Tamira, the Cooking Light cruise looks wonderful on the link you gave, but I personally feel*it is longer & more expensive (per person) than I was*thinking about.**Whatever we choose, we want to make sure that it is affordable*for the majority of interested buddies and they can bring their entire family if they would like.* It may be that we don't select*a cruise (but in comparison, cruises are all inclusive &*usually less expensive than other types of vacations).*
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BUDDIES PLEASE FEEL*FREE TO MAKE AS MANY*SUGGESTIONS AS YOU CAN THINK OF... IF THE THREAD GETS TOO LONG, I CAN*TAKE THE HIGH POINTS, PUT THEM INTO BULLETS*AND PASTE THEM TO ANOTHER THREAD
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I had also thought about meeting for a weekend in Vegas or another hot spot, that way people who are close can drive and other buddies can take the most convenient transportation method for their travel/economic needs.* Plus,*we can try to make hotel/motel suggestions*that covers the low, mid, high price ranges...* Lord knows there is nothing wrong with trying to keep the family vacation within a budget!* Not all of us have long purse strings when making plans for recreational activities
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So, please make sure your voice (keyboard) is heard!* KEEP THE COMMENTS COMING!
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I would also love to meet you guys but I am deathy afraid of water, boats, and cruises. Since we all have food issues, if you guys are set on a cruise, to help cut out some of the planning, Cooking Light sponsors a cruise every year.* Of course the best part is, you don't have to worry about the food being bad for you and the entire cruise is about health and fitness.
Cooking Light Central - Ship Shape Cruise
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I really like the idea of getting together. Whether its a cruise, or a hotel in a major city, I think it would be fun...
Not everyone will be able to participate of course, but we could at least get it in the works, throw out all the information and see what happens...
There are sooo many places to stay in all major cities for all financial types...
We could even make it like a seminar of sorts and see if we could get a guest speaker to volunteer time or something...
I am up for anything! Count me in!!!
Dawn

Maybe our motivatinal speaker could be Dr. Marc....how would that be?

I was thinking the same thing about Dr. Marc...
I'm a little apprehensive about trying*to coordinate money collection*and reserving*a banquet hall/meeting room, because that can be*challenging under the best of circumstances.* In this venue, we are not sure about the number of buddies that would commit to a meeting and be willing to pay a registration fee for organizing a guest motivational speaker.
What does everyone else think?

As far as using a Travel Agent, that would be the best decision.* I think the best thing would be for us to have a few things to choose from.* E.G;* (a) Cruise** (b) Trip to Vegas* (c)*Trip to Florida** Something of that sort.* As always, Majority Wins and we would all know what to expect and when.*
I really like the idea of the Cruise with the healthy cooking.* Even though we want to meet each other, we still need to remember that the only reason we know each other is because of or common interest in buddying up and LOOSING WEIGHT.* However, if everyone else don't feel the same, then we need to decide where we are going to* have our get together.

Sounds like fun to me.**I think Dawn had a great idea,*of a meeting in a major city.*
*I am in a financial fix right now trying to save for my 16 y/o college education so I could not spend a lot.*

If we arranged a package through a travel agent, they would be responsible for the payments and no one would have to pay one lump sum.

I'm in.....just say when and where.* I don't really care if it's a cruise, major city or whatever.* It would be fun to meet all of you.*

doesn't matter to me...cruise..major city..camping...whatever...doesn't matter..anyone have a big house?* We could all crash in tents...and bring our own food...if thats is in everyones budget...i think that would be the cheapest thing of all.....