DP convention to be held in Charlotte, NC! (1 Viewer)

[Stace]

Hey folks! We'll be holding the first Debate Politics convention here in Charlotte, NC, from July 21-23. We're planning on the 22nd being a fun filled day at Paramount's Carowinds, our local amusement park. If we have less than 50 people show up, we will be sharing the picnic pavilion with other groups, but we will get a catered lunch featuring crispy fried chicken, hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad, ice cream cups and unlimited soft drinks. Tickets would cost $41.99 for this option; this also includes all day park access. If we have more than 50 attendees, we will have a pavilion all to ourselves, our choice of a catered menu, use of volleyball and horseshoe courts, a PA system, and of course, all day park access. Prices on that will vary according to how many folks we have attending, so let us know if you'll be able to make it as soon as possible so that we can get that reserved!

For convenience, we've selected the Motel 6 near the park as our top pick for lodging; however, you are under no obligation to stay there. If you reserve your room online, the rate is $56.99 per night + tax; however, if we get enough people signed up, we may be able to get a group discount. The hotel is about a mile from the park; I'm not sure if they offer a shuttle service to the park, but if nothing else, my husband and I can shuttle folks back and forth if necessary.

Here's a couple of links: one for the Motel 6 if you'd like to check out their amenities, and another for Carowinds' official site, in case you'd rather stay elsewhere near the park, and/or so you can get familiar with everything the park has to offer.

Please let Kelzie or myself know as soon as possible if you can attend. Hope to see you all there!

Motel 6 information

Paramount's Carowinds

 

[Deegan]

That's right during my show, but you guys have fun.

 

[jallman]

That's right during my show, but you guys have fun.

Same with me; I have the hospitality business expo that week, but everyone have a great time. You will love Charlotte.

 

[americanwoman]

I'd love to go and will miss out on alot but thats too soon for me to get the needed funds. Have fun everyone who goes and hopefully next year I can go and meet all you crazy people! :mrgreen:

 

[jfuh]

Take lots of pictures guys.

 

[Stace]

Ok, *slight* change in plans. Jallman and Deegan, we'd love to have both of you come....would it work out better for you two if we did this a week earlier or a week later? We may not be able to have the picnic at Carowinds if we do that (they only do it for smaller groups on certain weekends), but there's plenty of other places we could do that.

I'm adding a poll to this; everyone please vote and let us know which of those weekends would work best for you.

And actually.....I just realized that the 21-23 won't work for me, either. Hubby is graduating from the police academy on the 21st and his family will be visiting the whole weekend.

 

[Kelzie]

I'm thinking we will never find a weekend where everybody can go. So pick your top choices and we'll go with the one with the most votes.

 

[Deegan]

The whole month is bad for me, but I understand you can't possibly work around everyone. I will try to work out the 14 thru the 16th if that vote passes, but otherwise, I'll be with you in spirit.

 

[MSgt]

Damn, what a bunch of slaves. Branch out from your obligations and thumb your nose at the man. Shake your needs to ensure lively hood. Take a week off.

I'm good for the months of June, July, August, September, October, and November. I just need a couple of weeks notice to let George Bush know that I'll be taking leave. He won't mind. I'll take pictures - he loves SpongeBob.

 

[Real Korimyr #9]

July's tourist season in Cheyenne.

At least the overtime will be nice.

 

[Pacridge]

I didn't even know Charlotte was in contention. What happened to DC, NYC or even Chicago in the fall?

 

[Kelzie]

I didn't even know Charlotte was in contention. What happened to DC, NYC or even Chicago in the fall?

They're...ummm...too expensive. :3oops:

 

[Stace]

They're...ummm...too expensive. :3oops:

Waaaaay too expensive.

 

[Pacridge]

Waaaaay too expensive.

Well too expensive for you...you're in Charlotte. Airfare for me to NYC is $99 each way on a R/T basis (Jet Blue). Charlotte's $389 each way on a R/T, cheapest airline I could find those weekends. Larger more popular destinations are cheaper for those traveling across country. Any cash saved on lodging will be quickly eaten up by airfare.

 

[Stace]

Well too expensive for you...you're in Charlotte. Airfare for me to NYC is $99 each way on a R/T basis (Jet Blue). Charlotte's $389 each way on a R/T, cheapest airline I could find those weekends. Larger more popular destinations are cheaper for those traveling across country. Any cash saved on lodging will be quickly eaten up by airfare.

Not just for me, though you gotta remember, I'd also be paying for two people, and when you're broke, that's too much. But hey, I just threw out Charlotte as a suggestion, since we're making this a little more informal now, and here we are.

Besides, we're not just saving on lodging....The prices we were looking at for DC, what with the meal and all of that, would have run everyone about $325...yeah, that included lodging, but not airfare. NYC, we just could not find anything that would have been even comparable to that.

BTW, where would you be flying in from? Did you try Travelocity/Hotwire/etc? They usually have pretty good rates.

 

[Pacridge]

Not just for me, though you gotta remember, I'd also be paying for two people, and when you're broke, that's too much. But hey, I just threw out Charlotte as a suggestion, since we're making this a little more informal now, and here we are.

Besides, we're not just saving on lodging....The prices we were looking at for DC, what with the meal and all of that, would have run everyone about $325...yeah, that included lodging, but not airfare. NYC, we just could not find anything that would have been even comparable to that.

BTW, where would you be flying in from? Did you try Travelocity/Hotwire/etc? They usually have pretty good rates.

Travelocity's usually my first choice. They let you choose where you want to go then tell you when it's cheapest to travel there (over a three month time frame.)

 

[akyron]

I have to work that weekend but I loved there for a couple of months once. It is a nice place and the weather is all right. Have fun!

 

[GarzaUK]

Ain't going. But have fun you guys. If it was a major US city... maybe but Charlotte, can't make it.

 

[aps]

Is it just for members, or would it be cool to bring my girlfriend and/or some of my buddies?

Anyway about it, I'll probably be there. I've never been to North Carolina, so I think it'd be cool.

Also, depending on how many people will be in my car, I might be able to pick up 1 or 2 people on the way. The route mapquest reccomends goes through Iowa, Central Illinois, Central and Southern Indiana, possibly a bit of Ohio, through Kentucky, Tennessee, and then into North Carolina, so if you're close to on the way, it 'tis possible.

Would there be smoking in the car?

 

[aps]

I'm trying to quit, I only had 7 cigarettes yesterday (today's not going as well, I've had 6 so far today), which is way down from my 23-24 a day average, so depending on how that goes.

Oh, and 19 hour drive, there'll be a LOT of reefer smoke!

OMG, galen, I am soooooooooooooo proud of you! You hang in there and if you need someone to kiss your butt to make you feel better about quitting, I am your woman. And I can kiss butt good too.

:allhail

 

[Kelzie]

Is it just for members, or would it be cool to bring my girlfriend and/or some of my buddies?

Anyway about it, I'll probably be there. I've never been to North Carolina, so I think it'd be cool.

Also, depending on how many people will be in my car, I might be able to pick up 1 or 2 people on the way. The route mapquest reccomends goes through Iowa, Central Illinois, Central and Southern Indiana, possibly a bit of Ohio, through Kentucky, Tennessee, and then into North Carolina, so if you're close to on the way, it 'tis possible.

You can certainly bring people. Especially if they're cute guys.:2wave:

 

[cnredd]

You can certainly bring people. Especially if they're cute guys.:2wave:

So galen's bringing me?...

 

[mixedmedia]

Barring unforeseen circumstances, I'll be there!!

 

[RightinNYC]

Well too expensive for you...you're in Charlotte. Airfare for me to NYC is $99 each way on a R/T basis (Jet Blue). Charlotte's $389 each way on a R/T, cheapest airline I could find those weekends. Larger more popular destinations are cheaper for those traveling across country. Any cash saved on lodging will be quickly eaten up by airfare.

Holy ****....$99? I have no excuse for not traveling more...

Its such a pain with how expensive it is to travel around the US, my friends who are in Europe for study abroad fly between countriesw for around 25 bucks. Grrr.

But yes, regarding charlotte....I'm looking at plane tickets from dc to charlotte, and its about 150 round trip. add in hotel and thats sort of kinda doable. It looks pretty good right now. :2wave:

Stace - how is the travelling from airport to wherever we'd be going? short distance, taxis, etc?

 

[Stace]

Holy ****....$99? I have no excuse for not traveling more...

Its such a pain with how expensive it is to travel around the US, my friends who are in Europe for study abroad fly between countriesw for around 25 bucks. Grrr.

But yes, regarding charlotte....I'm looking at plane tickets from dc to charlotte, and its about 150 round trip. add in hotel and thats sort of kinda doable. It looks pretty good right now. :2wave:

Stace - how is the travelling from airport to wherever we'd be going? short distance, taxis, etc?

Charlotte-Douglas International is about 12 1/2 miles from the hotel, so not too terribly far. I'll have to check to see if the hotel provides any sort of shuttles, but I bet a taxi wouldn't be an issue. If necessary, I could pick some folks up from the airport.