Nelson Convention 2008
Posted in on 08/30/2007 04:08 pm by EleanorNelson Eddy Appreciation Society Convention
June 2008
Starting a New Tradition?
By Diane P. Flaherty, President
At our June 2007 gathering of the NEAS in Cambridge Springs, PA, a vote was taken and it was decided that members wanted the meetings to continue after the retirement of Dr. John Marsh. It was suggested that a 4-day format be scheduled. The shorter stay was popular because members could still visit with each other, renew friendships and make new friends, and honor Nelson, but costs would be less and maybe more members could afford to attend. Attendees could also decide to arrive earlier and/or stay later if they preferred the 7-day stay. NEAS program would be confined to the 4-day format for 2008.
After speaking with Marie Halliday, owner of The Riverside Inn, it was agreed that having NEAS members return would please the Inn and the staff. It was decided that the event must take place in and around Nelson’s birthday.
The tentative dates for the NEAS gathering at The Riverside Inn, 2008 are:
Thursday, June 26 - Monday, June 30, 2008.
The rates for a 4-night package would be as follows:
Single - $525.00
Double (2 in a 2 bedroom unit) $480.00
Double (2 in the same room) $420.00
Triple (3 in a 2 bedroom unit) $400.00
Quad (4 in a 2 bedroom unit) $375.00
*These rates are per person and include:
4 nights lodging
4 breakfasts
3 lunches (may have lunch first/last day)
1 brunch
4 dinners
Wine and cheese reception
Coffee service in meeting room each day
Use of meeting room
Entertainment fee
Baggage handling both ways
All taxes and gratuities
**Additional nights with all meals if same room arrangements:
Single $95.00 per person per night
Double (2/2) $84.00 per person per night
Double (2/same) $69.00 per person per night
Triple $64.00 per person per night
Quad $58.00 per person per night
The package rates are a real entertainment value arranged especially for NEAS members with the prices from 39-50% lower than the usual “rack” rate charged regular customers.
Since Dr. Marsh is retired, I will need extra help in making this new format a success. I have gotten volunteers for playing piano, running the movies, miscellaneous help with all the various aspects of making this event so pleasurable and successful. I have also received assurances that some ‘big-named’ entertainment will try to pencil in our event.
Since there will be no tutorial lectures before the movies, I am asking member volunteers to pick their favorite Nelson movie and tell the group why it was picked, and why it is important to you. We will then watch the ENTIRE movie.
We plan to have more visiting time between movies since the dining room is often noisy and visiting can be difficult. We will definitely include some “veranda” time. I have discussed with Marie the fact that the meals are SO plentiful and most of us feel as though we are wasting food. We are considering having the soup, salad, sandwich bar for lunches so that we all have a healthy appetite for dinner.
Members voted that they still want to continue our NEAS Family Reunions, so try to put these dates on your 2008 calendar. It will not be the same as in the past 21 years under the leadership of Dr. Marsh, but we can all work together to make it a new NEAS tradition!
So members, lets give this new format a try. The future could still hold more formal meetings in big cities like Philadelphia and Los Angeles, but much help would be required on site and the costs would be much greater and logistics more complicated. More information and registration forms will be forthcoming in future Golden Star issues. Turn out in 2008 will determine the future of NEAS meetings at The Riverside Inn.