Should Mr. Market Hold A Convention in '06???

[ParkTwain]

If we're going to do this, let's get organized and be fair about it. Like doing East Coast, Midwest, and West Coast on a rotating basis each year.

Given that most $$MM$$ member are on the East Coast, I would say it's only fair to hold it in that vicinity in 2006. So the question is where. It must have fine accommodations, a golf course or two, maybe even an ocean. So that throws it open quite a bit. The weather must be nice so that throws it to the middle of the year, maybe earlier if we're talking the Southeast. So for May-July we can talk Florida up to maybe Virginia Beach. For July to September we can talk Va Beach up to Long Island.

We probably don't want to wait so long into the year to see each other, so let's assume May to July. So maybe we're talking Boca/Daytona/Vero/Jax in Fla, to Hilton Head/Savannah/Myrtle Beach, to Wilmington/Outer Banks, to Va. Beach. Somebody pick one. Lots of cheap flights to Ft Lauderdale to get to Boca. Maybe not quite as easy to get to Myrtle Beach.

[IIC]

If we're going to do this, let's get organized and be fair about it. Like doing East Coast, Midwest, and West Coast on a rotating basis each year.

Given that most $$MM$$ member are on the East Coast, I would say it's only fair to hold it in that vicinity in 2006. So the question is where. It must have fine accommodations, a golf course or two, maybe even an ocean. So that throws it open quite a bit. The weather must be nice so that throws it to the middle of the year, maybe earlier if we're talking the Southeast. So for May-July we can talk Florida up to maybe Virginia Beach. For July to September we can talk Va Beach up to Long Island.

We probably don't want to wait so long into the year to see each other, so let's assume May to July. So maybe we're talking Boca/Daytona/Vero/Jax in Fla, to Hilton Head/Savannah/Myrtle Beach, to Wilmington/Outer Banks, to Va. Beach. Somebody pick one. Lots of cheap flights to Ft Lauderdale to get to Boca. Maybe not quite as easy to get to Myrtle Beach.

OK...I nominate you to be the event organizer...July is fine by me. As a matter of fact my wife and I are headed out to the LA Times Travel Show in a few minutes...I'll see if there are any good exhibitors on the East Coast and report back later...Doug

[Websman]

How about a meeting in Paris? I'll be there in March. It'll make it easier on Karel.

[Karel]

How about a meeting in Paris? I'll be there in March. It'll make it easier on Karel.

Now there is an idea! I was calculating once in how many centuries the meeting could be expected to be more or less near me, but I got lost in the powers of 10...

Regards,

Karel

[DSteckler]

Karel, how about we all meet at the Manikin Pis? That's closer to you than AC, FL, Vail, etc.! <VBG>

[New-born baby]

Hilton Head--for free!

I don't drink or gamble or play golf. (I have no scrupples against golf; just never got started on the habit). Probably wouldn't seem to be much fun to some of you to meet in church (though it would do us all good). So feel free to disregard my suggestions.

How about Hilton Head, SC. It got a golf course designed by Jack Nicolas (I understand you almost have to be a Jack Nicolas to play the thing). Fancy hotels. Fine Southern dining. Flowers start blooming in February, so the convention could really be anytime. Then there are the warm ocean waters of SC. Beautiful place, imo.

Now how to pay for it. I say we set up a special thread in which Dave Streckler instructs us how to play GooG for the expenses. Then there are really no excuses for not attending.

[DSteckler]

<< I say we set up a special thread in which Dave Streckler instructs us how to play GooG for the expenses. >>

It's very simple: buy low, sell high.

You can quote me on that....<g>

[New-born baby]

Where is &quot;low?&quot;

<< I say we set up a special thread in which Dave Streckler instructs us how to play GooG for the expenses. >>

It's very simple: buy low, sell high.

You can quote me on that....<g>

I was hoping for a little more technical advice concerning the proper entry . . . . Besides, GooG has a Point n Figure price target of $316 . . . Remember Dave, we want to go to the convention THIS YEAR!

[DSteckler]

<< Remember Dave, we want to go to the convention THIS YEAR! >>

Buy low, sell high this year.

(VVVBG!>

[ParkTwain]

Timing is key. A time when most of us are free may also be on a major holiday weekend, which makes it harder to get reservations at a decent place. So, we can prefer a decent place and perhaps schedule something other than a major holiday, OR choose a non-obvious destination (that is, not necessarily on a seacoast) with good to very good amenities and go on that major holiday, such as Memorial Day weekend. It will be difficult (and expensive) to get hotel space in Hilton Head over Mem Day.

Some non-obvious destinations for Memorial Day (or earlier): Asheville, NC (Biltmore Home, hiking in the Smokies, golf, etc), Sarasota, FL (Gulf coast, great beach, boating and fishing, smaller city, uncongested airport), Charleston, SC, and others you might want to nominate.

ANOTHER IDEA is to schedule around SPRING TRAINING games in Florida during the first 10 to 15 days in March. For instance, here are the NY Yankees games, which mostly take place in the Tampa area (45 minute drive north of Sarasota). Yankees play the Red Sox ($$MM$$'s team) in Tampa on March 22. We could crash in Sarasota for a couple of days and also take in at least one ST game in Bradenton (next to Sarasota) or Tampa.

http://www.ballparkdigesttickets.com/ResultsGeneral.aspx?stype=0&kwds=New%20York%20Yankees

http://www.ballparkdigesttickets.com/ (see all the schedules here)

The champion White Sox do their spring in Tucson, AZ.

http://www.ballparkdigesttickets.com/ResultsGeneral.aspx?stype=0&kwds=Chicago%20White%20Sox

JUST AS AN EXAMPLE: Here is a page from Expedia.com showing flights from NYC to/from Sarasota for a 3/17 to 3/19 roundtrip. Play with the page for your own departing city.

http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll?qscr=fexp&flag=q&city1=New+York%2C+NY+%28NYC%2DAll+Airports%29&citd1=sarasota&date1=3/17/2006&time1=362&date2=3/19/2006&time2=362&cAdu=2&cSen=&cChi=&cInf=&infs=2&tktt=&trpt=2&ecrc=&eccn=&qryt=8&load=1&rfrr=-429

ONE MORE VARIATION: I like cities where Southwest Airlines flies (cheap tix). (Southwest Airlines cities: http://www.southwest.com/cgi-bin/requestSchedule) SW flies into Tampa but not Sarasota. We could consider crashing in Clearwater, right next to Tampa proper. Here is a quick list of hotels and rates for 3/17 to 3/19 in Clearwater by Expedia.com:

http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll?qscr=htwv&from=m&stat=1&khst=1&locn=clearwater%2C+fl&date1=3/17/2006&date2=3/19/2006&cadu1=2&crom=1&rfrr=-905

Some photos and a map of around Clearwater:

http://www.city-data.com/city/Clearwater-Florida.html

I don't know Clearwater specifically but I do know Sarasota, which is beautiful and not congested in general. Sarasota's Siesta Key is one of the best beaches in all of Florida.

ANOTHER FOR INSTANCE: Here is McKechnie Field (Pittsburg Pirates) in Bradenton, FL, right next to Sarasota:

http://www.ballparkreviews.com/bradentn/bradntn.htm

On this map notice that Bradenton is south of Tampa and north of Sarasota, so it's easy to get to from Sarasota without dealing with all the Tampa traffic:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&formtype=address&popflag=0&latitude=&longitude=&name=&phone=&cat=&address=&city=bradenton&state=FL&zipcode=

SO, BOYS AND GIRLS: We'll have to take a poll of the number of those serious about attending and which days (weekend or not) that we're interested in.

[IIC]

Well I'm back from the Travel Show...Not much there on the East coast except for Florida....Mostly International, West Coast and Hawaii exhibits...However, I thought I was smooth and conned this woman out of the Conde Naste "Best Hotels Guide"...No charge...retail $21.95...But when I got home I realized it was the 2005 edition. A lot of nice places...EXPENSIVE...Which got me to thinking...Not everybody makes 35% a month like some people Park(DDD)

Perhaps we should not consider hotels that are $500+ night...Unless of course Dave can arrange a Comp.

I was thinking that a 3 Day Mr. Market Cruise to the Bahamas out of Miami would be nice.

Ernie mentioned Atlantic City...I have not been there since '69...My wife has and said it is nothing like Vegas...But I wouldn't mind.

Park...As far as golfing...I don't like things that I'm not "Immediately" good at...My first round of golf, I shot a 59 for 9 holes in 1974...Never matched it...Gave up in '75. However, while you Fancy Dancers are golfing, I wouldn't mind setting up a Golf Cart Race...Or LYE, WEBS and I and whoever wants to join us could play GOLF CART BUMPER CARS...But mostly I look forward to 3 things:

1) Seeing Sis's watch up close

2) Listening to Dave and Spike debate Technical analysis for 4 hours

3) Hearing Webs 2 minute presentation on his Vulcan trading style

Oh yeah...I want to meet Ernie too...Actually, I really don't...But my wife does

Also...I prefer..."Casual Elegance" myself...I don't like wearing a suit....Doug(IIC)

[ParkTwain]

Hey, I'm not a golfer either, but $$MM$$ is, and he is KING OF THE WEEKEND. Just give me a chance to play some tennis and drink Coronas.

"I was thinking that a 3 Day Mr. Market Cruise to the Bahamas out of Miami would be nice."

PLEASE PROVIDE A LINK. The cruise could be nice but at the Bahamas you don't want to leave the boat except for the big new casino. Of course, I could write ahead and see whether we could get an hour or two with old Mr. John Templeton of Templeton Funds fame at his Lyford Cay home. <cough>

http://www.meta-library.net/bio/johnt-body.html

http://chinese-school.netfirms.com/Sir-John-Templeton-interview.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyford_Cay

[IIC]

<< Remember Dave, we want to go to the convention THIS YEAR! >>

Buy low, sell high this year.

(VVVBG!>

Too hard Dave...I prefer to buy high and sell higher...Much easier IMO...Doug(IIC)

[IIC]

Hey, I'm not a golfer either, but $$MM$$ is, and he is KING OF THE WEEKEND. Just give me a chance to play some tennis and drink Coronas.

I'll join you for the Coronas at the 19th Hole...But the only thing I'll use my racket for is to whack Lye over the head with. I really want to meet Lye's wife though...She must be an "Amazing" woman to put up with him...LOL

[IIC]

Good point Park...Has anyone asked Ernie when he's available???...Might be a bit difficult to hold a Mr. Market Convention without Mr. Market!!!

Right now...And I am serious...July is a good month for me(August is out)...Possible in May, Sept, Nov. Maybe October too...I will be going to Cape Cod in October for a week anyway...Chatham...IIC