I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank the planning committee (and all their helpers!!) for their 15 months of hard work in organizing and executing a wonderful weekend for the rest of us!

Many, many thanks to you and congratulations on a job extremely well done!

I will add my 'thanks y'all'!
Every event was amazing. Your efforts were appreciated.
The pre-gathering gathering was fun. Food and wine for everyone... not easy to do in an event that grew like kudzu.

The GTG at the Gingerbread House was spectacular, the food, the prosecco. The house itself was the perfect venue. We could have sat outside all evening. That you were able to arrange that place... the owners last event!

No one else would appreciate that the evening at the fort had to be changed at the last minute due to weather. The girls managed to pull that off- including trolley pickups for everyone. The details! Down to the centerpieces... Brilliant!

Savannah style brunch at Vic's on the River was the perfect end to the weekend. A photo tribute to and Slow Travel. (is there a way to post that?) I am glad you mentioned that those centerpieces were NOT ours for the taking. I'd a had me some tulips.

So thank you Girls! You made our weekend delightful.

I am awed and humbled to be counted as a friend to these amazing women. You ladies make me proud to be a girl. Fantastic job!

Ginger

I want to add my tuppence worth here. "They" say that if you want to get something done and get it done right, give it to the busiest people you know and it will happen.

How The Committee members managed to stage such a complicated affair, and with so many people to accommodate, is absolutely mind-boggling.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I too am in awe of how much care and planning was put into every detail of this weekend. You ladies are the best! Thank you so very much for your hours and hours of hard work and for a most wonderful weekend. And the next one is?

I wish to echo the comments of the previous posters. The Savannah GTG was an amazing weekend in a sultry, historic city. I am in awe at how you managed to pull it off and make it look so effortless. Even though I am well aware that it required considerable work and challenge on your part.

You handled every little bump i.e. tornado sightsings, venue rebookings as a result of the said tornado sighting - that came along with grace, competency, and true style. Staying in the carriage house on Washington Square allowed me to see some of the behind the scenes work that went on all weekend for the planning team.

In addition to the planning team it is appropriate to thank their families - some of who were able to be in Savannah - but those who were not as well. They clearly pitched in and helped out as needed. I can only imagine the family supports which would have been required over the last 15 months as the planning committee spent countless hours working on this fantastic event.

Thank you!

We too want to thank all of the committee members and their family members who worked to make this an event to remember. We are new members to Slow Trav and were amazed at the warm welcome by all of the veteran members and the committee. What an amazing group!
Kathy and Lou

Hear! Hear! I add my voice of thanks to the Planning Committee for making the Savannah GTG such a success.

These immensely talented women pulled off a complicated weekend of festivities with aplomb.

I am deeply grateful for their efforts on our behalf.

This will be a tough act to follow!

We had a blast and it was ALL thanks to a great planning committee and great mix of people. That was one fun and interesting group! My friends and I met so many nice people (we didn't know anyone before we got there) that I got a little choked up when I left.

I chuckle every time I picture the three us sitting on the balcony of our little house overlooking the square, listening to the choir practice in the church across the street at dusk that first night. We thought we were special but that was right before the ghost tour trolleys started arriving, pointing at the house and snapping pictures!! Talk about three wide eyed women!! What's up with that! (We later found out that we were in "orb" central!)

Those of you who heard Jeff (Lady Chablis' assistant) terrorize me about that cottage will be amused to hear that now instead of leaving a note when I stop by my friends, I just leave a dime and a penny to let them know I was there. (To those of you who weren't at the Pirate House for that entertaining lunch, well it's a loooong story.)

Someone needs to post the non x-rated stuff Jeff told us about Lady Chablis. I got me an education that day!

Paulette

We are still here!

We want to add our many thank you's for such a spectacular event, that went smoothly and from our point of view flawlessly - though of course it did have a bump or two, but you would never know it.

The hours and hours and days and nights of time that went in to this event by all is innumerable - or have you calculated it? That could be another post-event contest. I guess a gazillion

Thank you all for allowing us to all get together and have a total blast *plus.


Yesterday we went to the fort - and it would have been miserable with all that water and all those bugs. They even had "Off" cans all over to spray yourself. You were light on your feet and got it done. Brava-Brava.

Thank you again, it was wonderful to meet everyone. Pictures much later - sorry.

Yours,
Wendy and Rob

Words fail me when I remember my first GTG. What an amazing event! Thank you all for all your hard work and incredible organizational abilities. I don't know how you did it!

I'm looking forward to meeting you all again and everyone else who made the weekend so wonderful.

Kathy

Kaydee, Leslie, Jan, Sheena, Teaberry & Palma,

Randy & I thank you for all the work that each of you did to make this event come to life!
Savannah was the right choice and we were so happy we could be a part of this. We enjoyed ourselves and managed to meet and talk to about 60 of the 87 people at the 2 events we attended.
I was also pleased that the children could be included in this event and enjoyed meeting them in person.

Thanks again!
J.

To all the lovely ladies,
I too wish to echo the others writing to express my thanks for a wonderful weekend. As one of the newer members I had no idea what to expect, but I was overwhelmed by everyone's kindess and good cheer. It seems like I have been looking for "ya'all" for a long time. My love of travel, cooking and wine (as you may have witnessed Saturday night!) is matched by all the interersting and wonderful people I met in Savannah.. I look forward to many more gatherings and to welcoming you to New England when you visit my piece of heaven.
Aline

Terry, Palma, Kathy, Leslie, Jan, Sheena (and your families, and everyone else who helped out),

We can only add our heartfelt "thank you, thank you, THANK YOU" to that of the others who have already posted. Your hard work paid off, and the "Gathering 2008 in Savannah" was a truly amazing series of great events. Kudos to all for organizing and carrying out such a grand weekend plan for the ST-ers. We had a fabulous time, getting acquainted with Savannah (our first visit), seeing prior ST acquaintances again, and meeting so many other terrific ST-ers. I'm sure this will be remembered by all who attended as a landmark occasion. Congratulations on a job fantastically well done!

Hats off to you all!
KimC (and Kevin)

We have a queen, matriarch, and patriarch--what about the title "muses" for the planners? Could that be added to their various titles? Muse for inspiration, perspiration, and imagination.

thanks from the heart,
Trish

Monday night, just now arrived home from the airport. Must add my "thank you" to all the wonderful planners. Everything was so special. I was re-living so many of the moments in my head and heart while flying home. We love, love, love you guys big time and appreciate each and every thought,and detail,and months of hard work that you poured into making this event so perfect. Thank you for giving us Savannah days we all will cherish. Luv U all! Barb Cabot

Yes - THANKS to Terry, Palma, Leslie, Jan and Kathy and to Sheena - THANKS and also, we missed you!

It was obviously a tremendous amount of work and it showed. It was a great event and you all never looked nervous or seemed to break a sweat (although I know that this might have happened, we just could not tell.)

I came home completely exhausted so I can only imagine where you are all at. Take some good long naps and know that no one who was at this event will ever forget it! Because of you all.

Also, thanks to Brenda for organizing the ghost tour, everyone who helped the planning committee, and Kim for starting this thread. Oh, and a special thanks to Brad for being such a great MC.

I am coming in late here, so may I just say "ditto" to all of the above. We were thrilled to be a part of this superbly well done event.

and here I am with Joan, with the "ditto" . Coming home late last night, sitting here at work with a foggy brain, I have nothing new to add to the party, but my most heartfelt thank-you to the amazing committee (and yes, their supportive spouses and families). And also, another heartfelt thank-you to those in the Slow Travel community who added the "depth" to our weekend, with all of the "extra" planned events, right down to an impromptu Sunday dinner for 20, preceded by an impromptu cocktail party for said 20. Y'all know who you are.

And I know that should we be blessed with another opportunity for a gathering of this magnitude, it will be made possible with the wonderful notes from the inaugural committee. Kudos, thanks and a great deal of love from all of us.

What a party y'all put together, Leslie, Sheena, Jan, Kathy, Palma and my go-to chick, Terry to each of you for making your part flow seamlessly.
This was amazingly well-organized, every detail thought of and every unplanned-for surprise planned for, as witnessed by the change of venue for the Saturday night party. Good on ya, girlfriends!

quote:

Those of you who heard Jeff (Lady Chablis' assistant) terrorize me about that cottage will be amused to hear that now instead of leaving a note when I stop by my friends, I just leave a dime and a penny to let them know I was there. (To those of you who weren't at the Pirate House for that entertaining lunch, well it's a loooong story.)

Someone needs to post the non x-rated stuff Jeff told us about Lady Chablis. I got me an education that day!

His legendary tales are in one of my Savannah blog tales, soon. I'll leave you with one...

Jeff's Tall Tales #1:
In a fancy-shmancy hotel in some gorgeous city on a tour with herself, Miss Lady Chablis, Jeff was settling down finally, after taking care of every single thing he could think of for her.

Just then, out in the lobby of this stellar and stately hotel, he heard the SLAP SLAP SLAP of Chablis' high-high heels as she stomped along the lobby, each word punctuated by another SLAP, screaming, "Who d'y'all have to F%&* to get a room in this place?"
Brenda

I want to add my kudos and big THANKS to the Planning Committee for a fantastic weekend. The meticulous planning ... the flawless execution ... the special entertainment such as Ginger's terrific performance and the fabulous Slow Travel Movie ... it all resulted in such a wonderful and enjoyable event! We will all have such great memories!

And another big THANKS to everyone who planned and organized all the "extra" activities -- lunches, tours, etc. They added so much to the weekend.

And thanks to Brad for being our MC -- and producing the movie as well!

Sharon

We're home and are so glad that we decided to participate in the Savannah weekend.
I simply add our voices to the thanks offered above. Not only were the events done with good taste and flair, but with great humor and kind generosity. I'm delighted to know you wonderful creative and gracious people.
Superlatives all around!
Linda

I too am here to say a great big THANK YOU,from the bottom of my heart, to the fabulous planning committe. What an amazing week-end. We all left Savannah with a heart full of wonderful memories. You all made it look so easy, and yet none of us really know how many endless hours you spent on your own time, to make this a huge success!! Savannah,is a beautiful city, and so many wonderful sights to explore. This was my first GTG, so meeting each and everyone was so much fun, puting web names with each new face. Thank you to everyone of the ST'rs who made me feel so welcome, and added to the great atmosphere, that made this week end one for the books

Sandra

I also want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the remarkable group of ladies who put together one of the most fun weekends I've ever experienced. Jan, Terry, Linda, Palma, Kathy & Sheena (you were missed SO VERY VERY MUCH), I truly am humbled by all that you did to pull this off. Everything was perfect! Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart
I love the "Gathering Hero" designation under your names. Perfect

Your friend,

Pokey

Thank you all so, so much for these wonderful comments about the Gathering. It means so much to know that you all enjoyed yourselves-- the city, our parties, and especially each other.

And what a surprise this morning to find these little pink flowers next to our names! Thank you friends for recognizing us!

It has definitely been an interesting experience planning such a big event like this, in a city where none of us lived. Most of our group hadn't met in person before we started working together on the Gathering-- and a few met at the Gathering for the very first time. (And some of us still haven't met Sheena!) We have exchanged now close to 3500 PMs, countless e-mails but only a handful of phone calls. Most of you probably don't know that our group met once a week in the chat room for about a year. It's been a very unique way to get to know each other and work together.

But it has absolutely all been worth it-- every minute. I'm enjoying reading the posts, looking at the photos, following the blogs. And I can't wait to see everyone again soon at a GTG-- or maybe even another Gathering.

Kathy

I'd like to add my thanks, although everyone else has said it so much more eloquently. Gathering Committee, you (excuse me, y'all) did an awesome job!

I'm still here in Savannah, and still enjoying this beautiful city, but it's not quite the same knowing I won't be running into any fellow Slow Travelers.