Marlene, it's no problem at all.

Hey Boston people:

Who wants to help me design a Slow Travel name badge?

I want to make name tags for the GTG but I don't want to just use stickers. During the holidays, one of our neighbors handmade wonderful personalized pins for a gathering she hosted. That made me think about what we could do at Slow Travel.

There's nothing on Slow Travel Stuff, but wouldn't a Slow Travel name tag that could be reused be a good idea? Especially with the big GTG coming up next year.

(They could even be designed with stars or flags or something to indicate how many GTG's one has attended...Ok, maybe I'm getting carried away. )

Any feedback?

Bill

Hi Bill,

It sounds like you're putting together a fabulous GTG and we'd love to join you. It would be great to catch up with old friends and meet new travelers.

Ken & Jo-Ann
N. Andover

Just checking back in with an updated list of potential attendees and what some have offered to bring. So far we have:

FriendofFiesole
Amy & Larry (wine, stuffed dates, cheesecake..yum!)
Roz & Mike (something from their upcoming Italy trip)
Brenda & Jeremy (beer, wine; veggie tart)
Mindy & Debbie
Colleen & Jim (salad, bread, prosecco & wine)
Maureen
Dorothy
French Fries
Terry (maybe?)
Joanel & Herb (wine, vegetable salad)
Neil (maybe?)
Marlene
SuzanneF(cheeses; wine)
Ken & Jo-Ann (sausages with roasted potatoes, peppers, and onions; wine)
Mark & Bill
Nancy & Desi
Linda & Stephen
Beth & Abe
Karen & Bob
Vindesante and Paul(entree, wine)
Tom and Helen
Chuck and Elaine

Maybe it's still a little soon to get a firm head count but I would like to hear from definites with names and number of attendees. It's time to start making name tags!

It would be good if everyone would plan on bringing a beverage of choice (I assume with this group it might be wine ...should we alert the recycle company?) plus one side, salad or dessert. I'll post periodic updates so everyone can see what's on the menu.

We would like to prepare for special requirements in the main dishes. Please advise (by PM if you prefer) of any food allergies or strong preferences so that we can make sure there's something that everyone can enjoy.

Let's have responses no later than March 15th (I know that seems like a long way off, but it will be here way before we're ready for it), after which we'll send emails with address, directions and contact information.

Bill

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Amy,

I'm afraid you'll have to put me on the "Maybe" list for now, but I'll let you know as soon as my plans get clearer. Here's hoping!

William,

Jo-Ann would like to make an Italian dish of garlic/provolone cheese sausages with roasted potatoes, peppers, and onions--yum. We will also bring some red wine. Let us know if this is okay.

Bill, as people post what they're bringing, I'll add it to your post above. (I'll be in Israel Feb 14-26, so perhaps Maureen can do this during that period)

Hi Bill, Thank you for hosting. We would love to meet you and see familiar faces as well as new ones. Paul and I would be happy to contribute an entree (and we'll bring some vino of course).

Amy,

Thank you so much! I thought I would just post an update periodically...you moderators rock!

Hi Vindesante, happy to hear that you will be able to come...we'll add you and Paul to the list.

and Ken, Jo-Ann's dish sounds great!

I'd like to offer to bring some assorted cheeses from Paula Lambert's Mozzarella Company in Dallas. I hesitate to offer to cook something for this GTG since I would be at the mercy of my mother's kitchen where I usually can't even find a sharp knife.

Hope that will work.

I'll also bring some wine.

Looking forward to the GTG.

SuzanneF

Suzanne it will be great to meet you and hear about the progress on your RI house!

Hi all-we'll bring some good beer(my husband is a beer man), some wine, and a veggie side of some kind. Maybe a zuchini, tomato and onion with cheese tart type thing.

Looking forward to it.

Brenda

William,

Would it be okay if new ST'ers from Beverly joined us? Tom and Helen are in the early stages of planning for their first trip to Italy and would love to meet other slow travelers. Also, Chuck and Elaine have been to Italy a couple of times and would love to join us to learn about places they have not experienced. We are all psyched about this GTG!

Hi Ken:

We're fine with that. Just let us know what they'd like to bring and we'll add them to the list.

Bill

Bill,
I will also bring some Prosecco and a main dish of some kind, but not sure what just yet. Something that I can make (or buy) ahead of time and heat there....or a crock pot something-or-other. I'll start looking through my cookbooks
As for the name tags. I'm not artistic at all, so I'm no help with a design (although, maybe a suitcase shape?) However; if you need help making them let me know. Just don't let me near a glue gun and wine at the same time.

Suzanne, I'm also looking forward to meeting you, finally! Bring your GPS device, maybe we can find something in Bill's backyard
(with so many people there, maybe we'll use it to find each other or the bathroom)

I'll check with my friend Debbie and see what she'd like to bring...

This is going to be fun!

Mindy

I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone. Can't wait until we finally move to Rhode Island (July or August) so I can participate in the GTG's more easily and actually cook something to bring.

Maybe after we get settled in some, we'll offer to hold one at new home if all of you from Massachusetts are willing to travel.

Pokey, I'll try to remember to pack the GPS and check to see if there are any geocaching sites nearby.

SuzanneF

I'm planning on coming. Will bring wine plus perhaps a dessert. Could you post driving/parking directions? Looking forward to meeting everyone. ---Marlene

Ok, now Mark and I have learned alot more about geocaching...cool!

Mindy, the suitcase idea is great...we're working on the graphics now. I'm thinking of something that incorporates the ST logo and has our screenname and first name so we know whom we're talking to. Thanks for your offer...I think we should avoid glue guns altogther, what do you think?

Marlene, we'll be posting address, direction and parking information after March 15th. I'm trying to do one group email with all the information.

Stay tuned...

Bill

Bill,

Let me know if you need my help with the nametags I have no life so I'm pretty much free any weekend. Oh, and I'm rather handy with a nail and stapler compressor.

P.S. Put me down for lobster ravioli....yum.

Mindy

Lobster ravioli??? Yea!!!! Somehow that one just slipped by me.

I think the name tag thing is all worked out...amazing what Avery lables can do these days! I will need to know everyone's first names; name tags will list first name, ST screen-name (or guest of...), with the ST logo at the bottom.

Since the theme of where we travel is Italy, there will be a large (!) map of Italy and everyone can mark places they've stayed with pushpins. (Sorry if anyone hasn't been to Italy, but please don't be discouraged from attending! )

Keep updating what you're bringing...can't wait!

Bill

William,

My ST tag is KenC; my first name is Ken and my wife is Jo-Ann

Our friends are Chuck and Elaine; they are not ST'ers as yet.

My brother-in-law is Tom and his wife is Helen; they are not ST'ers as yet.

Are you in need of more main dishes for our GTG?

If I get there, which I hope I will, I'll bring a mousseline of Salmon, Sole, Shrimp & Spinach. Is that alliterative enough? Depending on the applicable chaos, it can be eaten either hot or cold. And some more Prosecco!

Hi William,

I, too, would love to come to the GTG on March 31. As for eats and drinks I can bring whatever you need. I Love Pokey's suggestion to start at 4! She is the person who first introduced me to the site.

-Mary

OK