Things are slowly coming together. I just need to sign the contract on the room bookings. Yippi!! I will let everyone know when to call and book your room.

We are going to have a registration fee for the meeting room and brochures. We will keep you posted.

We still need speakers!!

Thanks for working so hard at putting this together, Egnue... I for one can't wait.... I won't need rooms (luckily my bed is IN Las Vegas), but as soon as you accept registration/meeting fees??, I will be first in line with payment.... can't hardly wait for a whole year!!!!! I truly love low carbing and this forum is awesome for ideas, tips, support and recipes.... will be fun meeting many of you.... and my offer for help on this end still stands.... could put together a short list of must-sees (freebies), and inexpensive eating places, if it would be helpful as a hand-out type thingie.... just let me know, whatever....

Pitclerk that sounds great. Please put together a list for us. You are a life saver.

Thank you!!!!

I agree A list w/useful tips & info would be WONDERFUL! Can't wait!!!

cre8tivegrl tipped me off to this get-together and to see if I have any thoughts to share.

First thoughts:

- Don't spend too much time collecting member's input I know it sounds mean, but I've seen too many great ideas on this forum that quickly fade away, because the longer things are discussed, the more likely people will just give up or lose interest. For example, put a deadline, a week or two from now, to collect ideas. After that, come out with an outline of what the event will be, when, where, who, how, how many, how much, etc.

- Look for members who work as event organizers, I'm sure we have a few, as members of your committee.

- As you have already talked to the Orleans Casino folks, do they have any deadlines on how long do you have this special pricing? Any deadlines to registration? Do they gurantee a minimum number of rooms for the event? Any required deposits and deadlines for the meeting room, etc.

- Speakers: I think many of our forum members would make excellent speakers on various topics. Some success stories, some cooking lessons, and even some mind-numbing biochemical explanation of why LC works.

Any way, this is truly a great idea

Wa'il

Thanks Tamarian!

Looks like I will sign the contract Sept. 1st and then we can start booking the rooms. I have a 20 room block than we can add too if needed.

We plan to have a $40. 00 nonrefundable registration fee for the meeting room, coffee and flyers.

This is starting to come together. Will you be able attend? We would love to have you speak.

No, I won't be able to attend, but I promise to nudge some good speakers to check it out

Wa'il

Wow Wa'il... thanks for the great tips and the nudge!!

My two cents regarding possible speakers (truly motivating).... NOT in any particular order....

Kristine
Karen
Moonwalker
4Beans4Me
The Donald
DWRolfe
Tamarian

These people in some form or other, have helped me get to where I am now within 10 lbs of my personal goal.... their stories, recipes, success, and careful explanations, have all inspired me and kept me on track.... I am sure if any of them could make it, they would do so with others as well....

My ears are burning!

I'd love to go to Vegas. It's been on our "someday" list for a while. Unfortunately, I can't make any kind of committment right now because we're house-hunting. It'll depend on where we are a year from now.

I'll keep checking this thread, though. Thanks for pulling this together!

OK, I have signed the rooms contract and it is in the mail. I will let everyone know when he has received it so we can start booking our rooms.

I am excited!!! This is coming together well!!!

Maybe some speakers could be authors of some popular (or as yet little known) books.

Just my 2 cents.

I would definitely consider attending.

Do you have some ideas Barb?

Our only issue this year is that at present time, speakers will be donating their services because we don't have funds yet. In a perfect world I would think that most low carb gurus would be willing, as a chance to unite and empower us all, but many charge large speaking fees.

However, if we can find some that are willing to travel to Vegas and donate their time, I think they'd be welcome with open arms.

OK, we are all set and you can start booking your rooms and registering. Check out this thread!!

http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=264467

Sorry folks, did not know WHICH thread to post this to, so did on two!!!
All info is as of 09/05, so subject to change!! Below are two different "hand-out" type lists... they are LONG.... you may wish to print this out for later viewing!!.... The first is regarding The Orleans, where the convention will be held.... the second, longer list is "Las Vegas freebies and attractions"!!
*´¨)
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(¸.·´ (¸.·' Sunshine

THE ORLEANS
HOTEL
Room Quality:
Fantastic for the price. Every room is spacious, has big beds and a separate sitting area.... comfy loungers, maybe even a sofa to call your own. The bathrooms are decent, but not fancy. A really neat touch is the little window in the tub/shower that opens to the outside world.... Rooms have hair dryers and irons.... they also offer Internet hook-ups...
Service Quality:
Good. It's a small place by Vegas standards, and because it's not directly on the Strip, they try a little harder. Check-in is quick and easy, and room-service is not a rip-off....
What You Get Bottles of in the Bathroom: They provide generous little bottles of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, bath gel and maybe even some mouth wash. ...You might even call housekeeping and ask for more..... check the desk drawer for the elusive and coveted sewing kit....

FOOD
Big Al's: it's a good and fair-priced pseudo-New Orleans seafood house.
Brendan's Irish Pub: they've got some stout beers on tap + finger foods.... they have dueling pianos.... expect to pay about $10-$15 for a beer and snack.
Canal Street Grille: steak and seafood... the locals love it, and it is pretty good.... not a bad deal, but not a place for cheapskates, either...
Courtyard Cafe: A very good coffee shop with some decent late night specials and fresh foods all the time, including free coffee cake on the table during morning hours! They serve both American and Chinese, and have extensive menus for both. Great for breakfast....
Don Miguel's: One of the better casino-based Mexican restaurants. They make their own tortillas and have some great lunch specials.
French Market Buffet: pretty good sized and there is a wide variety of basic foods....
Koji: Sushi right next to egg noodles. Tempura sitting beside the lemon chicken... the prices are right, and you can get out with a dinner and drinks under $25.
Prime Rib Loft: here's something you can't get enough of in Vegas: prime rib. This place is open for dinners only and advertises big cuts of meats and a menu starting under $15.
Sazio: Decent Italian food....
Terrible Mike's: It's cheap, good and greasy fast food....
Subway, Kate's Korner, and Seattle's Best Coffee....

ENTERTAINMENT
Bourbon Street Cabaret: free lounge acts...
Bowling: 70 lanes....
Lounges
Movie Theaters: fairly large, and extremely comfortable, Cineplex inside the theater. It's all stadium loveseats...
Orleans Arena: A big hall, seating up to 9,000 for sporting events...check the Orleans web site for events....
Orleans Showroom: decent older acts with tickets usually in the $40-$70 range
-----------------------------------
This is an idea for the actual Vegas hand-out... there's more to be added yet....

CHEAP EATS: (Warning!! NOT necessarily low-carb!!)

Slots of Fun -
At some point during the day, players get small sandwiches. In the morning they give out free donuts to slot players... available 24 hrs a day, are shrimp cocktails for 99 cents, and FREE popcorn at the snack bar, just pick up a bag....

Westward Ho -
Best freebie in town is between 2 and 4pm in the afternoons - the ice cream sundae bar they set up in their lounge.. you just show up, get a bowl of soft ice cream and then put toppings on it... At the casino snack bar: 1/2 rack of ribs for under $5, a 3/4 lb. "Mega-dog" for $1.49 - the biggest in Vegas!!... or pay $1.99 for a mammoth strawberry shortcake... also, a 27 oz margarita at 99 cents... a slice of pizza for 99 cents....

Riviera -
Inside the nickel area called NickelTown, is a dirt cheap deli. Dollar hotdogs and $1.50 draft beers are the order of the day.... and at the Pennytown snack bar: FIVE spicy chicken wings for 99 cents, 24 hrs a day .... and a 99 cent fruit cup (of fresh melon and grapes).... in the food court, a scoop of Italian frozen Gelato can be enjoyed for $3....

Arizona Charlie's (East and West side of town) -
At the Sourdough Cafe, a plate of steak and eggs 24 hours a day for $2.99.... During graveyard, midnight to 7am, they have the "fancy" steak for a bit more, including a salad, potato and vegetable.

Barbary Coast -
The Victorian coffee shop is a nice one, especially if you can enjoy a decent breakfast with sausage, hash browns and eggs for about $3 late at night.

El Cortez -
24 hours a day, you can get a cheap breakfast.... Also, during the day, you can get an 8 oz, ribeye dinner for about $5.

Ellis Island -
A local place, east of Bally's... a bang-up $4.95 steak special. It's not on the menu, so you have to ask for it... it's delightfully good, maybe the best $5 steak dinner you can buy in this town.

Gold Coast -
A decent steak, with a beer, onion rings, Texas toast, potato and baked beans for under $10 .... a huge meal....

Hard Rock Hotel -
Twilight specials from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. that include a good prime rib, chicken or pasta for $8.

Sam's Town (Boulder Highway) -
At the Fresh Harvest Cafe - a $3.49 steak and eggs is served around the clock so you can eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner!!

Suncoast -
At the Siena Cafe, late at night, a $1.95 steak and eggs or several different 99-cent breakfasts...


FREE ATTRACTIONS:

At ALL Casinos -
*Drinks are FREE if you are playing the tables or slots... just tip the waitress!!
*Matches and plastic coin cups are FREE and make great souvenirs!!
*Most casinos will give you a FREE deck of used playing cards (just ask the pit boss while you are playing)....
*Most casinos have FREE gaming lessons (ask a table game employee)
*Most casinos have FREE Las Vegas magazines at the bell desk... full of money saving coupons....

Aladdin -
At the Desert Passage, the big attraction is some sort of "rain" display where water falls from the ceiling into a reflecting pool below... there are also (occasionally) tumblers and acrobats... at the casino entrance....

Bellagio -
The BEST free show in town... an elaborate fountain show in front on the Strip, that changes every 15 minutes at night (the only time to see it!!).... tour the Botanical Conservatory with hundreds of fresh flowers and real trees, a domed glass ceiling - 24 hrs a day.... also be sure to see the multi-million dollar overhead, hand-blown, glass flower ceiling in the lobby!!

Caesars -
Cleopatra and Caesar stroll around, and they would love for you to quiz them about historical events.... and in the adjacent FORUM SHOPS - two fountains come to life every hour on the hour... the characters resemble marble statues, and are animatronics. The first show features Bacchanal - lasers flash on the ceiling.... The other relates the story of the sinking of Atlantis, with Neptune and his children - he dooms them to an early, and watery, grave. Both shows draw big crowds - starting at 10am daily until 11pm... one is by the Schwarz Toy Store, the other is by Planet Hollywood...

Circus Circus -
Sundays thru' Thursdays, every 45 minutes - from 11 a.m. to midnight, thrilling circus acts and performances are on the midway above the casino floor...

Fremont Street Experience -
A four block long canopy of lights covers Fremont Street and, at night, every hour on the hour, produce elaborate shows overhead, consisting of over 2 million lights and 540,000 watts of concert quality sound.... the ones I've watched were great... They also have lots of FREE events, like concerts and street artists, on the "closed to traffic" stretch under the canopy....

Imperial Palace -
An awesome car collection can be seen for FREE (don't pay!!) by taking a coupon from one of the shills on the sidewalk out front.... classic and unique cars... even I enjoyed it!!

Mirage -
The volcano (neé waterfall) out front is free to watch.... every 15 minutes....also inside of the casino, white tigers are on display.... and behind the registration desk is an enormous fish aquarium.... worth a see....

New York - New York -
Check out the Central Park atmosphere, the Brooklyn bridge, the tug boats and Statute of Liberty.... for a few dollars, ride the roller coaster around the entire structure....

The Orleans -
FREE beads are given out for the asking at any change booth (not at the main cashier's cage though)

Paris -
Worth seeing the inside of for: the base of the Eiffel Tower - the mimes and gendarmes - and to wander the cobblestone streets, through the shops...

The Rio -
The Mardis Gras parade takes place every hour from 4 pm to 10pm in Rio's Masquerade Village (dark on Tuesday and Wednesday).... "floats" circle overhead... free "tossed" beads.... acrobatic bartenders.... singing cocktail ladies and fellas, performing on the spot....

Sam's Town -
The Sunset Stampede FREE, every day at 2, 6, 8 and 10 p.m.... laser lights and dancing waters in what is described as a "musical journey across the Great Plains." (The "wolf" is great!!) Seven days a week.... a fun time and Western atmosphere.....

Treasure Island -
At 4, 5:30, 7, 8:30, 10 and 11:30pm, when the weather permits, the sexy "sirens of TI" (lusty wenches), battle the pirates.... at the entrance to the casino. Two ships shoot cannons and pirates fall into the lake.... always draws BIG crowds....

The Venetian -
Stroll along the Grand Canal shoppes (second floor) and watch the opera singers row the gondolas thru' the Canal... (take a ride for a few bucks!)... don't miss St. Mark's Square with the "living statutes".... nor the Grand Hall between the registration area and the casino floor.... ride up the escalator in the front of the casino to the second floor and be awed by the ceiling above you....