Fellow Slow Travelers,

We would first like to thank all of you for the abundance of responses and warm reception to the objectives and general criteria that our team outlined here for the Great Slow Travel Gathering 2008. It's good to know that we're on the right track!

Today we are presenting our on-line survey, where you can indicate your specific choices about when and where the Gathering should occur, and the type of venue. We are also asking for some demographic information to help us with initial planning. This is YOUR opportunity to tell us what YOU think.

The decision of which locations to present as “finalists” has been the most difficult one for our team, as so many wonderful locations have been suggested. Although there are many potential locations in the south where the Gathering could be held we narrowed it down to four options per the criteria described in our earlier post. For this initial Gathering decision, we have included two locations on the western side of the continent and two locations on the eastern side. We have included two larger cities, one small city and a rural location. Two locations are in the mountains and two are on the coast. We believe we are offering some variety for consideration, and also believe that we can have successful Gatherings in each of these locations.

The choices for your consideration for the 2008 Gathering are:

• San Diego, Calfornia
• Savannah, Georgia
• The Smoky Mountains (North Carolina or Tennessee)
• Tucson, Arizona

Some of you may not be familiar with all the locations, so we have posted short overviews to give you more information about what this area has to offer. Please use the links to access these overviews. (Note: These posts will be up and the links activated within the hour.)

We would also like to add that we view the Slow Travel Gathering as a great event, one that can hopefully take place on an annual basis, and in a new location every year. It can potentially be rotated between the two sides of the continent. Remember that if a location you suggested or that you prefer is not selected for this Gathering, it can definitely considered for future years together.

Each question includes ample space for you to add comments about your answer. Explanations and rationales are instructive to us, and we welcome your thoughts and ideas. The open text boxes on the survey are the place to do it. Please do not make your comments on the message board.

If you are interested in possibly participating in this first Gathering, we hope you will take the time to complete the survey. (And if you really are not interested, please don’t fill out a survey. We want to make decisions based on input only from those members who are considering attending.) You may complete the survey only once. It will be available online until November 30, 2006, and we will share the results in early December. Then we can begin our more serious planning, involving other Slow Travelers who would like to help make this first Gathering a real success.

Please contact Kathy Wood (kaydee) via private message or e-mail (e-mail address in her profile) if you have any questions about the survey or any problems taking the survey.

Now follow this link to the survey! The Great Slow Travel Gathering - 2008 Survey

(Posted by Kaydee for the team): Leslie Erickson, Kaydee, Sheena and Teaberry