PLANNING THE NEXT BOARD EVENT...HELP US START EARLY BY EXPRESSING YOUR OPINION

[Sam]

The wave of momentum from our recent board gathering has already started us thinking about our next get-together. By starting the planning now, we hope to gain the best possible read on what series of activities would be most appealing to the greatest number of people.

Preliminary feedback suggests that more time to socialize would be a desirable feature, even to the point of making it a two-overnight affair. Of course, more nights would mean greater expense—especially for out-of-towners.

It seems that attending the Celtics game together was a lot of fun, although most socializing during the game was done with whoever was on either side of you. In the past, we had a very successful affair in the middle of the summer, with no Celtics game involved but much warmer weather and outdoor activity (perhaps including a ride on the amphibious World War II duck tour boats used by Boston-area sports teams to celebrate championships on land and river). There’s also the possibility of attending a Red Sox game as a group during warmer weather. So there are questions about whether it would be more desirable to plan the event around a Celtics game, and/or during a holiday period and/or during a less “popular” time when we’d have a greater range of alternatives and flexibility in our planning.

For some time now, Sam's been wanting to show the board an hour-long video that Sam believes is the most accurate representation of what the Russell Celtics were all about. It was actually based on the final game of a playoff series between the Celtics and The Cincinnati Royals in 1966, and it is presented in a documentary format. Technologically, it is well ahead of its time, including stop-action techniques and slow motion replays. Red Auerbach (in his last season as coach) was “miked” so you can hear him baiting the refs and yelling instructions to his team in the huddle and during the action. Except for an opening part that shows them setting up the Garden for the game and another couple of minutes at the end talking about what made the Celtics different, most of entire hour involves the game action; and there’s also a running commentary pointing out (with video aids) the Russell Celtics’ approach to basketball. Their dissecting of Russell’s game is really a treat; and the duel between Sam Jones and Oscar Robertson is riveting. Since Sam owns the video, it wouldn’t cost anything to show it, although it would probably involve meeting at some facility (maybe a bar) and having our own room.

We’d also love to increase the ranks of members’ significant others. We don’t want to stigmatize people, but we’re wondering if an organized Boston shopping experience might be of interest. Or an organized historical tour. (Actually the Duck Tours provide several routes.) Or a tour of Fenway Park (they’re offered year-round). Or museum visits. We could even run multiple options at the same time.

So we thought that, fresh on the heels of the recent celebration, it might be useful to get people’s preliminary ideas about the next one. We're taking the liberty of assuming that it would not occur throughout the remainder of the current season or playoffs. We're also assuming it will be in Boston, which might help us arrive as a “formula” that could be expanded to other geographic areas. (We have previously had parties in San Francisco and New York City.)

The various choices in the poll are not mutually exclusive. Please select as few or as many as you’d like. Some deal with timing; others with activities.

We realize that the appeal of any given option can depend on pricing. For the moment, we'd just like to know how many would be interested enough in a given option for us to investigate group pricing.

We're particularly interested in other ideas people may have, so your comments would be especially welcome. And we want to emphasize that there's nothing official about this. It's basically a hunting expedition.

Thanks for your help,

Sam

[bobheckler]

Obviously, I'd be thrilled with another board meeting in San Francisco. If you've never been to the bay area, there are few places like it.

Failing to gather the necessary quorum for that (although individuals/families can come out here anytime and I'll try to show you around) I'd also like to throw out the following ideas:

New Orleans - a great town for eating, drinking and making merry
Florida - open to where, but it's warm during the first half of the season and southerners have the shorter commute for a change
NY - we have numerous board members clustered around there.


bob


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[mrkleen09]

Maybe an away game early next season in a city with good weather (not Miami) - New Orleans / Houston / Dallas / Phoenix / Memphis?

[mulcogiseng]

someplace I can get to

[112288]

Count me in wherever, whenever. Cape Cod and a clam bake sounds very appealing!


112288

[cowens/oldschool]

....lets get some lobsters and corn on the cob for that clambake.

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