VF North American Gathering: Ann Arbor,MI Planning Committee

[xrodolfox]

VF North American Gathering: Ann Arbor. Planning Committee

This Event will take place in Ann Arbor, Michigan, from Thursday August 13th to Sunday August 16th.

I've been putting the planning for this event into overdrive for the past weeks, for an event that started with this thread: click here.

Please suggest additions, subtractions, or changes in scheduling. Nothing is set in stone, but I do have verbal commitments from some local venues. I may need to have donations or a fee to recoup some fees for this event.

What I've got so far:

Thursday, August 13th
Folks that can, begin to arrive at mid-day.
6pm: Home-cooked vegan meal at the Common House at my my place. It can hold up to 30 people.
Free lodging at several co-ops and at local homes for the first 6 to 8 people interested. There might be more free space (for up to 6 to 8 more folks) if there is need. Otherwise, there is a lot of available lodging in the area for pay, as well as lots and lots of camping.

Friday, August 14th
First full day of Activities.
10am: get-to-know-you all levels Anarchist Soccer. We've done this before, and when Melissa and I run this, it really makes for a fun time, and the group gets really tight.
noon-ish: Lunch at Silvio's Organic Pizza
early PM: Weight's and Lifting TBA. (I don't have much planned for this part, but suggestions would be great). This is very open.
Later PM: Perhaps we can go to the Velodrome? or hiking? This later afternoon depends on interests.
Dinner: Seva

Saturday, August 15th: Everyone's here!
9am: Morning Bike Ride(s). 30 mile, 60 mile, and 12 mile routes led by local cyclists. Open to all skill levels. The 30 mile ride will have some very fast riders, as well as some very easy going riders.
noon: Lunch at Earthen Jar
early PM: Swimming, H2O polo, and more at Fuller Park Pool.
later PM: Run Time! Run Routes through local parks that total either 3mile road jog, 6 mile trail run, or longer (?). If there is interest, I can get access to a track.
Dinner: Either Chia Shang or Ann Arbor Brewing Company

Sunday August 16th:
8am: Volunteer at Sasha Farm Animal Sanctuary
Noon: Lunch at either Sasha Farms (with local donations from Whole Foods or other markets), or at Jerusalem Gardens.
Early PM: Group Canoe down Huron River.

~3pm: People start to leave.

6pm: optional last dinner at Heiwa House (veg*n co-op where many people will stay) with vegan deserts donations from Big City Small World bakery.

Right now, the only pay events are 1) All food at local restaurants 2) Pool Entry (discounted), 3) Velodrome (optional), 4) Track (optional). The free stuff are all road biking, running (trail and road), and dinner at my place.

If anyone wants to help more, my email is: dolfo@umich.edu, and my phone number is +1 (734) 218-4474, and my name is "Rodolfo".

[xrodolfox]

bump.
Mods: Can this be made a sticky?

[fredrikw]

bump.
Mods: Can this be made a sticky?

yes.

[Travelgal08]

Wow Rodolfo, it looks amazing. I'd love to go but unfortunately can't. Am very jealous of those who can make it, sounds like it will be a lot of fun.

[xrodolfox]

Wow Rodolfo, it looks amazing. I'd love to go but unfortunately can't. Am very jealous of those who can make it, sounds like it will be a lot of fun.

Pass the word along! How great this event ends up being depends on who shows up.

[osric]

Ok, I'll be there! Depending on flights out of Boston, I'll arrive some time on the 13th.

A few questions I figure lots of us will have:
1. Transportation around Ann Arbor and the venues. Will we need to rent cars? Rent bicycles? Bring our own bikes?
2. Lodging -- where and how much? Did I miss the list of options? I'll bring my sleeping bag but won't have camping gear.
3. Transfers from the airport. Where is VFW central relative to Detroit airport?

I know some of this has been covered in the prior thread, but a summary would be a huge help.

Looking forward to this event!

[JO]

; )

[xrodolfox]

Ok, I'll be there! Depending on flights out of Boston, I'll arrive some time on the 13th.
A few questions I figure lots of us will have:

Good questions!
Here goes.

1. Transportation around Ann Arbor and the venues. Will we need to rent cars? Rent bicycles? Bring our own bikes?

Transportation around Ann Arbor is pretty easy to manage. Ideally, a bike is all you'd need. That is more than enough for getting to all the events around town. If not, there will be rides, and also a bus system, that we can manage to do for free for most events. Walking is also an option.

The farthest two venues (my house to the pool) are only 5 miles away, and the rest of it is much closer (within 2 miles).

2. Lodging -- where and how much? Did I miss the list of options? I'll bring my sleeping bag but won't have camping gear.

Lodging is available in several ways:
I. Free and cheap Lodging
a) Free lodging at Haiwa House, a veg*n (anarchist?) co-op in town. There's space for around 3 to 4 people there.
b) Free lodging at my house, and our common house, and houses of other vegans around town. Those places will have space for about 3 to 4 more people.
c) There are also lots of campgrounds available. Those are a minimal fee, if anything at all. We have tents, but what might be best is to bring your own.
II. Pay lodging.
There are lots of bed and breakfasts as well as Hotels and motels in town. Those should be pretty empty in late August. Those range from as cheap as $40/night to $200/night. That depends on location and amenities.
I can suggest something or you can try and get a deal yourself for those.

There's a lot of information here: http://www.umich.edu/~info/

3. Transfers from the airport. Where is VFW central relative to Detroit airport?

The local airports are the Ann Arbor Airport, which is mostly local, and the Detroit Wayne Metropolitan Airport. DTW is the code for it. DTW is 30 minutes or so from Ann Arbor via highway. Some people do bike it, but I wouldn't suggest it.

Depending on flight schedules, we might be able to arrange a pickup for several VF people if the arrivals are all on a similar schedule. I've got access to a minivan and we could put about 6 folks in it with their luggage, and if need be, we could do several rides.

If you arrange it, you can do a "limo" ride to Ann Arbor for $30 from the airport, and that would work too.

I look forward to having a lot of you here!

[seasiren]

Excellent job Rodolfo!

If needed I can do an airport run as well .... my vehicle seats 9 with plenty of room for luggage.

Ann Arbor Brewing Company - sweet!

[xrodolfox]

Excellent job Rodolfo!

If needed I can do an airport run as well .... my vehicle seats 9 with plenty of room for luggage.

Ann Arbor Brewing Company - sweet!

Be there or be square!

[JohnV]

Thanks for all your work on the event! It's shaping up beautifully.

file for 501C.3 status. A friend is a lawyer, and helps non-profits do this sort of paperwork. It should be relatively easy (5 hours of work or so), and then once filed, it only takes a month or so to have it all confirmed.

I direct a 501 (c) 3 (www.bnks.org) and have some experience with the process. To my knowledge, in the past, the IRS process has always taken 6 months, after the state incorporation process. Five hours would be fast, even for an experienced lawyer to fill out the IRS application, I believe. I don't know how involved incorporation is in Michigan, but a board of directors, bylaws, etc. are the usual minimum requirements. Other 501 (c) 3 organizations are often eager to collaborate, however, and their tax status might be applicable. Many opportunities become available once you have non-profit status.

[xrodolfox]

I'm pretty sure I'm not going to file.
It's $155 I don't have. ALTHOUGH it would equal at least $30 in free food just for this gathering.

For the time being, I don't think it is worth it.

[JohnV]

I'd bet that's just for the State's incorporation. The IRS then charges $500 for the 1/2 year process of giving the corporation tax exempt status.

[seasiren]

Do we have an official attendance list?

BTW I went to the sister Restaurant in Ypsilanti after one of my shoots .... drove into NOWHERE'sVille back to an old ware house (I really thought I had my directions wrong and was utterly lost by this point) and the parking lot and street were filled with cars! It was all inside this really cool warehouse and I was not disappointed in the food!

[KaliBaby]

uuuggghhhh I'm upset I can't make this, I was really excited about meeting you all