Forum members who have actually met face-to-face

[ChamberNut]

So...when is the First Annual GMG Convention? 

[Dundonnell]

So...when is the First Annual GMG Convention? 

where is the issue

[Brian]

where is the issue

May I suggest Houston, Texas 

[Solitary Wanderer]

So...when is the First Annual GMG Convention? 

Now, wouldn't that be fun 

And who would the keynote speakers be? 

[karlhenning]

I have been a little careful to go posting this around, because I never got Karl's permission . . . .

Oh, was that an issue? Permission granted, with alacrity.

[ChamberNut]

May I suggest Houston, Texas 

First come, first serve.  Houston it be! 

[Brian]

First come, first serve.  Houston it be!  

In that case I am going to stop shaving immediately, so that Karl and I can have a contest to see who will have the coolest beard.  

My goal:

[ChamberNut]

In that case I am going to stop shaving immediately, so that Karl and I can have a contest to see who will have the coolest beard.  

My goal:

Cool!  I'll start working on my J. Brahms' beard.  Shouldn't take too long. 

[Lilas Pastia]

I'm more familiar with the eastern (francophone) part of Belgium, where there is also more geographical variety. In Belgium it is still the custom for young couples to either build a house or buy a rundown one they'll take years to renovate. This is the story of all my wife's innumerable neighbours, friends, cousins, acquaintances etc. More often than not those who build will select a nice uphill plot of land overlooking the valley. Every hill is dotted with houses. 

I've been a few times to Holland, but not in the northern provinces.

[Brian]

Cool!  I'll start working on my J. Brahms' beard.  Shouldn't take too long. 

I'm modeling my own looks after Antonin Dvorak's looks: the most elegant bird's nest ever to reside on a man's chin.

[vandermolen]

Yes, an historic meeting. The Three Tenors are dead. Long live The Two Johans!

[vandermolen]

I am pleased to be able to volunteer myself as a 'Keynote Speaker' at the First GMG Conference:

My topic will be: Methods of smuggling CDs into your house past your wife This speech will last several hours as I have devised a whole series of methods over the decades. I developed these tendencies as an adolescent when my preferred method was to creep round to the parent's Earl's Court ground floor flat, through the communal garden, to the partially open window of my bedroom (left open for our cats to get in and out) and then throw the LP that I had just purchased through the window. I would then appear, all innocent looking  0:) at the front door a few moments later. 

[Gabriel]

First come, first serve.  Houston it be! 

I guess that several parameters could be used for defining the place of the GMG meeting.

One could be Rob's location, as he began the site (but I'm afraid it would be very far away from many posters).

Another would be a middle point among all locations of GMG posters, all members of one country as one location (this could lead to a meeting in Somalia or Ethiopia, quite far away also from many posters).

Another would be a middle point among all locations of GMG posters, with every member counting as one specific location (I ignore the specific density of people posting from Europe or the United States, but in spite of my efforts of moving the meeting place towards Santiago de Chile... ...I'm afraid that the most realistic alternatives would be the Bermudas or the Azores!).

[springrite]

I guess that several parameters could be used for defining the place of the GMG meeting.

One could be Rob's location, as he began the site (but I'm afraid it would be very far away from many posters).

Another would be a middle point among all locations of GMG posters, all members of one country as one location (this could lead to a meeting in Somalia or Ethiopia, quite far away also from many posters).

Another would be a middle point among all locations of GMG posters, with every member counting as one specific location (I ignore the specific density of people posting from Europe or the United States, but in spite of my efforts of moving the meeting place towards Santiago de Chile... ...I'm afraid that the most realistic alternatives would be the Bermudas or the Azores!).

Your analysis logically points to one place and one place only: The Middle Kingdom, aka China. 

Personally, I think a city in Europe where a certain (non-Wagnerian as to not causing a nasty split!) music festival is taking place would be a good place. South of France, Prague, The Netherland are all good choices. If we chose the US, I would certainly prefer Aspen or Tanglewood at the right time of year.

[ChamberNut]

I am pleased to be able to volunteer myself as a 'Keynote Speaker' at the First GMG Conference:

My topic will be: Methods of smuggling CDs into your house past your wife This speech will last several hours as I have devised a whole series of methods over the decades. I developed these tendencies as an adolescent when my preferred method was to creep round to the parent's Earl's Court ground floor flat, through the communal garden, to the partially open window of my bedroom (left open for our cats to get in and out) and then throw the LP that I had just purchased through the window. I would then appear, all innocent looking  0:) at the front door a few moments later. 

I would like to collaborate with you on this one! 

[ChamberNut]

One could be Rob's location, as he began the site.

It would be the most appropriate, in that sense.

Or.....how about a "Mecca" of classical music, like Bonn, Salzburg, or Vienna?  0:)

[Gabriel]

Or.....how about a "Mecca" of classical music, like Bonn, Salzburg, or Vienna?  0:)

Splendid idea!

[Gabriel]

Your analysis logically points to one place and one place only: The Middle Kingdom, aka China. 

Well, Paul, it's not a bad idea... But I guess you don't mean some place far away from your own position, like a city near the frontier with Kazakhstan!

[springrite]

Well, Paul, it's not a bad idea... But I guess you don't mean some place far away from your own position, like a city near the frontier with Kazakhstan!

Well, we do have a border with Afganistan, albeit a narrow corridor of 100 miles or so.

[Dundonnell]

Why not stage the Convention in Iceland?

Advantages:
Iceland is roughly equidistant for members travelling from the USA and from Europe.

The country desperately needs an influx of foreign visitors given its recent disastrous financial collapse.

Its police force has recent experience of dealing with riots.....and given the membership of GMG and its disputatious nature they might be needed to deal with the possiblity of fights breaking out