ZU Meet-up Extravaganza: Let's get this thing going!

Would most definitely want to be a part of this -- perhaps even help organise, although I will be extremely busy over the next few months with GCSE stuffz, so I guess that wouldn't be the best idea. xD Since Asia was originally planning the whole UK meetup, is this leaving us short of people to organise UK ones as the main staff who would be organising are mainly in the US?

Since Asia was originally planning the whole UK meetup, is this leaving us short of people to organise UK ones as the main staff who would be organising are mainly in the US?

Each meet-up needs it's own staff. Really. Or, at the very least, it's own planning thread.

Current residence for myself is in South Wales, UK. Any meets near here.

If you had bothered to read the first post, you'd see that there will be a meet-up in the UK. From the look of it, the top three choices for it are currently London, Birmingham, or Manchester. (I have no idea where any of these are.) But if you want a say, go put in a vote in the UK's planning thread.

MY MUCH-PROCRASTINATED RESPONSE OF DOOM HAS ARRIVED!

I propose we set a date far into the future. Reasoning:
A) This is going to take a LONG time to plan. People will have to plan for transportation, and will therefore need to save up money. Plus, if the idea is to get us to ALL meet up on, like, skype or something, it adds to the confusion.

First of all, we need to figure out WHAT exactly will happen when we all meet up at the same time. Only then, can we plan a date that works around so many peoples' schedules.

B) Reason two: SoCal meetup is underway for June. We have some people flying in from CANADA! If we were to do this meetup in that short of time, we'd have to find ways to accomodate everyone who's going out of their way for the SoCal meetup.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Dog Dog 123

You'll really take over? YAY! (I know I'd do a terrible job if I was left in charge.)

Aye, I suppose I've taken over this ship, but you can be my first mate! Woo!

That would be fun. The only concern there is that if people are traveling at all to get to the meet-up, it would be mean to make them fly there twice in such a short time.

Which is one of the issues. We'd have to plan both meetups within, like, a week of each other, and this project needs way more flexibility.

A big theme from the Idea Thread was to have them all on the same day. Then connect the various places through a video chat of some sort. It sounded like a really cool thing to do. I dunno. It would be fun to stick to that if we could I think, but if we can't then we can't.

Another issue we have to address. How the heck are we going to manage that with timezones? (PST always gets the short end of the stick. >=[ )

Question of the day: How many characters of a thread title are shown on the forum index before it cuts off? Because it all the threads start with [ZU Meet-Up Extravaganza], and then cut off, we can't tell the threads apart when scrolling down the board.

No idea! We can just have them all start with [Extravaganza!] to keep it simple.

Anyways, of course we're going to split it up. The first step is to figure out who's leading what.

(And for that stage of planning, I think I'll just hide under my desk and watch.)

Okay, I'll take care of that one. XD

EDIT: On the topic of dates, we're look at June 19/20? Hmm. Out of those two, the 20th is definitely better. It's a Saturday. So anyone who's school is still going should be off for the weekend. Which, in my mind, seems like a better thing to do then putting it on a Friday.

SoCal is either going to happen on the 15th, 19th, or 20th. >____> And I doubt anyone will want to bring a laptop to Six Flags. XD Unless we just merge SoCal with the Extravaganza!, but I'm less fond of that idea.

But no dates are final yet. We have... 5 people who know this thread exists?

EDIT 2: Hmm... I'm bored. Time to be annoying and PM everyone from the idea thread about this.

You're good at the mass PM thing. =P

Originally Posted by Duo

http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/...hp?groupid=586

I've been the main organizer of the Toronto meetup since Asia proposed the original idea. And yes, there are definitely enough people to make it work.

Alright. Consider yourself the head of the Toronto region. Although, I know BJ brought up a thread about it earlier, so you better check with her.

As for suggestions: Dunno how well the webcam thing will work. We will all be in different time zones, so many of the meetups won't be able to correspond with each other. And have x amount of people all talking over webcam at once will be extremely hectic. Not to mention that lugging a laptop around for an entire meetup can't be the most fun thing in the world.

Agree with EVERYTHING!

Although, maybe it'd be cool if after the meetup, we make one big thread in GCC where everyone posts their pictures from the huge meetup or something. That might make it WAY easier. We need SOMEthing we can all do at the same time, and I don't know what.

OH!

Maybe somebody can make something, like, gigantic puzzle pieces- one for each meetup taking place. Then each meetup MUST take a group picture with the puzzle piece in the center. After all the meetups, the leader for each meetup can send the group picture with their puzzle piece back to the puzzle designer (who might want to number them or something for ease). After the designer gets each picture back, they can re-arrange the puzzle and post it for all of ZU to see.

OOH, and they can make it, like, black and white, so that each meetup group gets to colour their piece together.

HOLY CRAP, I LOVE THAT IDEA! XDDD

And July/August please. No June.

Why it might be easier to do it in, say, 2010. =P

Originally Posted by Nickybo

I'm from Melbourne, Sabbo. So a second Australian meet-up location would be handy.

I think it'd be much easier if we made as many meetups as necessary. If it'd be easier (in some situations) to have many smaller meetups versus a few large ones, then we might as well..

Originally Posted by Citizen Snips

Don't forget about the mid-west USA! Chicago is defiantly the place for a mid-west meet up. I'm sure I'd be able to make it now that I'm old enough. About hosting it, I'm not sure. I could "lead" it, but giving people a place to sleep is out of the question...

Hopefully Asci can do something like last time.

Chicago works! Huge city. Like the idea. =)

Originally Posted by CurryMonster

I'm going to have to drop out. I just got engaged and I haven't got any money, so I can't really afford to be globetrotting any time soon. Sorry.

Hi, I don't know you, but CONGRATULATIONS! =3333 *hug*

Originally Posted by Hombre de Mundo

I'm gonna be in LA for 1-2 weeks around the 20th-ish...

Where would the SoCal meetup take place, exactly?

SoCal meetup is underway for Either 15th, 19th, or 20th June at Six Flags in Valencia. Check the thread for more details. =)

Originally Posted by Chukapi

Would most definitely want to be a part of this -- perhaps even help organise, although I will be extremely busy over the next few months with GCSE stuffz, so I guess that wouldn't be the best idea. xD Since Asia was originally planning the whole UK meetup, is this leaving us short of people to organise UK ones as the main staff who would be organising are mainly in the US?

Asia is of course the heart of the UK meetup and the whole Extravaganza! project. With her absense, we definitely need somebody trustworthy to step up and oversee the UK portion of the Extravaganza!.

Rest assured, you all won't be left out. This is a world wide meetup anyhow. ;D

Aye, I suppose I've taken over this ship, but you can be my first mate! Woo!

Yay!

I propose we set a date far into the future.

I propose we pick a date that's still within this year. I understand this will take planning, and that there's a lot to think through. However, interest dies over time. I think I had three or four people who said they were interested a few months ago PM me and say they couldn't do it anymore. If we start planning something like this over a year before it happens, we're going to have issues. People move. People come and go from this site. People forget about projects. If we try to collect everyone for the meet-up some insane time in advance, only half of them will be able to do it in the end.

I mean, let's say we did pick August 2009 to do this. That's still... Oh, wait. I'm bad with dates too. Uh... April... May... June... July... August. Ah, there it is. That's at least 3 months. Which doesn't seem like too unreasonable an amount of time for planning.

Another issue we have to address. How the heck are we going to manage that with timezones? (PST always gets the short end of the stick. >=[ )

Try the Australians. Lunchtime on the East Coast is midnight over there.

Maybe somebody can make something, like, gigantic puzzle pieces- one for each meetup taking place. Then each meetup MUST take a group picture with the puzzle piece in the center. After all the meetups, the leader for each meetup can send the group picture with their puzzle piece back to the puzzle designer (who might want to number them or something for ease). After the designer gets each picture back, they can re-arrange the puzzle and post it for all of ZU to see.

I read through this paragraph three times. I think I'm starting to understand it.

So what you're saying is maybe have someone draw on paper and cut out a puzzle piece. Then take it with to the meet-up. Then get a group picture with someone holding the paper piece. Right?

Or are you saying we should take all the pictures from the meet-up and turn them into a great big puzzle?

I think it'd be much easier if we made as many meetups as necessary. If it'd be easier (in some situations) to have many smaller meetups versus a few large ones, then we might as well..

Great. Maryland meet-up! Me and Aly can be a two person team, despite seeing each other every day at school! Really, even if we break it down into more groups, how small can we go before there's only three people at each one?

Originally Posted by Dog Dog 123

Yay!


I propose we pick a date that's still within this year. I understand this will take planning, and that there's a lot to think through. However, interest dies over time. I think I had three or four people who said they were interested a few months ago PM me and say they couldn't do it anymore. If we start planning something like this over a year before it happens, we're going to have issues. People move. People come and go from this site. People forget about projects. If we try to collect everyone for the meet-up some insane time in advance, only half of them will be able to do it in the end.

I mean, let's say we did pick August 2009 to do this. That's still... Oh, wait. I'm bad with dates too. Uh... April... May... June... July... August. Ah, there it is. That's at least 3 months. Which doesn't seem like too unreasonable an amount of time for planning.

Understandable. It won't conflict with my meet up then. But then I have a conflict for August. XD (Planning a trip to Oklahoma sometime that month to visit future in-laws)

Try the Australians. Lunchtime on the East Coast is midnight over there.

Yeah, but then you get people like Nathan representing the country, and he's nocturnal! (<3)

I read through this paragraph three times. I think I'm starting to understand it.

So what you're saying is maybe have someone draw on paper and cut out a puzzle piece. Then take it with to the meet-up. Then get a group picture with someone holding the paper piece. Right?

Or are you saying we should take all the pictures from the meet-up and turn them into a great big puzzle?

The idea came to me as I wrote it, so let me try to clarify:

Before the meetups take place, someone will be designated as the Puzzle Designer. That person will make a puzzle (essentially). The puzzle will contain one piece for each meetup.

For instance, say we have 9 meetups. The Puzzle Designer will make 9 pieces, which add up to one big picture. (Like, they sketch out the image on your typicall 8.5x11" paper, scan it, everyone says "OooOOh, AaaAAaah!", divide the picture into 9 different squares, and blow each one up to 8.5x11". The Puzzle Designer will then e-mail or pm the leader of each meetup a link to their puzzle piece. Every leader then prints out their puzzle piece and brings it to the meetup.

(A fun twist would be to make the picture colouring-book-style so that everyone can colour their puzzle piece at the meetup)

So, each meetup takes place, and the leader has the puzzle piece. They go to a fun location, and take a group picture with their puzzle piece in the middle. After all the meetups have happened, the leader (or someone else from the meetup) will PM, e-mail, etc the Puzzle Designer their group's picture with the puzzle piece.

The Puzzle Designer then puts the puzzle back together- that is, places the group pictures in order according to the puzzle piece they feature. Finally, Puzzle Designer can share his/her masterpiece with all of ZU!

(So, basically, the final picture in this example, would be the original image, but split into 9, and each of the nine segments is held by one each of the meetups)

Wow, this sounds WAY more complicated than it is. It totally makes easy and perfect sense in my head. >____>

Great. Maryland meet-up! Me and Aly can be a two person team, despite seeing each other every day at school! Really, even if we break it down into more groups, how small can we go before there's only three people at each one?

I don't know. I guess the problem is just that there are so many members who really have a hard time traveling a distance, so it might be more convenient.

Can't just all of you come to sweden?

I'll be handing out hugs and cookies; isn't it worth it? :3:3:3

Originally Posted by Kasuto

Yeah, but then you get people like Nathan representing the country, and he's nocturnal! (<3)

And then there's the theoretical Melbourne (and possibly Perth) meet-up/s, on top of Brisbane where Cambria lives.

And I'm only kinda nocturnal.

I'd go if it's the usual crowd, most of them have left though .

Nothing against other Brits wanting to meet but it just wouldn't be the same for me...

Okay okay! RESURRECTION!

We have some business to cover:

• WHEN will this take place?
• HOW MANY people would like to participate?
• HOW MANY locations should be held?
• WHERE will each meet up take place?
• DOES anybody like my puzzle idea? =3 LETS DO IT ANYWAYS! >=D
• WHO will "lead" each group?/ WHO will make the puzzle?

SO LETS TACKLE THEM ONE BY ONE! =D

Rather then tackling problems, let's just start getting random input from everyone!

WHEN will this take place? I vote for August. I think it would be enough time to plan this.

HOW MANY people would like to participate? At least 3. I guess we'll work it out after figuring out who's leading them and where they are?

HOW MANY locations should be held? As few as possible. I still vote for East Coast, West Coast, Australia, UK, and Canada. But that might be too spread out for most people. Either way, it won't be nearly as fun if there are only two or three people at each location. The biggest problem is that people need to learn to compromise. Not everyone can have a meet-up five minutes away from them for this to work.

WHERE will each meet up take place? Isn't that the same question?

DOES anybody like my puzzle idea? =3 LETS DO IT ANYWAYS! >=D I like your puzzle idea.

WHO will "lead" each group?/ WHO will make the puzzle? I say we shouldn't focus too much on the puzzle right now. That'll be easy enough to do later. But leading each group, well, first we need to figure out the (general) areas of each meet-up.

We need somebody to step forward for each meetup location and volunteer to organize it. We've asked generally, but we should narrow down who we think would be attending each particular meetup for sure, and ask if they want to lead it. Once that is settled, we can work on the other logistics.

We need somebody to step forward for each meetup location and volunteer to organize it. We've asked generally, but we should narrow down who we think would be attending each particular meetup for sure, and ask if they want to lead it. Once that is settled, we can work on the other logistics.

But before we figure out who's planning each piece, don't we need to get the general locations worked out? Like, how many spots in Europe?

Kim, are you leading a meetup?

And Eve, are you planning on leading one? (Or shall you skip out, due to the SoCal one?)

That would cover the East and West of the States. I'm currently trying to get Nathan (Cambria) to lead an Aussie meetup (there is a possibility of more than one meetup there).

I've got Toronto (which is pretty much the only Canadian city with enough ZUers to make a meetup work), and nobody of the UKers seems to have stepped forward to be a leader yet.

Kim, are you leading a meetup?

I'd be awful at it. And the chances of me actually going aren't that good. And I suck at geography. But if no one else wants to lead it, sure. I'll take over. Until someone else declares me too hopeless.

Does that mean we're just sticking with the 5 general locations?

There's several ZUers in Sweden, as well as the Netherlands, so meetups could be held in those two countries (they are close enough together to do a combined meetup though). And other ZUers in the surrounding countries may be able to get in on that too (Germany, Norway).

Other than that though, I can't see there being enough ZUers in any region of the globe to do a successful meetup.

Hey Duo, is your link to the Toronto Meetup group broken too, or is that just me?

Yeah, it takes me to the Jason Fanclub wtf?

I'll remake the group =\

Well, I think knowing how many people want to participate will help determine how many meetups we should have.

Yes, I will organize the Western/Southwestern US meetup. It's not too scary now that I've got SoCal underway. =3

Or we can start with a few and add more if need be. The leaders need to be committed to the cause!

http://www.frappr.com/?a=constellati...d=137440695348

Looking at the map (which is incomplete), there should be enough Australians near each other for about 3-4 different meetups.

Queensland: Jema, Cambria, Pani, Bex are marked on the map. I know there's more around though - I think skate_mate lives there

NSW: Holly, EA and Trinest are marked on there. Also I should be visiting there in the near future. :3

Melbourne: Nickybo and Viral are marked on the map, but there are more like Sabbo

Perth: Pani is going there to meet Jodd, and Chibimoon is also there

In the case of Australia, it's huge and sparsely populated so having one big central meetup would be a pain. There can just be meetups of 4 or so people centered around each major city.

It's sparsely populated, but it would be much more worthwhile if we can centralise the meet/s as much as possible, since no one group really has all that many people. It shouldn't be too hard to narrow it down to at least two groups, flights are dirt cheap these days (I can particularly see Melbourne and Sydney joining up, $39 flights lols. Edit: Jetstar's holding a 2-for-the-price-of-1 sale at the moment, if people are willing to book early).

As for people not mentioned there: Alex, Natalie and Kim are in Melbourne, Hylian Z is in NSW up Bathurst way, and JemaKnight, Spork and Eijiro are in QLD somewhere.



I'm willing to head up something for Australia as long as this doesn't happen during July. Sometime during August or September is best for me.