***** YearlyKos Official Meetup thread*****

[LSK]

Ok, from what I can gather, Friday August 3 seems like the best day.

Next I think we have to find a place???

If its just 3 of us attending, so be it, but if you build it, they will come.

Other threads on this:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=150x14827

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=150x14843

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=150x14650

YearlyKos website: http://yearlykosconvention.org

[rosesaylavee]

1. Name the time and place -

I will be there. I think SharonB is going to be at the Draft Gore meeting at McCormick. Do we want to meet with other DUers there and go for drinks afterward if that works?

Or do we want to meet separate from the Gore event in case other IL DUers want to meet but not support Gore?

[SharonRB]

2. I may wind up not going to the Gore meeting

I'm probably going to the netroots candidates meet and greet, which conflicts with the Gore meeting:

Date: Friday, August 3, 2007
Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Location: Vista Ballroom at the McCormick Convention Center
City/Town: Chicago, IL

It doesn't run very late, so I could meet up with you afterwards, most likely. I suggest we stay somewhere at McCormick -- maybe somewhere in the Hyatt.

None of this is etched in concrete -- my plans are fluid right now.

[benny05]

8. There is a Gore meeting?

hadn't heard about that? or is it for those who still hope he will run?

[SharonRB]

9. The Draft Gore people are getting together

Last I heard was at 6 p.m. on Friday at the DFA table, but that may change. I have a feeling I won't be going because of the conflict with the netroots candidates function at 5:30.

[LSK]

3. does anyone know of a place near there we can meetup???

Heres the Hyatts bar/restaurant locations:

http://mccormickplace.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/entertainment/index.jsp

[Catchawave]

5. I appreciate you thinking of the out-of-towners !

There's an informal meetup in the M/X bar, 7pm on Weds night....sort of a "just show up" sort of event...not part of YK, as official registration starts Thurs.

Just thought I'd pass that along :hi:

[mopinko]

6. it was my understanding that the dfa-ers/draft gore people

were looking at a bar in the mc cormick hyatt. afaik, they have not chosen a particular bar. but they do intend to. i think this is a great event to land on, and i will let you all know what the plan it.
my internet has been completely hosed up for the last several days. nothing like a monopoly. i am at goose island right now. i will do what it takes to stay hooked up. the northside dfa is a great bunch of hard working people, and you all will be happy you met them. hang in there. i will pass on what i know.

[SharonRB]

10. That's what I understand, too, mo

I think they're meeting at the DFA table. If they're still together after the netroots thing, I might meet up with them later if I can find out where they are.

[KharmaTrain]

4. Make It 4...

I've been looking at the schedule and Thursday's seminars interest me the most, next is the Presidential Forum on Saturday and the Blogger's brunch on Sunday.

From what I can see, if there's a window for DUers to meet and greet it could be Friday afternoon/evening. Maybe meeting somewhere outdoors...the Lakefront is at its best...to meet and figure where to go from there.

Feel free to PM me if you need some help in pulling this thing together.

[SharonRB]

11. I wish I had known that sessions start so early on Thursday

I might have planned to come in Wednesday night. Looks like I'm going to miss the Plame panel, which was one I really wanted to attend. Latest I saw was that it's now at 11 a.m. on Thursday and my train doesn't get in until 12:30. I'm going to print off a schedule on Monday or Tuesday, as I think changes are still being made.

[KharmaTrain]

12. I'm Still Trying To Figure What's Where And When

These old bone don't rattle like they used to. LOL.

I'd really like to see the Plame panel and the Bloggers forum. It's almost easier for me to drive for 11am (outside the rush and as long as I can get to Ohio street, i'm golden) then fight the commuter messes at the local stations.

Yes...looks like things are still coming together and that the more high profile panels probably won't be set til later in the week.

[benny05]

7. I will be at YK as well

And would like to meet some of my fellow Kossacks/DUers there.

[DaveinMD]

13. I'll be there

I'd love to meet some of you folks.

[Ramsey]

14. We'll be there!

My husband and I will be attending Yearly Kos. We aren't getting in until Thursday evening, but we could meet up Friday afternoon or evening.

I used to live in Chicago, and as I recall there isn't a whole lot right around the McCormick Place, but the convention hotel would make sense. It also isn't far at all from downtown, so there might be fun places to go a short cab ride away. There are lots of great bars and restaurants in Chicago. I used to eat at great tapas place called Cafe Babareeba on Halsted, and there's a bar at 364 W Erie called Citizen Bar with a roof deck.

Just a couple of suggestions. Hope to catch up with fellow DUers at Yearly Kos

[LSK]

15. ok, so it looks like the only thing close to a plan is

Friday evening, but where? Al Gore supporters meeting???

[kaleagal]

16. Several local & national Kos/DUers will be at ours.

The Clark Community Network(now focused on WesPAC issue and candidate campaigns) will be hosting Night Out at Grace O’Malley’s at 1416 South Michigan Ave. from 6-9pm. We have a nice space upstairs reserved. We'll have an appetizer buffet and a cash bar.

RSVPs will be appreciated and can be submitted at the following link. http://wildeyejames.com/RSVP.htm The link also includes options for advanced donations to make sure we order enough food. But, if you think you'll be focusing mostly on the cash bar, it's not necessary.

[SharonRB]

17. There's a netroots candidates' meetup from 5:30 to 7:30

so I think I'm going to miss the Gore meeting, unless they change the time.

I didn't see too many sessions that interested me on Friday -- maybe we could find a time and place Friday afternoon sometime to figure things out. Maybe just meet at the DFA table (which they're going to share with we Gore folks) at some point. I may help out with the Gore stuff sometime during the afternoon.

[rosesaylavee]

18. LSK - where you go, I'll go.

There is the Gore meeting and one of the answers below lists a Clark meeting.

Name the place and I will be there.

So far, I think the following are interested in meeting up:

LSK (you)
KarmaTrain
Mopinko
benny05
DaveinMD
Ramsey
kaleagal
SharonRB (maybe)
rosesaylavee (me)

This format is hard to take a vote in so I vote you the 'Decider' for this meetup! I am more a Gore supporter than a Clark - but we IL DUers would like to meet so it doesn't matter what the larger meeting is about... does it?

[mopinko]

19. the gore thing is being planned by dfa'ers

listed as M/X Lounge bar in the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, 6pm friday. northside dfa is at booth #216.

[SharonRB]

20. I'm trying to find out if it's definitely at 6

The guy who set it up, Jim Ginsburg, I think, had to pick a time and place just to put it on the DFA site. He said the time isn't set in stone and is subject to change, but he had to put something in to schedule the event.

[LSK]

22. which is open to the public in case folks didnt register for Kos?

The M/X lounge?

[mopinko]

23. that was one of the criteria for the space.

i will drop a note to jim, and post the response. that was the idea, tho, a place for locals and kossacks to get together on the 'outside'

[SharonRB]

21. You can add Catchawave to the list

I know she wants to meet up, too.

[KharmaTrain]

28. OK...So Where Are We Now? LOL

Is this supposed to be Friday evening then?

I'm still trying to figure out how to navigate the panels I'd like to attend vs. rush hour vs. a real life. Those 9:30am seminars are a killer.

Friday evening sounds like the best time...maybe we can find a map to pinpoint where things will be at. McCormick Place is a HUGE monster now. Wear comfy shoes.

Cheers...

:hi:

[LSK]

29. Yes, Friday evening, I think at the DFA thing mopinko is posting about

[mopinko]

24. booth 216- northside dfa

check in at this booth for last minute changes. i emailed jim for an update, and i will post here.

[LSK]

25. is that open to the public or only registered Kos'ers?

[mopinko]

26. afaik, it is open to the public.

my memory is a squeak thin on this exactly, but it was discussed at a meeting that the tables will be in a public area.

[mopinko]

27. email from jim of dfa- please rsvp at dfa link

message from dfa organizer, jim-

Thanks Mo,
It would be easier on me if you could ask your members to RSVP on DFA-Link with everyone else so I don't have to look in different places to get a count (I've asked other groups to have their members do this too):

http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=21606

[Ramsey]

30. Is the idea...

To simply meet at the Friday DFA event in order to coordinate going somewhere else for an Evil Duers get together, because if we are just meeting at their get together, won't it interrupt the ability to have a specific DU thingy? Or might we not get in the way of their meeting agenda?

Still confused!

[SharonRB]

31. There are so few of us, we may as well just hang out with everyone else

So, the M/X Lounge in the Hyatt at 6, right?

I probably won't get there until closer to 8. I hope everyone is still around by then.

[LSK]

32. I think that is the plan, but seems to be evolving

[KharmaTrain]

33. Looks Like I'll Be Missing Everyone

I'm about to head off for the first round of seminars...but looks like my schedule probably won't synch up with others here.

Here's wishing all a great time!

Cheers...

[KharmaTrain]

34. Just Back From YKos...

I wanted to let locals heading to YKos...if they haven't already to give yourself plenty of time to get there and navigate around McCormick Place...also bring some very, very comfy shoes...to get to the seminars you'll be doing lots of walking.

A couple of helpful hints. The convention is in one of the newer additions...around Cermak & Indiana; not in the big building on the Lakefront. There is a Metra station in the building, but that only connects to the South Shore and the trains that run on those electric tracks. For those driving, use Lot A and park on the 4th level. Also, if you're taking the CTA/RTA from the north or west, if you can find a bus to get you to Cermak, then the Cermak bus east to Indiana or MLK Drive, and you're right there.

Place safe and have a great weekend all. Sorry I'll be missing out on the get together.

[LSK]

35. sorry I couldnt make everyone

I couldnt get out of work due to some customer problems. Dont ask for details! :grr:

[rosesaylavee]

36. Hey - no problem

There will be another for sure. The DUers who were there met for ice cream after the Draft Gore meeting.

It was terrifically energizing and I think the next one, when we have more DUers attend, will be even more fruitful. I think it very important that we not rely entirely on the internet tubes to communicate.

There is a festival happening in Big Rock (south of Aurora) in October. Saw it mentioned somewhere here in the IL forum... maybe that would be a time for more IL DUers to meetup?

[mopinko]

37. that would be awesome.

fighting bob comes to illinois. what better place for a du get together.
but i hope the draft gore contingent might get together before that.

[rosesaylavee]

38. I'd be happy to attend both

Some IL DUers would understandably be backing Obama (or others) and may not want to attend a Gore thing.

[mopinko]

39. true, but

we can work on 'em.

[rosesaylavee]

41. ...

:7

[LSK]

40. I can try to make it

Working in IT can be a pain sometimes because you never know what your hours will be.