MAP Conference - Traverse City

[SW MI Planner]

Anyone going?! I'll be there Wed thru Friday afternoon.

[Maister]

I will not be in attendance.

[WSU MUP Student]

Nor will I.

[btrage]

Nope. Too much money for my employer.

[michaelskis]

Saving up for Chicago.

[Dan]

I won't be there, because I'm in New York State.

[btrage]

Also, while I realize that there are planners all over the state of Michigan, IMO, the state conference should just rotate between Detroit and Grand Rapids. That's where the vast majority of the people are coming from anyways. The travel/lodging costs to a place like Traverse City is just too high.

[michaelskis]

Also, while I realize that there are planners all over the state of Michigan, IMO, the state conference should just rotate between Detroit and Grand Rapids. That's where the vast majority of the people are coming from anyways. The travel/lodging costs to a place like Traverse City is just too high.

I enjoyed walking to the conference last year... even if it was raining.

[WSU MUP Student]

Also, while I realize that there are planners all over the state of Michigan, IMO, the state conference should just rotate between Detroit and Grand Rapids. That's where the vast majority of the people are coming from anyways. The travel/lodging costs to a place like Traverse City is just too high.

I have never been to Traverse City and my wife and I were thinking of going up there for a long weekend this week. I couldn't believe how expensive hotels are there! We will be taking our money to Ludington instead.

[Wannaplan?]

I couldn't believe how expensive hotels are there!

You should check into rates at A-Ga-Ming, week-days in October look fairly reasonable. It's just 15 minutes north of the Grand Traverse Resort, with great views of Torch Lake.

http://www.a-ga-ming.com/lodging_rates/

[SW MI Planner]

Seriously, no one?! Ugh, you guys are killing me! (sigh). I'll have to suffer through my introvertedness and meet some new people. Or stay in my hotel room and work (more likely).

Saving up for Chicago.

I considered skipping MAP to go to Chicago, but only for a second. We're limited to out of state travel and the cost, etc.

Also, while I realize that there are planners all over the state of Michigan, IMO, the state conference should just rotate between Detroit and Grand Rapids. That's where the vast majority of the people are coming from anyways. The travel/lodging costs to a place like Traverse City is just too high.

I agree some places are too high - Traverse City, Mackinac Island. I talked to them last year and they said their highest attendance are at these places, which is interesting becase as you noted they are more epxensive. Besides the cost factor, I would like them to consider other places where there's more real-world issues going on (ie I'd be happy to host ).

[DetroitPlanner]

Also, while I realize that there are planners all over the state of Michigan, IMO, the state conference should just rotate between Detroit and Grand Rapids. That's where the vast majority of the people are coming from anyways. The travel/lodging costs to a place like Traverse City is just too high.

I agree, but I'd throw in Lansing just for yucks as it is central. I was looking at going to get some CM credits but my workload is too high and my dollars too short. I suspect that most planners are working at agencies where they have suspended paying for unnecessary travel and have cut back on training costs. I was looking at possible attending the Weds, but even with my northern Michigan cabin it would be nearly a 4 hour commute back and forth!

I agree some places are too high - Traverse City, Mackinac Island. I talked to them last year and they said their highest attendance are at these places, which is interesting becase as you noted they are more epxensive. Besides the cost factor, I would like them to consider other places where there's more real-world issues going on (ie I'd be happy to host ).

What? No real world issues in Michigan Disneyland? They need us to come up there to buy fudge or they will be penniless!

I have never been to Traverse City and my wife and I were thinking of going up there for a long weekend this week. I couldn't believe how expensive hotels are there! We will be taking our money to Ludington instead.

There are a lot of other towns that are close-by and much more affordable. Be sure to drive Lelennau Peninsula. Places like Sleeping Bear, Leland and Northport are better for your soul than TC. Frankfort is similar to Ludington, but a lot closer to the Sleeping Bear.

[WSU MUP Student]

There are a lot of other towns that are close-by and much more affordable. Be sure to drive Lelennau Peninsula. Places like Sleeping Bear, Leland and Northport are better for your soul than TC. Frankfort is similar to Ludington, but a lot closer to the Sleeping Bear. I've been to Sleeping Bear a few times and to Leland for some day trips to South Manitou Island. I've also been to Interlochen, Charlevoix, and Petosky a couple times each... just never to Traverse City (looking at a map just now, I realize I have actually been in the city limits of Traverse City when passing through to other locales, but never downtown). Sleeping Bear is probably my absolute favorite place in the state. This year I'm going to try to go up there once or twice in the snowy season and try some snowshoeing on the dunes. There are some dunes at Silver Lake State Park just south of Ludington so we are going to try to hit those ones up on this trip (even if we're not taking the Jeep ).

[Dan]

I'm still not going. Sorry, Michiganders.

[btrage]

Anyone going?! I'll be there Wed thru Friday afternoon.

So how was the conference???

[SW MI Planner]

It was actually very good. A lot of good information and met some cool people. I did good and even stepped out of my comfort zone quite a few times.

[btrage]

It was actually very good. A lot of good information and met some cool people. I did good and even stepped out of my comfort zone quite a few times.

Now I'm jealous.

I'm betting Lansing or Detroit gets it next year? If so, I should be able to make it.

[SW MI Planner]

Now I'm jealous.

I'm betting Lansing or Detroit gets it next year? If so, I should be able to make it.

Not sure if they announced where it'll be next year. There were quite a few people I knew, so I made do. Had a good time, learned a lot, added quite a few things to my "to-do" list.

[DetroitPlanner]

I was in a meeting yesterday and heard from a fellow planner that I was honored at the Conference.

Honored for being on the "Old Suckas List" 20 years or more membership, only made it to 1.5 conferences!