New format this year.

Three or four speakers Saturday afternoon, a nice dinner, then brunch Sunday and an activity.

This DO started with bringing in a speaker or two to educate the attendees.

I know the speakers I've asked will keep up that tradition.

So far, the speakers will be Julian, the Devil's Advocate and author of "Bet You Didn't Know", Frequent Miler, and Shawn from MilestoMemories. Of particular interest to me is Shawn's family's 18 month trip around the world, along with shorter trips like 3 months of backpacking.

I booked the Pittsfield Township Hall. 6201 Michigan Ave, Ann Arbor, MI MAP

It holds 200, so everyone that wants to come can.

This is about 5 miles southeast of the Ann Arbor city center , and south of I-94.

Saturday dinner will be at the Original Cottage Inn (if they let me rebook, after getting 10% off a $500 bill with a square coupon), and we'll have brunch Sunday at Webers, as that is still a smoking deal.

Sunday's activity is a walking tour of Ann Arbor.

Feel free to respond as committed or tentative, and let me know if you are bringing someone to the meeting or just to dinner or brunch. Or if you are just coming to the meeting or a meal or meals.

Got a question on the fee to attend. I've decided to double it this year. So, 2 x $0= $0! I like that.

Just reply to this thread if you are interested.

 

Saturday:

Pittsfield Township Hall
6201 Michigan Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI

Noon to 5:30PM

12:00 Introductions of attendees, including how you picked your Flyertalk handle and where you are from
12:30-1:30 Julian
1:30-1:45 Break
1:45- 2:45 Shawn Croomer
2:45-3:00 Break
3:00- 4:00 FrequentMiler
4:00-4:15 Break
4:15-5:15 Shared Tips (a crowd favorite)

Dinner

Original Cottage Inn- 6 PM for 60 people, 512 E William St Ann Arbor, MI 48104 hopefully

Sunday

Brunch at Webers 9:30 AM (res for 30-35)
3050 Jackson Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48103


Activity Afterward




Transportation options, courtesy of Bob H:

DTW is about a 30 minute drive from Ann Arbor (depending on where you're leaving/going to of course!)

You need to allow about 10 to 15 minutes to get to the ground transportation center plus some time to take the rental car shuttles if you're doing that.

Michigan flyer provides bus service to certain locations in Ann Arbor on a once an hour basis for $22 RT

see

http://michiganflyer.com/ScheduleRoute.aspx

Ann Arbor Custom transit provides shared van service to any address in the Ann Arbor area for $31 one way. I used them several times this past winter and they were reliable. (Normally I park off airport and didn't want to leave a car in all that snow, or come back late at night and have to dig one out !)

see

http://www.customtransit.com/

Ann Arbor has excellent local bus service and you really don't want to take a car downtown during Art Fair

see

http://www.theride.org/Services

There are motel clusters near Briarwood Mall (I94 and State Street) and at the Plymouth Road exit off US23.

Rental cars are available here at several locations including the Ann Arbor Airport (National) and Holiday Inn North (Avis).

Motels in town are likely to be packed through Sat, it may be cost effective to stay a little farther out, such as near DTW.


Amtrak-

Amtrak does provide good service to Ann Arbor from Chicago and a few points to the east of Chicago and lots of places to the west / far west.

See Amtrak.com

Then there's the alt airport issue of places like FNT and Lan, both of which Mrs Bob H have used but not recently because DTW-FNT is gone, probably because is only about 60 miles from Ann Arbor.

 

1. Bikeguy
2. Stravels + 2
3. Julian
4. FrequentMiler 10
5. Shawn
6. Dboy
7. geoffco
8. MillenniumFlyer
9. HMPS+1
10. toomanybooks
11. The Forward Cabin
12. J.Edward
13. bk3day +1 21
14. gpapadop
15. bschaff1
16. Mrp Alert
17. mmargel
18. rubesl
19. KMA26
20. BobBell
21. hsoyfer +1 30
22. Upperdeck744
23. Pinky
25. tc fly girl and k2o
26. Getiton
27. yesletsski
28. smitty06 37


Changed to attendees after securing Pittsfield Twp Hall:

29. italdesign
30. RadioShow
31. OnAMileHigh
32. bostonbali
33. GrizShel
34. tamminh
35. Dmh12011 +1
36. jjlovescub
37. ddrewboy
38. theblakefish
39.
40. jrobin
41. msvacation
42. BigHabitat
43. discountsae
44. befaithful + 1
45. Rommie2k6
46. allen060421
47. shoppergirl + 1 (59)
48.
49. ysygreat
50.
51. andyski101 +1
52. crinaldi173
53. ciao_bella
54. dwbf11
55. xshanex
56. AvidFlyer1990
57. thebetzman
58. awc4
59. TravelAuto
60. AvidFlyer1990
61. ValleyGirlofVA
62. memsrr
63. pointsstillwork +1
64. GT-R Hybrid guy
65. Exterous
66. CherylD
67. AndroAsc
68. gardengirl +1
69. gilapoin21
70. RandonGuy
71. MelEngineersSavings (78)

 

last reserved, I promise

 

I'm in for the meeting. Probably not for the meals, as I will be visiting a buddy in the area. Hope there's a big turnout like last year and that you can move it to the bigger venue.

 

I'm in!

 

I'm in (tentatively) for the sessions, dinner, and brunch.

 

HMPS+1. Committed

 

Please put me down, thanks.

 

I should be able to attend.

 

<raises hand> one here, please. Thanks! ^

 

Just booked my flights...

I'm going from tentative to confirmed!

 

Sign me up with a +1, please. Both for all events.

Thanks!

 

Of course I am in!

 

Count me in. Had a great time last year.