2022 SSA Convention?

[Dan Daly[_2_]]

Things appear to be improving for air travel, borders, vaccination, and I'm wondering if there have been decisions on whether there will be a 2022 Convention, in the spring, and, if yes, its location? The links on the SSA webpage still go to Little Rock 2020 ( I went to both LR conventions, the 2020 was less icy).

2D

[Nicholas Kennedy]

How about somewhere warmer and potentially sunny like Tucson AZ?
Nick
T

[Matthew Scutter]

On Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at 1:50:39 PM UTC+10, wrote:
> How about somewhere warmer and potentially sunny like Tucson AZ?
> Nick
> T

How about somewhere with many international connections for all the foreign visitors? :) :) :)

[[email protected]]

El martes, 2 de marzo de 2021 a la(s) 04:28:51 UTC-3, Matthew Scutter escribió:
> On Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at 1:50:39 PM UTC+10, nickkennedy... wrote:
> > How about somewhere warmer and potentially sunny like Tucson AZ?
> > Nick
> > T
> How about somewhere with many international connections for all the foreign visitors? :) :) :)


Totally... Miami is warm and cheap from Argentina

[Bruce]

On Monday, March 1, 2021 at 8:50:39 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> How about somewhere warmer and potentially sunny like Tucson AZ?
> Nick
> T
Tucson won't work for February. That is when the GEM show happens all month long. Lot of visitors from all over the world, hotels are marked up and all the space is taken. For those who don't know about the GEM show, it is one of the largest rock, gem and mineral shows in the world. If you're into that it is worth a visit.

[Nicholas Kennedy]

Could the convention be moved to March? Or is it set in stone for Feb?

Tucson, that time of year, is nice, you could bring your family, there's a lot to do and see there.

Tucson a glider port too, if someone wanted to turn it in to a flying trip. Estrella is right down the freeway too. Estrella is a unique and very cool place to hang out for several days. I've never been to the Tucson club site, but I do know its active and they put a lot of flights up on the OLC.
Nick
T

[Nicholas Kennedy]

I was just thinking it would be nice to go somewhere in Feb March that's OUT of the snow.
That time of year a lot of people are sick of the snow and cold, including me.
Little Rock in Feb? Fergetabout it.
Reno? Too Cold and potentially snowy.
SoCal? Nope ain't going there.
I would go to Miami thou!
Not much chance of snow there!
Nick
T

[Frank Whiteley]

On Monday, March 1, 2021 at 9:56:59 AM UTC-7, Dan Daly wrote:
> Things appear to be improving for air travel, borders, vaccination, and I'm wondering if there have been decisions on whether there will be a 2022 Convention, in the spring, and, if yes, its location? The links on the SSA webpage still go to Little Rock 2020 ( I went to both LR conventions, the 2020 was less icy).
>
> 2D
Should know soon as negotiations are in progress. Warm and sunny would be nice, but I doubt the vendors would bring gliders to Aruba;^). Some don't like March because it's the start of XC and contest season in many areas. I've asked that the show be extended by a day to include Weds so we can add some workshops, roundtables, presentations, and perhaps hold the board and EXCOM meetings earlier. We'll see.

Little Rock was a great venue but attendance fell a little short. Some venues are just flat out too expensive, others too small as 90,000-110,000 sqft are needed for vendors and sailplanes, plus meeting and meal rooms. We took a serious look at Florida, but the hotel costs were too high, though SSA would have received a substantial kick-back, the concern was that many wouldn't come due to the high cost of lodging.

Hopefully by 2022, people will be confident in traveling and attending.

Frank Whiteley
SSA Director, R9

[Wallace Berry[_2_]]

I thought Greenville, SC was a great location.

[Frank Whiteley]

On Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at 11:48:08 AM UTC-7, wrote:
> I thought Greenville, SC was a great location.
Nice venue. Surprised that attendance wasn't a bit higher. Another 200 and it would definitely be on the SSA where to go list. Weather up north was a factor for some that planned to drive.

Airline connections were not direct, but got to fly in a Dash-8 a couple of times getting to/from a major hub. That was kind of fun. Also got out of there in an RJ-200 after the BOD meeting the year prior, which wasn't much fun but interesting for the first time on a Bombardier.

Generally prefer a convention center attached to a hotel also though I thought they did a good job with transport.

[Danny Brotto]

I had been thinking Dulles, VA just outside of Washington DC could be a good spot for a future convention. Dulles Expo Center is large enough for the convention. Dulles (KIAD) has a major international airport. Lots of amenities in the area including the excellent Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum. There are two very active clubs in the area too. Downsides are that there are no attached hotels (but plenty nearby) and the convention center does not have conference rooms for seminars.

Another possibility in the Mid-Atlantic is Baltimore, Md. The Convention Center is downtown and is excellent with plenty of seminar rooms available. A Hilton is connected to the Convention Center. Washington DC (Smithsonian Museums) is about an hour to the south by car. BWI Airport is about 20 minutes away. BWI has many direct flights around the USA and some direct international flights too.

Danny Brotto

[Wallace Berry[_2_]]

On Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at 2:21:36 PM UTC-6, Frank Whiteley wrote:
> On Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at 11:48:08 AM UTC-7, wrote:
> > I thought Greenville, SC was a great location.
> Nice venue. Surprised that attendance wasn't a bit higher. Another 200 and it would definitely be on the SSA where to go list. Weather up north was a factor for some that planned to drive.
>
> Airline connections were not direct, but got to fly in a Dash-8 a couple of times getting to/from a major hub. That was kind of fun. Also got out of there in an RJ-200 after the BOD meeting the year prior, which wasn't much fun but interesting for the first time on a Bombardier.
>
> Generally prefer a convention center attached to a hotel also though I thought they did a good job with transport.
Oh, yeah, forgot about the hotel being separate from the convention center in Greenville. Much better to all be in one place.

[Tony[_5_]]

What about the 2023 Convention?

[Bret Hess]

I went to a convention in New Orleans in March once...it was great.

[Burt Compton - Marfa Gliders, west Texas]

On Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at 9:19:02 PM UTC-6, Tony wrote:
> What about the 2023 Convention?

YES! Let's get back to annual SSA conventions!
SSA Directors, are you listening?
The SSA conventions at Arlington near DFW were a great location.
Good weather and near a major airline hub in the center of the USA, more or less.

[Dan Daly[_2_]]

On Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 8:18:38 AM UTC-5, Burt Compton - Marfa Gliders, west Texas wrote:
> On Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at 9:19:02 PM UTC-6, Tony wrote:
> > What about the 2023 Convention?
> YES! Let's get back to annual SSA conventions!
> SSA Directors, are you listening?
> The SSA conventions at Arlington near DFW were a great location.
> Good weather and near a major airline hub in the center of the USA, more or less.

Burt, if that doesn't work, there's always Saskatoon!
Seriously, I've been to Reno (2), Ontario (2), Atlanta, Little Rock (2), Greenville. All good. I'd go back to any, and DFW sounds interesting too. A fair few new gliders to see.

[Charles Petersen[_2_]]

On Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 5:33:03 p.m. UTC-5, Dan Daly wrote:
> On Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 8:18:38 AM UTC-5, Burt Compton - Marfa Gliders, west Texas wrote:
> > On Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at 9:19:02 PM UTC-6, Tony wrote:
> > > What about the 2023 Convention?
> > YES! Let's get back to annual SSA conventions!
> > SSA Directors, are you listening?
> > The SSA conventions at Arlington near DFW were a great location.
> > Good weather and near a major airline hub in the center of the USA, more or less.
> Burt, if that doesn't work, there's always Saskatoon!
> Seriously, I've been to Reno (2), Ontario (2), Atlanta, Little Rock (2), Greenville. All good. I'd go back to any, and DFW sounds interesting too. A fair few new gliders to see.
Central Florida, the last week of February/1st week of March. Come for the Convention, and stay for the Seniors and the great flying that starts then.