Thoughts on CMFM '04

[lionkingcmsl]

Well, pandaguy and quentincoyote add asked that CMFM become a two day event. Also PandaGuy had asked about possible fursuiting activities.

After entering my last post I headed down to the railroad to some things and on the way down I did some thinking.

It would be possible to make CMFM a two day affair. The first day, Saturday, would be what we do now: Zoo - train- Cape May City and return. The second day, Sunday would go as follows:
Meet up once again at the 4-H Fairgrounds at 9;00a or so.
Take the train to Cold Spring
Transfer to a bus and head to Wildwood. There are arcades, amusement piers and shops galore. ;=3
After spending the day we meet for dinner if the group wishes, or head directly back to the bus.
After that reverse the trip to get back to the Fairgrounds.

Here is the caveat though, if I make this a two day meet, then those that want to go to Wildwood would have to pay ~$10 each for the bus(es), extra train rental and permit(s) for the bus(es). I have to ask if this would be worth the cost.
I'm willing to set up the restaurant, train and bus(es), but I won't be able to absorb the costs.

Let me know how you feel about it.


Now to the fursuiting.

If you want to fursuit in Cape May, then I believe you could change in the train and leave everything there. We lock the train as a matter of course so things would be secured.
If you want to fursuit at the zoo, then I would have to talk to the zoo admins to see if I could get an area where you could change. As much as I would love to fursuit, I can't due to my obligations as meet coordinator. :=/

Again, I need your input to where you would like to fursuit so I can start to make the necessary contacts and arrangements.

Comments

[pandaguy.livejournal.com]

I think that it sounds like a good start to a plan so far. Keep the Saturday part of the meet prettty much as is, and add Sunday for those who want it. People who can't/aren't interested can split Saturday night. Don;t make it overly complex, or "over-planned". I have found this works best with large groups of furs. Present oppertunities, and see what folks want to do. Avoid financial risks by getting the fees ahead of time, if at all possible.

As for Sunday, well, do we really *need* a bus? I guess it might be interesting to see how the costs work out. Is there an advantage to having a bus? It seems that most of us go there in some sort of vehicle, and there were extra seats in cars for those who didn't? Then again, is parking an issue? $10 for a bus may be much cheaper than parking for the day at Wildwood?

As for fursuiting, I'd love to do it at the zoo. I have found that the smaller zoos are all for it (as long as it is worked out in advance), but often the larger ones aren't interested in the complications. The hitch becomes having a place to change and rest. Depending on the weather, some of us may need to take breaks, or cannot spend the whole time in suit. Of course, if the weather is as cool as it was this year, I could probably stay in suit quite a while! Assuming similar weather, a big van or RV would do, or even a good sized tent, if the zoo gave us some place we could set it up.

Suiting in Cape May itself would also require coordination with the local authorities -- at least I have found that people can be quite paranoid if strangers in masks wandering around, unless it is quite obvious they have a real purpose for being there, i.e. -- were sponsored by the town, a local store, a known charity, etc. And agian, a place to change and take breaks would need to be arranged. I don;t think I could change in the train, and then spend 3-4 hours walking around in suit without a break. Know anyone with a big RV?

Oh, and there is another thing to consider -- Saturday night. if people are staying over for Sunday, then perhaps there is something that can be done Saturday night. A group dinner? Fursuit bowling? A group movie run?

I know that the plans for Ocean City Doo Dah Parade next year include getting one or more large suites at a common hotel so we can be social in the evenings, and the hotels, it being off season, have made some attractive discount offers to us. Perhaps something like that could happen at CMFM if it went to two days?

[lowen-kind.livejournal.com]

I agree to keep it simple.

I figure the bus would be cheaper in the long run. The parking rates can be horrendous. I will check the ratres tomorrow. Not only does taking the bus save on parking fees, but it also saves furs from getting lost, fighting the nightmare of traffic that can be Wildwood and saving on frayed nerves.

As for a "large" hotel, i don't believe there is one around, but I will check.

A Saturday night get together sounds ideal, but i know of no place that could handle us. I'll have to do more scouting around, but there isn't much to do on the "mainland". :=/

With fursuiting with the train in Cape May, it would be set up that you could go back in if you needed to. I would make sure that the fursuiter, or handler, would have a key to the train.

I understand what you mean about cities being paranoid about fursuiters running around that aren't part of something.

I'll contact the zoo and see what they say. I was telling Smrgol that they could even work the fursuiters' appearance in as an attraction if they so wished. I mean how many zoos can get fursuiters to show up for nothing.

I feel it would be a win - win for both fursuiter and zoo, and all the zoo has to do is provide a space to change and to keep personal effects secure.

I still have a year plus to work this out, so there will be updates when things occur.

[pandaguy.livejournal.com]

You are right about the bus keeping us together!

If not a hotel suite, how about a beach house? It's still a bit early in the season, maybe we can get a deal on one? I'm not saying *everyone* would stay there, but it could be a central meeting spot for things like a Saturday evening event. Maybe even just have a pizza party and watch movies or something at a beach house Saturday night?

I know this year, someone mentioned that we couldnt leave stuff on the train, but if we could use the train to change/store fursuits in, it would sure help. Maybe the Cape May Teddy Bear Co. would like a few bears hanging around outside even?

I really like the idea of working something out with the zoo. Some zoos have educational programs where they teach groups about the animals, and use their mascots as visual aids. Maybe we could even do someting like that.

[lowen-kind.livejournal.com]

Who said you couldn't leave stuff on the train?

If there is ever a question regarding policies with the CMFM, or CMSL, seek me out and ask me.

It would have been okay to leave stuf on the train. In fact I had left stuff in there myself.

[torakiyoshi.livejournal.com]

Personally, I just think it's crazy that there's an amusement park in NJ called Wildwood. See, the closest park to here is about fifteen miles north of Cour d'Alene, ID, called Wildwood. To quote King Louie, Cuh-raaaaay-zy!

[lowen-kind.livejournal.com]

TK,

Wildwood is not an amusement park it is the name of a city.

Wildwood is a ocean front city that has many amusement piers and arcades.

There are actually four towns/cities that usae the name "Wildwood" in their name.

From north to south, west to east,as positioned on "Five Mile Island":

North Wildwood
West Wildwood - Wildwood
Wildwood Crest

To the west of the "Wildwods you have the "back bay of "Grassy Sound, and to the east you have the Atlantic Ocean.

Wildwood itself is famous for it'sd very large beaches. While most of New Jersey's beaches are "eroding" away, Wildwood's beach is getting larger. It is about a 1/4 mile walk from the boardwalk to the ocean at high tide. :=0
It has gotten so bed that they actually have shuttle trams to fdery people from the boardwalk to the ocean. :=/

To find out more about the Wildwoods, go to www.wildwoods.com (www.wildwoods.com).

This concludes the commercial for the "Wildwoods". ;=3P

[quentincoyote.livejournal.com]

I think it all sounds like a very good preliminary plan, and I would personally be all for it. I don't think the small extra fees for Sunday and such would be any significant problem.

Also, I really like Pandaguy's suggestion of a beach house - that would be awesome! :) Not necessary though, if it proved to add too much complication. Basically, pretty much how you outlined it sounds perfectly great to me.

Q.

Beach houses

[lowen-kind.livejournal.com]

Quentin & PandaGuy,

Although a beach house would be a nifty idea, the costs would be way out of an "official" CMFM expense.

I'll have to check, but a beach house, if available, would be at least $500, and probably closer to $1000 for a weekend.

I'll look into it for you, but don't expect it to be part of CMFM anytime soon. :=/

Cost of beach houses

[lowen-kind.livejournal.com]

For those interested in beach houses.

I got in touch with a realtor in Wildwood.

He has a house that would fit your needs.

It sleeps 15+ people, but here is the kicker, it will run between $3500 and $4000 for the weekend.

If you wish to persue this further let me know and I'll make the pre-arrangements for you.

Anyone who wishes to rent the beach house will have to understand that the CMFM, or I (LionkingCMSL), cannot, and will not, assume any responsibilty for the costs, activities of the rental of a beach house.

[zenwolph.livejournal.com]

Did you catch what they consider a weekend? Is that Friday night to Sunday afternoon?

pandaguy and I got a hotel room for both those nights this year, and it was completely worth it. The only BIG downside I forsee, with the beach home, is bathing. I can't imagine a group of 15 getting up early enough to shower and meet at the fairgrounds by 9:00am. It would also be rather pricey, even with 15 in there. ($267.00 each, with a group of 15, assuming that the price was $4000.00) Yikes! Too rich for my blood, I fold. I think that I'll just share a hotel room again next year. :)