POZ Community Forums
Off Topic Forums => Forums Gatherings => Topic started by: Jody on August 24, 2011, 03:43:49 pm
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Thanks to all my fellow AMG'ers who helped make this gathering yet another great success. We always seem to get perfect weather everywhere and the hotel choice was indeed perfect. The members were great and warm and generous as always and it was a great location with ease to get around which is important for tourists and the area had lots of charm. It was really cool to see old friends and meet new ones.
I wanted to especially thank my fellow grants committee members- Phil, Will and Nick for their hard work in assisting some people who may not have been able to make it to Seattle but for the kindness of those who contributed monies were able to go and had a great time. The opportunity to bond with other people, living with HIV, all of whom I likely would never have met without an AIDS diagnosis, and this great website and become friends with is a very cosmic sort of thing, that is never really knowing for certain what life has in store for us or where the road is going.
I would also like to thank Gary for his talk during our remembrance, memorial and also celebratory ceremony this year again. Gary, I think if you haven't already done so you should write your feelings and experiences and have our AMG's be a part of that for you, I think that would be an interesting read, both in the context of our experiences here online and together at AMG and your life in general. Thanks also to Jan and Robert for their work and was it Odyssey who chose this meeting hall or am I mistaken, good choice and a nice walk up Capital Hill and seeing another part of town.
We got to eat at some of the great restaurants in town - the salmon down by the Pike's Market was perfectly cooked- I like salmon fairly well cooked and it was just right. So was the steak dinner at Tap House and there were other great places. The boat ride around town was real nice and scenic and a Manhattan drink to boot! The Pacific Science Museum, the aquarium and the Space needle were all great but in a way the highlight of my trip was getting up to Mt . Rainier with Mark, Curtis and Ernie. The ride up is gorgeous enough, through pristine country. This 12,000 plus foot high mountain, the second highest in the continental US is wonderfully majestic and getting to walk in several inches of snow in 85 degree weather was surreal and totally awesome. We had a little picnic on smoked salmon, crackers and cheese and wine and walked up quite a bit, to the timber line I think Mark called it but still very much way down at the base of this gorgeous monster of rock, snow, waterfalls, grasses, wild flowers and creeks. Ernie is a bird lover and we looked out for them. Ordinary folks were slipping, sliding and falling on their asses and laughing out loud! When you think that the highest mountains in the Catskill and Pocono's are about 1,500 to 2,000 feet or so Mt. Rainier is a beast, and a beauty at that. My calves are still barking!
Another successful AMG, with great participants and a lot of fun in the postcard of life. And for those who couldn't make it there is always the hope that we can see you next year. One place mentioned was Washington DC and purely by coincidence I am sure the Washington monument is now tilting. :)
And the authorities are speculating it was an earthquake that caused it! ;) ;)
Jody :)
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Isn't the IAC thingy in DC next year?
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Isn't the IAC thingy in DC next year?
I was thinking the same thing - I believe IAC is there and it might be great to have AMG coincide with it ---- of course, hotels in the DC area tend to be pricey - but there are some deals to be had - especially in Roslyn, which is just over the bridge from Georgetown. There is a Hyatt there that has some good deals....
I will actually be in DC the beginning of November staying at the Hyatt Capital Hill - about 2 blocks from the Capital complex.
I guess we can let those who went to AMG 2011 rest up for a minute and then get ready to start planning next year's. Wherever it is - DC, anywhere in the states, or anywhere else on the globe, I plan on being there. No doubt about it.
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Thanks Jody. After attending my first one, I've decided it wouldn't matter where it's held. The sense of community was great and I really enjoyed meeting you all.
Wolfie
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Thanks Jody. After attending my first one, I've decided it wouldn't matter where it's held. The sense of community was great and I really enjoyed meeting you all.
Wolfie
Me too !
Once you go to one your hooked .
I am so glad so many people work so hard for so long to pull the AMG off :)
Weasel
P.S. Enjoying being home and doing day trips to Saint Louis with my twin & Bob :D
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Jody, you're right on about everything going so well. There's one 'big' thing that I wished we could have done, and that's the Mt. Rainier trip. Next time, we'll do that for sure!
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I have to say this -
Jody was amazing to have as a member on Grants Committee - he brought a level of experience, understanding, and organization that really made the process go so smooth.
His warmth and compassion was evident from day one --- it was a pleasure working with him on all aspects of the grants process.
Nick and Will were also amazing --- each of them shared their experience, their intelligence, and their knowledge in so many different ways.
I have to tell all of the members who attended AMG and those who watched from the Forums that Jody, Will and Nick were three dedicated people -- each giving of their time at literally all hours of the day and night - weekends and weekdays...... Everyone was so willing to take on a variety of tasks and to help out --- especially, when my dad passed - I never felt alone and never felt overwhelmed or like I had "dropped the ball" at all on Grants Committee --- as Jody, Will, and Nick graciously kept things moving along, supported me through the grieving process and let me know that everything was under control.
I know I am rambling - but I really can not say enough about this group of guys that I had the pleasure of working with and getting to know better.
Now..... on to AMG 2012!!!!! ;D
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Now..... on to AMG 2012!!!!!
does that mean that Willy is ready for the next batch of recipe submissions for the AMG 2012 cookbook?? :D
whatever it takes to raise funds to help the Grant Committee help more members go, count me in. ;)
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does that mean that Willy is ready for the next batch of recipe submissions for the AMG 2012 cookbook?? :D
whatever it takes to raise funds to help the Grant Committee help more members go, count me in. ;)
Only if -- and this is non-negotiable -- no more photos of Leatherman and giant food. It's more than a bit unnerving............. I kept waiting for the food to grow at the Meet and Greet whenever you walked by the table...........
M
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Only if -- and this is non-negotiable -- no more photos of Leatherman and giant food.
yes sir ;) no more GIANT food pictures. :D
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The IAC is indeed in DC next July 22-27.
Approximately 20,000 attendees expected + those showing up who will not necessarily be attending the Conference itself. Only lasts for a week.
Washington DC summers can be pretty intense but there sure is plenty to see and do there.
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Washington DC summers can be pretty intense but there sure is plenty to see and do there.
The AC works well there too as I remember. The best thing about DC in August is that many of the locals leave town at that time and its easier to get around. Yippie!! If we end up there I can not only see my AM friends but also those I left behind when I moved away last year.
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Jodykins, you said it so well. I loved this year's gathering. Of course I've loved everyone of them. I just wish I could put together the words to convey how special, meaningful, and awesome this year was.
Dennis did a great job in finding us the Roosevelt (we couldn't have made a better choice), Gary's memorial service was (I believe) the best we've ever had. Robert's organizing the Meet and Greet turned out fabulous.
And then of course hooking up with old friends, making new friends, and the bond that ties us all together.
I don't think any of us who went to Toronto 7 years ago could have imagined what we were starting. Toronto, Montreal, San Francisco, Mexico City, Boston, London/Las Vegas, and now Seattle. Each one will always hold a special place in my heart.
RAB :-*
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... Gary's memorial service was (I believe) the best we've ever had.
RAB :-*
Gary's sermons become more incredible year by year. Last week he started out with a parable about Bobby, a 16 year old, not very nice, delinquent who had overdosed on drugs, continued on about how life and death is not merely the switching on and off of a light switch and how these forums, disagreements and all, help us live and share our lives with each other. His words are strong, his delivery powerful. He starts out slowly and builds up to such a crescendo that by the end, he makes us feels we are 'defying gravity'; that we are all floating through the cosmos, arms and legs akimbo, with all those souls who have preceded us in death, including Bobby.
Gary's words alone make the Gathering something not to be missed.
robert
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Gary's sermons become more incredible year by year. Last week he started out with a parable about Bobby, a 16 year old, not very nice, delinquent who had overdosed on drugs, continued on about how life and death is not merely the switching on and off of a light switch and how these forums, disagreements and all, help us live and share our lives with each other. His words are strong, his delivery powerful. He starts out slowly and builds up to such a crescendo that by the end, he makes us feels we are 'defying gravity'; that we are all floating through the cosmos, arms and legs akimbo, with all those souls who have preceded us in death, including Bobby.
Gary's words alone make the Gathering something not to be missed.
robert
Wow - what a great description Robert - you really allowed me to "experience" what the Memorial Service must have been like - at least in regards to Gary's message. Thank you so much for sharing. Hopefully, Gary will be willing to continue to deliver this type of heartfelt message at future AMGs (which all of you who went this year and have shared your experiences have made me commit to not ever missing in upcoming years).
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arms and legs akimbo,
Love that
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I continue to be deeply touched by the many positive comments about the Memorial Service. The combination of poetic license, willing audience, and about an hour of time makes it all possible. I will always be willing to share my "poetic license" if the group desires it. I was especially touched by our lovely reading of the names. Mark has the perfect voice (I call it "mellifluous") for this...and this was the first time we did it this way. I suspect the list will grow next year as more people are aware of it and wish the opportunity to have their loved ones names remembered in this profound way.
I sure missed having Will there too!
Gary
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Maybe its about time I think about attending another gathering, its only been what 6 years? Wow, haven't been on here in a while - glad to see some, vaguely ;) familiar names!
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Maybe its about time I think about attending another gathering, its only been what 6 years? Wow, haven't been on here in a while - glad to see some, vaguely ;) familiar names!
Yes Greg ,
Nice idea !
I've been to two and hope to be able to attend next year .
It is just a wonderful time . Something some of don't get too often .
Carl
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Hey Gregory Scott, great to see you back. We were for the longest time concerned about your whereabouts, good to see you would like to go to another AMG, that would be great. Toronto was our first and will always be special.
Take care and be well,
Jody :)