AMG 07--San Francisco, Ca -- September 13 - 18, 2007

[AMG Coordinator]

PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS THREAD TO ASK QUESTIONS, MAKE SUGGESTIONS, OR COMMENTS--please start new threads for those purposes. The reason being, this thread could get so long that members with dial-up would never be able to open it.


Welcome everyone to the unofficially official information post for AMG 07. There will of course be many threads and many discussions as the events for San Francisco begin to be planned. This post will be edited and updated as those plans become finalized and you all let us know what you want. This means members will not have to search multiple threads and posts to figure out what is going on. You will want to check this post often as the event draws near and more plans are finalized. If you are visiting this Forums Gathering Forum for the first time, we strongly encourage you to check out all the threads. There have been several previous gatherings, one in Toronto, Nashville, New York, and Atlanta forthcoming. Each and every person who attended will attest to how much fun, how enriching, and how truly wonderful they have been. So, if you are considering joining us in San Francisco, don't be shy--you'll have the time of your life!


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**Location**

San Francisco, California


**Dates**

September 14, 15, & 16.


**Hotel**

The Powell Hotel
28 Cyril Magnin Street
San Francisco, Ca  94102



Room Rates

Single/Double - $115*
Triple - $130*
Quad - $145*

+ 14% room tax

All reservations must be guaranteed with credit card number or first night deposit.
To avoid a one night deposit, the Powell Hotel must receive notification of cancellation by August 12, 2007.

Reservations #: U.S. and Canada 1-800-368-0700 / Overseas 415-398-3200
If you require assistance in making your reservation, I can be reached at 1-866-525-3109

Hotel Web Site--Click Here


**Attendee Census**

Attending members: 47

Countries represented: 5
Australia, Belgium, New Zealand, U.K., U.S.

U.S. states & territories respresented: 18
Alabama, Arizone, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin


**Social Events/Outings/Planned Activities**

Additional information will include things like our now famous "MEET & GREET", & "Pub Crawl", organized nightly get togethers, options for daily outings that some may elect to do, possible presentations, etc. Everything, once you guys agree on it, will be posted here. Anyone who wants to be a part of making this happen, we encourage you to start a thread and get a discussion going. We intend to leave things pretty informal, allowing members to do as they please, but we will use this post to notify all of you as to what events you can consider.

SCHEDULE OF PLANNED EVENTS

THURSDAY--SEPTEMBER 13TH

Arrival and check-in throughout the day.

Join us in the Powell Hotel’s mezzanine beginning at 10:00 a.m. as we welcome everyone to San Francisco and to the 3rd annual AMG! 

Pick-up your welcome bag, AMG 2007 t-shirts, and mingle with those that will make this a weekend to remember!


FRIDAY--SEPTEMBER 14TH

***Visit to National Aids Memorial Grove***

Time: 11:00 a.m. (Leave from hotel lobby at 10:00 a.m.)

Coordinated by: Jan (aka anniebc)

The National AIDS Memorial Grove, located in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, is a dedicated space in the national landscape where millions of Americans touched directly or indirectly by AIDS can gather to heal, hope, and remember. The sacred ground of this living memorial honors all who have confronted this tragic pandemic both those who have died and those who have shared their struggle, kept the vigils, and supported each other during the final hours.

The National AIDS Memorial Grove is a living tribute to all whose lives have been touched by AIDS. Our mission is to provide a healing sanctuary, to increase awareness of this national treasure, and to promote learning and understanding of the human tragedy of the AIDS pandemic

National AIDS Memorial Grove Web Site--Click Here




***Optional Visit to the San Francisco Exploratorium***

Time:  2:00 p.m.

Housed within the walls of San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts, the Exploratorium is a collage of hundreds of science, art, and human perception exhibits. The Exploratorium is a leader in the movement to promote museums as informal education centers.

This unique museum was founded in 1969 by noted physicist and educator Dr. Frank Oppenheimer, who devoted his efforts to it—and was its director—until his death in 1985. From 1991 to 2005, Dr. Goéry Delacôte served as Executive Director. Today, the Exploratorium is led by nationally known science education and policy expert Dr. Dennis M. Bartels.

San Francisco Exploratorium: Museum of Science, Art, and Human Perception Web Site--Click Here




***Meet & Greet***

Time: 6:00  - 11:00 p.m.

Location: Crimson Lounge

Cots:  $20 per person

Entertainment:  Alicia Dattner will perform at 8:00 pm

689 McAllister Street
San Francisco, Ca  94102
(415) 673-9353

Located beneath Indigo Restaurant.
Enter through Crimson’s street entrance, located between Indigo and the market on the corner of McAllister & Gough.  It is a glass door with no signage.





SATURDAY--SEPTEMBER 15TH

***San Francisco Waterfront Walk***

Time: Leave from hotel lobby at 10:30 am

Length:  2.5 miles

Guide: Allan, aka Allang

This will be a good opportunity for everyone to get together and see a bit of San Francisco.

We'll start from the hotel at 10:30 am, proceed to Union Square, then down Maiden Lane to Grant Avenue. We'll take a left on Grant Avenue, then a bit uphill to Chinatown. We'll walk two blocks through Chinatown to Grant and California, then turn right and go down California Street to the Ferry Building, a San Francisco landmark that survived the 1906 earthquake. Up until 1989, there was an ugly double-decker freeway that dominated the waterfront. The Loma Prieta earthquake damaged the structure beyond repair, and it was torn down. This paved the way to create a new revitalized waterfront.

We'll stop at the Ferry Building to take a break and explore the fancy food shops inside. Then we'll continue walking along the waterfront to Pier 27, where we'll cross the Embarcadero to visit Levi Strauss Plaza, a peaceful and attractive urban park created by the famous maker of jeans. From Levi Strauss Plaza, you'll get a view of Telegraph Hill. We'll cross back over to the waterfront to continue the walk to Pier 39. Pier 39 is a popular tourist destination with lots of shops and restaurants. It's also home to a colony of sea lions that took up residence in 1990. At first, the merchants wanted the city to get rid of the sea lions because of their noisy barking and pungent odor. However, the tourists loved them, and since they help generate business, the merchants came to love them too. The sea lions are most numerous during the winter, but there are always a bunch of lazy ones who stay year round.

Pier 39 is steps away from the Alcatraz ferry. If you want to visit Alcatraz, this would be a good time to do it. However, it is absolutely necessary to buy Alcatraz ferry tickets in advance. This can be done at the website http://www.alcatrazcruises.com. It's suggested that you choose a sailing after 2 pm in order to have time for the walk and a bite to eat on Pier 39.  The Alcatraz tour last approximately 3 hours and does require a bit of walking; some uphill.

To return to the hotel, take the F-Line trolley, which runs vintage streetcars from around the world.


Sea Lions at Pier 39 Live Streaming Web Cam…Click Here

***San Francisco Sight Seeing***

Time: At your leisure

Suggestions:

Freewheelers Car Club 23rd Annual Bennefit Car Show

Location:  Collingworth Park in the Castro

http://www.thefreewheelers.net


***Saturday Social Hour***

Time:  6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Location:  The Powell Hotel Mezzanine

This get together will be a social hour allowing members to regroup after their free afternoon touring San Francisco.  We can relax, unwind, catch-up, and reconnect with one another.  From here, members can decide on dinner options and plans for later in the evening. 

**Limited beer, wine, and non alcoholic beverages will be made available for a suggested $1 donation each to cover expenses.



SUNDAY--SEPTEMBER 16TH

***Ferry to Sausalito Day Trip***



Time: Meet in hotel lobby @ 10:30 a.m. / Depart 11:00 am (ferry departs at 12:00 p.m.)
           Return:  Last ferry departs Sausalito at 12:00 p.m.

Cost: Golden Gate Ferry $3.55 one way / $7.10 round trip


Sausalito Chamber of Commerce…Click Here

Live Web Cam of Sausalito…Click Here


***Sunday Social Hour***

Time:  6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Location:  The Powell Hotel Mezzanine

This get together will be a social hour allowing members to regroup after their free afternoon touring San Francisco.  We can relax, unwind, catch-up, and reconnect with one another.  From here, members can decide on dinner options and plans for later in the evening. 

**Limited beer, wine, and non alcoholic beverages will be made available for a suggested $1 donation each to cover expenses.


MONDAY--SEPTEMBER 17TH


Spend the day at your leisure


**Grants Committee**

There is a committee of forum members serving as the Grants Committee to help those who may not be able to attend without some financial assistance. If you would like to be a part of making that happen (and it would be a very worthwhile gesture) please send a private message to any of these user names: Grants Committee, Gerry, David_NC, Robert, and Jody.

Detailed information on their financial transactions can be found by:  Clicking Here


**Order Your AMG 2007 T-Shirt**

Cost = $15.00 (US)

Order Deadline:  DEADLINE HAS CLOSED

Design Credit: John/Kcmetroman.

Please send a private message to Dennis to pre-order your AMG 07 T-Shirt.

AMG07 T-Shirt Design Order Page…Click Here





Edited on 6/12 to include Saturday and Sunday Social Hour.  Updated meet & greet info.
Edited on 6/23 to udpate information on Sausalito day trip
Edited on 7/8 to include visit to Exploratorium and welcome day in hotel mezzanine
Edited on 8/11 to update Meet & Greet info and census, Saturday sightseeing option