Yes and no. Not really like apples to oranges, I think more like tangerines to oranges.

You are correct though, they are different.

First, to answer your question about cost. The conferences can run from $200 to $500. That does not include some of the "meet the professor" roundtable breakfast meetings, or many of the extra CME (continuing Medical education) credit classes. Those "extra" classes are much more lengthy and in depth then the usual research and original investigation lectures, and usually come with additional certifications and/or CMEs. If you would like to take a look at some of the online registration forms or preliminary lecture listings I can give you the links.

There are much more expensive ones as well, but I can only give you the prices of ones I attend. Again, these are different because of the level of lectures. These are professional conferences not hobby conventions. I think the best and most appropriate models we could examine would be for the numanistic conventions.

You are 100 percent correct on your point of limited attendees, therefore the concern about the possibility of not enough people sitting in to the lectures if the attendee base number is diluted. It's a valid point. However, I also think we need to make available enough variety to please the many diverse interests that our group have. This will take quite a few years of tweaking and continued adjustments long into the future.

We want to add new things, while still keeping the things that our attendees love the most. Trade sessions are one of the main reasons people come. There are many that come almost exclusively for them. I believe Allan is one of those (If I'm wrong Allan, please correct me) that comes for three reasons. 1) For the trade sessions. 2) For the chipping comraderie. 3) To harvest every color roulette chip on every roulette table of every casino. I don't think Allan is alone. I think there are many chippers just like him that attend.

Trade sessions cost us nothing, so if the voices of Allan and others really want a morning session on a certain day, it should be worth considering. At the least, open the lines of discussion.

That all said, the greatest source of insight to what will work is our own group of chippers that both presently attend, have attended in the past or are thinking of attending in the future. We can go about that in many different ways, from a private email vote to an online questionnaire on the club website, to even an ongoing online forum, to name just a few.

Please don't get me wrong. I would not be so presumptuous to think I have all of the answers. What I do think I have is a valid point to open the lines of discussion, and find out what the attendees would really like to have during their convention. Key point; "their convention". To move forward in a positive fashion requires a team effort and the ability to discuss new ideas while still improving the old standard things. sure, there's an argument for "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", but that, I believe is not forward thinking. We don't want to find ourselves with knee jerk reactions to ideas that are outside our usual way of doing things.

I almost agree with your comment: "before we start doing new things, we need to make sure all of of our ducks are in a row" I would change just one thing. I would say: "As we start new things, we must also make sure all of our ducks are in a row"

We are still in our infancy as a club. Those that still dream of the club building fund becoming a reality will be quick to agree with me. We might be tangerines to oranges right now, but if we look at the way we want to be, it might be easier to find our way to get there. I would love to see our convention big......REALLY big! I hope I love long enough to see it.

I didn't originally post with the idea of getting into such a lengthy discussion. That would have been more appropriate for the club message board. But hey....I started typing, and well, it just happened.

I know you and the other board members want only the best for the convention, just as I do. I feel confident that you will all continue to try new ideas, some that will be a wonderful success and some that will have a less then stellar response. This is a great ship we're sailing, I'm just not sure who is holding the map.

My apologies for rambling.