing up the demographics of this website are concentrated. Chicago is centrally located in the country. Has a major entanglement of interstate orange barrel highways running through it, and 1 3/4 major metropolitan airports to sort serve you almost 65% on time. Aside from all of that propaganda, why isn't the convention in Chicago anymore?

In efforts to bring the convention to the dads around the country. A "traveling road show" so-to-speak. To make the experience more accessible for many who can't necessarily hop on a plane. This is why Austin, Minneapolis, DC, Chicago, Denver and perhaps North Carolina are or would be great locations for the future.

Please read Bill's post. He sums up The 13th Annual Convention pretty well. It was smaller and did not have the formal structure of past events, but I too came out of it feeling that it was one of the best conventions that I've attended, and best overall convention weekends ever.

Omaha for '09 also has my vote as it did on Saturday when we talked at the convention. Nobody has stepped up with a proposal like the Omaha dads and NOW is the time to get the planning and sales and marketing going in full gear to make it happen.

The convention as it sits right now is poised for a new beginning, perhaps in Chicago (someday), however, it faces the hurdle of expense there. Chicago is one of the (if not THE) highest taxed cities in the country. Our sales tax alone in Cook county is 10%. If any city is tax happy, it is Chicago. There are layers upon layers of taxes here and that is why we should not host the convention in Chicago. That is a big reason why Chicago is losing its' big convention business to other cities like Vegas and Orlando. Anyway, I don't mean to rant about the tax happy city council here in Chi-Town.

Don't even suggest the suburbs. Uh-uh, don't even go there!

The thing is this-Anywhere we choose will have its' criticisms. Whether you agree with them or not is your thing. Omaha is the front runner. Then it is DC. Chicago is a formidable choice. Hey, how 'bout Pittsburgh for that matter? I'm just throwing cities out there, but I hear Pittsburgh ain't such a bad place for something like this.

Thanks for bringing Chicago up JonJon. I've never considered it, but would be willing to look into it for 2010 or beyond if anyone has any interest in it. Whattya think guys? The demographics are favorable, but all else might be working against us.

Thanks to all that have supported us over the last few weeks. Through the help of Dayv and Andy, Mike Stillwell, Brian Chalmers, Hogan Hilling, and many others, we are happy to be the hosts for the '09 convention.

I will open another thread with more details on the Omaha convention in the next few days. Check the date on your calendar....October 10, 2009. Mike Stillwell is still hoping on having us in DC for '10 and I'm confident that he will put on a great convention.

I hope everyone understands that this would not be possible without the great dads in our local LinOma Dads group. They have taken this on with excitement and pride. We are committed to making this a successful convention.

Now off to work.......;-)

Phil Andrew

I have been trying to give my opinion on this matter since I got back from Sacramento but have been busy with kids, soccer games, and recovering from jet lag so here it goes......

First of all I had a great time this weekend despite the low turnout and "watered down" convention. I got just as much out of it this year than I have the past four conventions I have attended.It does not take a big city to hold the convention. All it takes is a city that is accessable to all that can attend, an affordable clean hotel, some nice bars and restaurants, and a good support of dads in the area that the convention is going to be held. That is why my vote would be for Omaha this next year.

Mike was not able to attend this past convention to give his two cents worth for it to be in DC next year so I can't speak for him. Al and Phil on the otherhand were there and were able to sell me on the idea of it being in Omaha. Just for the fact alone that the airport is five miles from the city and the hotels offer FREE shuttle service to and from the airport is a good start. That should save some people money on cab fare and car rental fees. They also have a great group of dads in the area and surrounding area that already seem to have the ball rolling for hosting it next year. The bigger the support group the better chance of it being a successful convention.

I know cities like Chicago, DC, and New York are more attractive of a city for one to attend because they have more to offer but since I have attended the past four conventions I have not had time to do the touristy stuff. We had the options this past weekend to go on a wine tour, train museum, Jelly Belly tour, etc. and we did not do anything like that. Dayv kept us busy enough by taking us to a go-cart track, bowling, and a hockey game which you can do in most cities big or small.

I hope this helps and I hope to see everyone that can make it to next years convention wherever it may be??????

I'll be in Omaha next year. I've already told the wife. Send me a form and I'll register!

That said, I'm looking forward to Mike S. hosting in DC. I've never been there, and would really like to go.

I, too, have to say that the lower numbers of attendance in Sacramento did nothing to diminish the value of the convention. The conversations were very informative, even if by chance, and very open. Everyone offered insight, support, and especially, fun (you should be in a room with Hogan and Liam...). I am truly sorry that more dads were unable to make it. You missed an awesome weekend. Hats off to Dayv and Andy, again, for a great time.

Jim
Boulder, CO
Dad to Cole, Luke & Trev

jonjon wrote:
Just to be clear....

My thoughts on mentioning chicago in my previous post was based solely on numbers in local groups. I was not pushing for one over the other, nor was I trying to dis omaha. I think anyone volunteering to plan the event should be admired and commended. Just making sure my comments were meant only as constructive ideas, not endorsing one city over the other.
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Wow, I had to weigh in here. To start with had we had this kind of response when I started this thread I could have put a proposal together for consideration in Sacramento. Al, Phil, and I were in touch with each other putting a plan into action for 09, and I’m please as I can be that the convention will be in Omaha next year. But there are some things that I think have to be brought up.

First of all, the local support from the dads in the host city is vital to the success of the convention, no question. However, it doesn’t have to be a large group. A group of 25 dedicated dads can do just as good of a job as a group of 100 or more. Our group and the associated chapters has over 400 members, but only a small percentage of our members will be needed to provide support. So I don’t think the size of the local group should be a huge consideration, you have to remember that there are guys from all across the country that help plan and put on the convention, it is truly a national convention. I know that no matter where the future conventions are held, I will be there to help.

We all know that the main focus of the convention is the content of the conference portion of the convention. Dads helping dads to better themselves and to help them do their job effectively and to provide support is what the convention is really all about. Most times that means just a handshake and a good ear. That said, I am surprised to hear that attractions and extracurricular events are not important it is something that I’ve heard convention goers like and wanted. I’m surprised to hear Brian say he doesn’t think their important. Heck in ’08 in KC we filled a school bus full of dads to go to dinner, and see some of the other activities that Andy did such a great job of planning. The planners of the convention really need to know what it is you want? If you don’t want to do, or care to do any of the extracurricular activities then they won’t be planned. We can just simply provide convention goers a list of local attractions and let them decide what to do and help coordinate some transportation if needed. Other than planning a DNO, we can then concentrate on the other aspects of the convention if the local activities are not desired or needed. Does that make sense?

I really hope that there is this type of communications, input and discussion when Phil opens the ’09 Omaha thread because this will help the organizers greatly.

Thanks,
Mike Stilwell
Daddyshome, Inc.
DC Metro Dads