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Great Lakes Mead Tasting

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storm1969 said:
Hey, is this only open to people in the midwest? My wife and I have been known to travel across the country for a wine/mead event. This would be much closer!
Click to expand...

As far as I'm concerned, anyone willing to make the trip is welcome... if it's at a Hotel / Rented Cabins / or public campground, if someone offers up their property to host it there may be some group size considerations that that individual (or couple) may have to impose.

Wrathwilde
 
I'm with ya there Wrathwilde. If someone wants to fly from the other side of the world for a gathering that geographicaly close folks are at they are more than welcome. Wish I could do the same.
This all boils down to a location and how many GMer's we can pack into it. If we could get the entire site there that would be great, unlikely, but great! :icon_thumright:

I think we should start nailing down a month to do this. Then start figuring out a location. I figure most touristy type areas should be able to offer all the accomedations we should need. Which should work well as long as A. its the off season or B. we have enough time to make all the reservations. So I think a month is the first place we need to decide, that gives us a better idea of a location. Plus it gives us some kind of time frame to work in. Then a day or weekend, I would imagine.

I hear what David Baldwin is saying about organizing a IMF type event. But this is how these kinds of things get started. If we would all really enjoy some sort of annual event, who knows what it could progress into. But I guess these are issues for the 3rd or 4th Great lakes mead tasting events..lol

I would be totally happy having just a one time event and meeting another real life mazer.. :toothy10:

So these kinds of things add up to me. Somewhere on the west coast of Michigan if not farther south into Illinois. I see some people are suggesting May. I favor June. I would say Memorial Day but wow what a mess that could be, half the country travelling that weekend. But I am not saying that we should rule it out. I think that once some of these questions are answered we can start to move on this idea. At least picking a time of year can help us all pick a location.
 
My vote is for spring, '07.
April = Great.
May = Okay.
June = Mosquitos.
July = Summer.

Middle to end of April is probably the best bet for weather, although it would do well to avoid Mom's Day. Not too many holidays in there, are there? Easter would be good to avoid, too.

So, there's my two pennies worth. I really could give a hoot where it ends up being. We'll drive. We'll camp. We'll camp in our car, if we have to.

Formality, I think, should follow on down the road. These sort of things always seem to start out with a "Hey, yeah! I'll do it!" and then end up with all of two people there. Let's make it informal; that'll almost assure success! The less that there is on an itenerary (i.e. - "That which can go wrong...) the better we'll all be.

Just my opinion.
 
...
So far Indian Oak Resort and Spa comes up as damn near perfect for location, reasonable rates, and an ability to handle a group our (ever increasing) size.

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Wrathwilde
 
I second Wrath's suggestion. Outside of Chicago, easy access to most of the Midwesteners, broadband (so we can get our daily GM fix ;)), and reasonable rates, and just a short drive from some northern Indiana and southern Michigan wineries (here) if people want to take a tour.

Do we have a concensus?

Angus
 
Kash, I know we're not "old buddies," yet, but I should say that we really should be...

Should I bring the 850? That is NOT a useless ability!

I could bring my dog, but he's old and REAL gun shy... He pointed a blue jay once, though. He's more of a "deer hound..." Here in the ol' Buckeye State, you're allowed to bring a dog along on the Bambi hunt, provided that the dog handler is unarmed. (Leave 'em in the truck, get 'em when you're tracking.) He's proven quite useful on multiple occasions.

Needless to say, I REALLY look forward to meeting the pointers... We'll pack the 7 1/2...

That looks like a fishing-friendly resort. Have to bring some poles, too...
 
Cherry Mel, Peach Mel, and of course, some JAO. :cheers:

By the way, any way we could possibly make this the Great Lakes Mead Tasting and GM Fundraiser? Perhaps raffle off some meads, equipment, autographed "Compleat Meadmaker" (Ken, if you don't mind). I could also pick up a number of 5 gallon pails of honey (varietals to be decided based on availability) for approx $1.25/lb. I could sell it for $1.75/lb (still cheaper than most sources I have heard of) and the proceeds would go to GM. Any other ideas?

Angus
 
Depends whats ready, but certainly my Elderberry mead/port. Maybe some orange blossom mead, vanilla mead or perhaps some strawberry mead. I would probably bring a bottle or two of wine also.

Brian
 
Oh! If you have it in June, I might be able to attend! I usually go home in the latter half of June to visit my folks in Manistee (about 3 hours north of GR).

I've got a cinnamon-peach, a raspberry zin, and should have an orange blossom and possibly a pina-colada (pineapple, orange blossom honey and coconut) by then, plus cordials of various stripes......and can bring some interesting commercial meads for a tasting party for the review board....

Vicky - hoping this happens while I'm in state......
 
Hey all!

I've been waiting for something like this! :toothy10:
The place looks great-- (and even Ican afford it) no promises yet, but I'll keep an eye on what my schedule looks like as we get closer. After all this is still in it's formitive stages.

I dont hava a lot ready right now...my dry cherry mel, and it will be interesting to see what the dry cherry vanilla is doing by then.

I'd be arriving from Minneapolis--is there possibillity for a car pool out of the twin cities?
 
Vicky, Having missed you last year I hope we can connect this year.

I'll be booked with Mayfaire the last two weekends in May and then the Derbyshire Rennaisance Faire the last two weekends in June.

David Baldwin
 
We'll plan on it, David. I'm planning to set aside quite a bit more budget cash over the next several months for my trip up, as I want to make the trip to Canada to visit that meadery too.
 
Some serious planning going on. Looks to be some event. I thought I read somewhere that the door might be left open for some of us in the OH/PA/WV area. If thats the case, I will watch the thread for the date you all pick.
 
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