frugal friends meeting 2009

[admin]

Thanks to all the people who have made the frugal friends meetings the great success they have become...
... so much a success in fact that they now need restructuring with a calender of events and dates published well in advance. We are working on the new format for 2009 and hope that this will make it much easier for forum members to plan ahead and attend the frugal friends meetings of their choice.

Please do continue to give feedback on how you would like to see the meetings develop in the future on this thread.. we await your comments with great interest

[moretolife]

yeah....i think it was only a matter of time before the dates needed to become a "programme"....as FF seems to have taken on a life of its own..

i guess a years calender with dates and topics and venues etc and whichever ones we can get to ...then good oh...

it is always going to be difficult to suit everyone...and we all want everyone to be able to get there...but this system will be the best alternative....

[kallis3]

I agree. At least if there is a calendar, it gives us time to plan things so that we can try and make as many as we want to, and are able to get to. At the moment it's a couple of months notice and a lot of people already have things planned, or are at work.

People are going to be disappointed with some of the dates, but with so many people now members of this site, and wanting to attend, your're not going to please everyone.

I take it Admin, that this will be published under the current Frugal Friends calendar? Or are you going to give it space on it's own.

[freelili]

As Kallis says with so many members the posted threads for each meeting get very confusing as to who can make this, or that date and where they are going to be. Poor Aguse, I dont how she unravels it all.

I see its a better option to have cast iron dates and venues sorted and then its up to the members if they can make it, I guess everyone will be able to manage at least one, if not more. I only go to the ones in my area anyway so I guess I am one of the easy ones to please.

[james.c]

is their any chancs of having one of these meetings during the week instead of a weekend

[kallis3]

I would think that less people would take that up James,unless it was on a Friday. I know that a weekday wouldn't suit me as I am a shift worker and if I'm not on a late, which means I couldn't come, I would be on on an early, so wouldn't go because of getting up early the next day.

But of course, that's me being totally selfish - it might work for a lot of people!

[angela18]

I work full time so unless its really close.. will be weekends only for me

[aguise]

I think James it is more likely to be the weekend as some need to travel too and fro, and with work the next day it is difficult.
They were originally in the week and it became more popular when it changed to the weekend. Even friday evening can be hard as again people may not finish work till late and wouldnt be able to get there.

All suggestions, thoughts and ideas welcome.

Ang xx

[Skippy]

I would only be able to do weekends, unless it was really close to me - I don't get enough holiday to take time off!

[kallis3]

Same here Skip. I also have to think of shift cover as well on a late shift, so I wouldn't always be able to get the time off.

Some of the experts might find it a problem as well, as they can work late, and if you have people travelling a distance, that would mean a late start.

A lot of people like to make a weekend of it as well.

[MelanieGiles]

I would personally prefer them to be in the week for personal reasons, but I think that weekends are far better for everyone else and that there will be far more people attending on a Saturday than any other night.

[emma_t]

For really selfish reasons, I would like some to be weekdays as I could expense my hotel rooms to work as could plan to work in those areas the next day[:I]

I understand that weekends are best for the majority and you can let your hair down more, maybe a few in the week would be a good idea. just a short little get together?

Agree that they need to be planned in advance so people can plan ahead - I travel all over the country so can often scout out hotels if needed for venues x

[kallis3]

Admin,

Have you sorted the FF calendar out for next year yet?

[Skippy]

I love the new picture Emma - I was wondering what had happened to him!

[moretolife]

i am not too fussed if its weekend or weekday...if its near enough or viable enough to make the journey and we are free and able...we would come....so will wait the calendar and look in diaries etc when 2009 dates come out