MoM 2021

[kristoff]

Is anyone interested in holding another Meeting of Members (MoM) this summer? Hopefully by mid-sommer most people should be vaccinated, relieving that concern. Aside from interest, about which time/dates would you prefer?

[romuluso (imported)]

Just came here today for info about the MoM. I’m interested. For the first time in years I should actually be able to afford it.

[T van Keel (imported)]

It might be interestig to meet some of you some day in the future, but this year I won't attend a MoM. The travel isn't affordable for me at the moment and I also doubt that covid will disappear until this summer, so intercontinental travel wouldn't be a bright idea.

[evolve (imported)]

It might be interestig to meet some of you some day in the future, but this year I won't attend a MoM. The travel isn't affordable for me at the moment and I also doubt that covid will disappear until this summer, so intercontinental travel wouldn't be a bright idea.

Depending on when the event is held( early fall works best), I might be able to attend. Either way, I look forward to meeting you all in the future.

[eunuchjeff (imported)]

I've never been, but am interested. A primary issue with me is just timing. I'm as far west and north as one can be - except Alaska. I might travel to the northeast US for family reasons in late September. So sometime around then would be best.

[NovaMike (imported)]

I would be interested if it was a convenient time or place, but wouldn't travel somewhere just for a Eunuch Archive meeting. It should be held during something like the Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend where people are already planning to attend the event.

[Losethem (imported)]

I would be interested if it was a convenient time or place, but wouldn't travel somewhere just for a Eunuch Archive meeting. It should be held during something like the Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend where people are already planning to attend the event.

My apologies, I'm going to rant a bit here...

NovaMike just highlighted the problem with organizing these kinds of events. I'll be polite as possible with the rest of this message, but that kind of suggestion I've found a bit annoying over the years when I've organized such things. Now this may not apply to the MOM, but I will state why the suggestion is difficult to take into consideration below. MOM is quite a different meeting than the events I plan, so being in the area of the Twin Cities, MN, is not so unreasonable. They have their own valid reasons for hosting MOM there.

As for those I organize, they generally are not meant to be competitive to MOM. However, when I've announced or sent invitations, I get lots of interest, lots of people saying, "Sure, I'll go...", but when they find out I will not be hosting an event in their literal back yard, they back out. Put another way, the demand they give me as a host is, I hold it where it's most convenient to that person. Well, where that person lives is often not a convenient area to host such an event, nor make it appealing to others to attend.

MAL happens in Washington, DC. You live in that area... You pretty much said, without saying it, "If you host it where I live, I'll attend. Otherwise I won't attend..." The hosts can't please everyone, but when I've organized these things, I've tried to take into consideration what would draw folks.

Though there are more eunuchs and nullos around seemingly every day, we're still a small group. So if the offer comes up where someone is trying to organize something, and you cannot attend, telling the organizers something like you did discourages them from making an effort to do so in the future. Often I see it and wonder why I'd bother.

For what it is worth, the two events I arranged I took into consideration not everyone lives in the eastern US or the western US, and split the locations holding one east and one west. I also held them in one case, several hours drive from my own home, and the other required me to fly to the location. I held one in Palm Springs, CA and the next in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. When we're done with COVID I might consider another one. There are very specific requirements for the place I'd hold it, and I'll just say DC isn't under consideration for that reason. At this point I won't reveal what those things I look for in the venue are, but I will say I've been asked by one potential attendee in the past to host it in the midwest, Kansas I think, and I about had to go to the hospital to get my sides repaired from splitting open at the amount laughing I did at the suggestion. Geeze, if I couldn't organize it in a random major city because people wouldn't travel there, seriously, they think I can get people to Kansas?!?!?!?!? The only appealing thing about Kansas, is it's is a mid-point in the USA, and having been to Kansas myself, I'd have to say that's the only appealing thing.

Put another way, when I arrange something I try to plan it for a venue which will gather the largest amount of guys like us, and will not have a problem hosting it at their facility. The logistics of pulling such off are often difficult. So while I listen to suggestions, my drive in selecting a location will always be the one I feel will have the best ability to draw people inside of the parameters of receiving the invitation. At that, the gatherings have been small, enough for us to all go out and have dinner together, usually. I think it's more because the places who will host us, tend to be a bit pricey with getting there, having a room, etc. You have to plan for many days, and the expense of that. A lot of folks get unintentionally excluded because of price alone. But I suppose the same happens for getting their surgeries in a legitimate way... it's expensive.

As I've been contemplating my next event, I've asked some trusted folks where they think would be a good place. I'll be honest, none of the 10 or so I asked said DC, but at the same time, none of those suggested something off the wall like Kansas.

I now return us to all things MOM.

[cutnbulls2ox (imported)]

I say some kind words for Kansas. I love traveling in Kansas. Kansas has some mighty fine men, some great scenery like the Flint Hills and wide open spaces, and VERY friendly and hot men in some bars in Kansas City, Kansas. Just saying, lots of men working livestock there who are into castrating. But its not a magnet for gay tourism.

I thank and applaud all efforts to get the EA members together in social contact. Hosting events is a challenge for the very kind and generous people who do that tough job. .

[kristoff]

The plan for now would be to host this in the Minneapolis / St Paul area of Minnesota, and in a neighboring town across the border in Wisconsin. I personally am looking for the end of August (the week before Labor Day), coinciding with the Minnesota State Fair. I am certainly open to other dates, as well. It would likely past most of the Covid stuff, near the end of summer, lots of motel/hotel space, etc.

[cutnbulls2ox (imported)]

That Minnesota State Fair gets around one million visitors each year and has really great man watching every day with around 100,000 people per day coming thru. Better than much of any gay resort could generate daily.