How about a NEOhio meetup?

[EstimatedProphet]

I am new here so I might be stepping on someone's toes if they already organize a meetup. I apologize if that's the case. However, if no one has been planning a meetup, I would be happy to use my new moderator superpowers to organize a meetup for NE Ohioans, if anyone is interested. If so, respond with a reply to this post.

[jcv1]

1. NE Ohio Meetup

There is one scheduled soon under the DFA banner ....

http://dfa.meetup.com/206/

[EstimatedProphet]

2. Thanks

Do DU folks go to these often?

[OzarkDem]

3. There's a Cleveland Democratic meet up group also

I think this is the correct link.

http://democrat.meetup.com/104/

If you live in the Cuyahoga County area, you can check with Dem headquarters for the schedule of the ward club meetings in the area, too.

[Beware the Beast Man]

4. As far as I know,

asthmaticeog, johnnie and I are all keen on a NE Ohio meetup.

[cmd]

5. Are you thinking of a DU gathering?

I suggest someplace like the Winking Lizard in Independence. I am willing to drive that far north and will try to convince some of us on the southern edge to come along.

[NEOBuckeye]

6. I'll go for it.

Independence is a pretty good centralized, easily accessible location for people around the region to gather.

Why don't we do it?

[EstimatedProphet]

7. OK. I'll put it together. Let me get your opinions...

Here's what we have so far:
Independence-outside Cleveland, so it won't be as much of a hassle for out-of-towners. The Winking Lizard has been suggested. I have heard that Saturday evenings there can be very loud-is that true? Would anyone like a different place?
As far as a date goes, how about a Saturday in April? That would give us enough time to make plans and get the arrangement together. The only stipulation is that April 23rd is out for me. If April is bad for anyone though, is there a better time?
As far as scope goes, I can look into hotel accomodations too, like the Atlanta get-together did. That would allow people from farther out than just the immediate NEOhio area.
Would anyone be interested in a Democratic party rep or politico, if I can bring someone out? Sometimes they like to gome to get-togethers like this. It gives them a chance to press the flesh and all that.
Any other ideas that anyone would like me to look into?

[asthmaticeog]

9. Celeb guest ideas: You think The Dennis would show up if he wasn't in DC?

He seems a pretty down guy. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones would likewise be a big hit.

Tim McCormack's a swell fellow, and since he just lost his Commissioner seat, maybe he could be prodded to tell tales out of school about Jimmy Dimora! :evilgrin:

There's also Eric Fingerhut, Mary Rose Oakar, or Joe Cimperman (Cle City Councilman with serious county or state office potential who's also a very, very cool guy). Or shoot for the moon: Springer.

April works for me. And as for Saturday nights being loud, it could be done during the afternoon. The Lizard in Cleveland Heights has lots of sports-blastin' TVs, which doesn't help - is the one in Underpants like that, too?

The South 'burb idea is a good one - Akron/Canton people could be more easily persuaded than if the gathering were held in Cle proper, and it's also a bit closer to the Turnpike for any Erie/Pittsburgh folks who might like to come.

Please don't hesitate to PM me if I can be of any help.

[cmd]

10. Tim Ryan would be another great speaker

I suggested the Lizard to get things rolling, not because I have any vested interest in it. Any venue in the area would be fine with me. Early works best, but I'll work with the majority. Thanks for offering to organize, EP. I'll be glad to help in any way I can.

[Kolesar]

8. I will be unavailable 3/16 - 3/27

If you do set a date, don't set it too late. I am a morning person. When we do meet up, I am going to bring y'all some petitions to sign. :)

[EstimatedProphet]

11. OK, how about this:

Saturday, April 30th. Taxes are out of the way, and it's enough time to plan for a bigger event if we can do it. Snow ought to be gone by then too.
I was thinking of perhaps a more regional get-together than just NEOhio, maybe do something like what they did in Atlanta last weekend and invite people from all of Ohio, plus PA and WV too. What does everyone think? If that's too big for anyone's interest, I'll start smaller.

[johnnie]

12. I'm for it

I guess we would have to see how many people from other areas would attend. April 30th sounds good too.

[paineinthearse]

13. meetup.com

I just created a DU meet-up group for the Boston area. Click on the link in my signature line to view. It takes 1 minute to join meetup.com and 2 minutes to start a meet-up group of your own.

PM me if you need a hand.

[johnnie]

14. How is this going?

Is anyone still interested?

[EstimatedProphet]

15. Yes, it looks like there is

Right now I have a thread in ATA to see if I can advertise this in the Lounge, so that people from nearby can come if they want to too.
So far:
April 30th
Cleveland suburbs, southside for those outside town- I'm going to find a brewpub, and the ones that have been suggested I am going to check with.
Hotel with reasonable rates nearby-still looking.
Politically-motivated persons to talk to us-still looking.
For a working schedule, around the turn of the month I'm going to try and get a roll call.

[oneighty]

16. I am interested

Will check progress occasionally

180

[Wapsie B]

17. I'm going to be in Cleveland April 6-9.

Just wondering about anything going on then. I'll be at the FOOCUS convention downtown. (Respiratory/Sleep Medicine)

[cmd]

18. Kick - please read this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1349614

[EstimatedProphet]

19. Meetup details! Cross-posted in the Lounge

When: April 30, 2005
Where: The Mad Cactus, 9175 Pearl Rd, Strongsville, OH 44136
Meeting time: 4:30 pm or anytime later

The Mad Cactus is a comfortable little bar/Mexican restaurant in Strongsville OH-a map can be found here. The restaurant is best reached by exiting I-71 onto Pearl road, as shown at the north side of the map. We can meet up at the Mad Cactus (they have a band on Saturdays BTW) and later on, move down to the Brew Kettle, a microbrewery a few blocks away. The Brew Kettle, in addition to having some fine beers of their own making (including a really nice rye ale) also has Arrogant Bastard and Old Speckled Hen on tap! For those who want to come but have a long distance to drive, we have checked out some of the various small locally-owned motels. We recommend the La Siesta motel, which has newly remodelled rooms and charges $42 dbl.occ. Also, there are bigger chain hotels at the next exit. And if you're dying to meet some DUers, but live too far away to drive, the Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport is just a couple miles away!

Please PM me if you would like to come-I will put together a list of those planning to attend for a count for the restaurant. PM me even if you have already done so, so that my list is current.

Please keep this kicked for other interested DUers. Hope to see you there!

[Algorem]

21. kick

[EstimatedProphet]

20. Update

Looks like we have 6-7 people so far, with a month to go.
The problem we have is that any posts on this get drowned out by stuff in the Lounge. I am willing to be there's still a number of people that would like to go and are in the area, but don't know it's happenning because the posts stay up in the lounge 2-3 minutes, tops. We need to talk about the meetup as much as possible in the Lounge in order to avoid getting shut out.