| Username |
Post |
| Horizon |
Posted
on 09-Jul-02 11:24 AM
I think we have heard enough about what was / wasn't good at this year's convention. While it's still fresh in your mind, let's hear about the things you would / wouldn't want to see in Denver next year. In Denver, we are proactive :)))))))))))))))))))
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| JackAss |
Posted
on 09-Jul-02 11:59 AM
One thing that we all yearned for were dance parties...How about after hours live DJ shows ever night until dawn or whenever.. :o)
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| sally |
Posted
on 09-Jul-02 12:01 PM
OK, I'll bite.
I think the DC venue was terrific from a conventioneering point of view. Some of the guests were surprised to find a Nepali convention in such an elegant place! And the grounds were expansive enough for kids and teenagers to have some fun wandering around, sans parental units.
But it was out in the boonies, and the out-of-towners didn't get a chance to experience what DC has to offer. Maybe that's a positive thing, from the standpoint of convention planning; after all, in the heart of the city, people might have gone off on their own and not attended events such as forums. So I can see both the positives and negatives.
But in Denver, how about looking for a venue in the mountains? After all, that's what people want from Colorado. In DC, they want to see the Mall and the White House. In Colorado, they'll want to see the mountains--and not just off in the horizon from their hotel window. That might mean looking outside of Denver per se. It would great if you could take advantage of the scenic beauty and recreation opportunities in Colorado.
That's my two cents.
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| Nk |
Posted
on 09-Jul-02 12:06 PM
Some thought right off the bat.
Water pitcher in an easily-accessible pace.
A crisp and sharp program:
If you say you are going to start at 1 pm then START at 1 for god's sake!
So-called Cultural show no more than 2 hours. No repetition of the same haat hallairey, Indian classical dance ko pucchar chadera dance number over and over!
Close the door once every body is seated! And make them seat down!
Forums:
Forums about not only "established" writers but also upcoming, amateur writers. What they are writing and what do they think about the current movement.
Art Show. Thinking of Pujan Rokka right now. Painting, sketches. etc... have some sort of gallery opening ambiance. get the drink and some hors d’ouvre.
Get some idea from this one about different kind of forums. They were pretty good.
Etiquette question:
I guess your job is not to teach etiquette but you can have some sort of control.
Indeed what was a 6 month old baby doing at 1 in the morning in the convention?
(Poor babies. One of the parents should stay home and not bring a child under 5 to a book reading, to a rock concert… )
Registration:
If there is going to be registration, make it mandatory!!!!!! I felt cheated! I paid around 40 dollars (registration+I don't know what) whereas hordes and hordes of people did not pay anything!
Have a bulk rate for the ticket. . Pay the registration fee and pay for the momo and pay for the concert and pay for what not! The shows should be included in that registration fee unless the artists are flying in from a different part of the world. And, Absolutely NO FREE RIDE!
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| Namrata |
Posted
on 09-Jul-02 01:32 PM
NK,
I am sure u felt cheated when u saw others going to the convention without paying. But what are people supposed to do..it was so expensive. I mean what do the organizers think! Most of the people who attended were students who came all the way to meet their long lost friend. Paying 40 bucks for one thing and 30 for another was not reasonable at all. Yeah, I do understand that the hotel was grand and everything but come on..30 dollars for that uncooked food is too much + they chose a spot where no other restaurants were around. Next time, i hope the convention is in a convinient place so that people without cars can survive. Really, I wasted that 30 bucks for nothing..it feels terrible.
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| i.d. tag sajha celebs |
Posted
on 09-Jul-02 01:35 PM
i'd feel much more inclined to come to denver for ana 2003a.d. if sajha "celebs" in attendance wore i.d. tags identifying them as such--so i could make sure to avoid them altogether!
how about having a rocky mtn. trek using teen kuire sherpas to carry oh-so osha-violating sized loads? no hourly minimum wage stuff either--pay 'em by load weight or by day.
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| CIA |
Posted
on 09-Jul-02 01:56 PM
Horizon = Kshitij ??
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| F B I |
Posted
on 09-Jul-02 02:17 PM
CIA= Nepal Guptachar Bibhag?
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| Horizon |
Posted
on 09-Jul-02 07:49 PM
Bravo CIA, you do well in translation.
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| Freeek |
Posted
on 09-Jul-02 10:23 PM
Well said NK. I feel cheated too. I didn't really understand why they wanted us to register? They didn't give anything for concession after the registration, did they? And what the hell is that ID card for? They made it and after two minutes, I never wore it. And all in all, by the end of the convention, I became a biggest fool to my friends for paying for registration, crapy momo, boring cultural program that people watched for free, uncooked jackshit banquet, and above all -- Opera-like ROCK CONCERT.. where everyone wanted to jump on the floor-- and organizers wanted them to be seated. I hope Denever learns a lesson, or get some ideas on what people really like.
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| Namrata |
Posted
on 10-Jul-02 07:53 AM
Freeek,
This time I am with u. I felt terrible when we were treated like school kids during the concert. People feel like dancing and enjoying during the concert ni...i don't know what they expected from the crowd. I mean if it was a speech I would understand. I also understand the thing about that 40 dollar registration (next time if there is any uncooked food then please don't charge us extra for that).
Denver, with all these suggestions we expect a change in next years convention.
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| joie de vivre |
Posted
on 10-Jul-02 10:46 AM
Regardless of whether the Denver convention is going to be good, bad, or ugly, I've decided I'm going to be there. I've stayed away from these gatherings for far too long, me thinks its time to come out of my shell. So, NK, smokey, Suna, fnx, mins, musa, Horizon, etc., etc., see you all next year!! I'm thinking I'll wear a name tag with 'jdv' on it in big bold letters to make it easier for you guys. Oh, and NK, you won't mind if I bring a 'kattu' wearing guy with me, would you?
P.S. kancho le maan dukhaula ki bhanera yo footnote: I didn't mention him cause I already know/have met him.
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| Suna |
Posted
on 10-Jul-02 10:52 AM
Denver -- here I come (with a kattu wearing guy). NK its called being practical! for crying out loud not everyone can afford loafers and chinos. And even if they could, its so darn hot (as in temperature) that its simply not practical to be clothed in mal posh.
And Hori, remember, you are my best friend ;)
Cheers!
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| bill |
Posted
on 10-Jul-02 11:04 AM
Location, Location, Location
The people who organized the Convention did as well as able under the circumstances.
However they made one fatal mistake and that was to choose the Marriott Westfields Convention Center.
The only people who were not inconvenienced with this location were two groups: those who live in the DC area who are familiar with the roads and those who flew into DC and took some form of ground transportation to the hotel. Anyone driving into DC from other parts of the country had an awful time locating the hotel.
It is stuck away in the back of an industrial park on the airport runway approach path, with roaring landing planes overhead, with poorly marked roads and tiny signs indicating the way to the hotel, and inadequate parking.
Offering a glass of water to a thirsty traverler is a basic human courtesy. Ice; come on, every hotel except this one has a water fountain or an ice machine where you can take ice back to your room. Ordering it from room service is not a service but a disservice while you wait. And the size of the ice bags, what a joke!! Not enough for 4 drinks, and nothing left over.
Anyone arriving thirsty from any distance would have immediately noticed the lack of a water fountain, or ice, or any quick thirst quencher while waiting for his or her room. "Go into the bar and ask for a drink of water while you wait", really! And what should I do with my children and bags while I wait for service in the bar. Is this how they get customers into the bar? Another money making tactic.
The clerks at the front desk were discourteous. They should take some lessons in treating guests from the hoteliers back home. They could not recognize our foreign sounding names, treated everyone with disdain and were totally inhospitable. Worse if you had a question about directions or services. We waited in the lobby for an hour to get our rooms.
The rooms, in a word, "small". I have been in dorm rooms that were larger. A place to put your own refreshments in the tiny refrigerator, non-existent. Everything had to be purchased from them. That is how they made their money. They did not make their money by providing SERVICE. Organizers, whatever you paid to rent this place, you paid too much. For such a grand looking lobby one would expect more. Looking for an elevator if you were on the top floor, you had to walk a mile.
The much publicized Jacuzzi turned out to be a tub for 4 people to fit in. Space for 4 people out of 4,000. Another big joke! Crowding at the pool, pool access, insufficient deck chairs, and little space out of the sun for shade. Where was the hotel help, help with the lighting, help with the sound system, help directing people to the various meeting rooms, help with cleanup.
Marriott Westfields hotel has a great façade but that is all it has. Checkout was horrendous even with people leaving at different times. Getting out of those front doors, pulling your car up to the marquis to load the car, waiting while others loaded. We were all in the same situation. Are we to blame ourselves? or should we have had some HELP from the hotel.
I forced myself to enjoy, I would have much preferred if the enjoyment came from the hotel surroundings and facilities. Friends were great. Everyone had something to say. Most of the people I asked felt that the Marriott was inadequate.
Denver, you need a location with a view, a hotel with a courteous staff, readily available transportation to and from, and around the city, directions, signs, maps, well publicized room rates, options for housing, food which is well prepared.
Definitely: Not a Marriott.
You need a good Location, Location, Location
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| def |
Posted
on 10-Jul-02 11:27 AM
Wow! Two ladies are committing themselves for the convention a year in advance. Before they change their plans, Horizon, register them NOW as well as their “kattu” wearing companions. It will be interesting to see if someone, who couldn’t attend the backyard convention, will make it to the mile high city or not. “najiko thirtha hela” ho?
:-)
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| Nk |
Posted
on 10-Jul-02 11:28 AM
Suna and my long lost fren JDV: Do as you please! I ain't wearing one (short summer dress, yes; those eye sore Kattu, NO!) and neither my other half is. Well, that is if he wants to be seen with me :)! And I won't be weaing a NK tag. Definitley not. That way I can pounce on our dear sajhaite "i.d. tag sajha celebs." Boo! Scared yet?
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| sally |
Posted
on 10-Jul-02 11:39 AM
Hmmm. I agree with NK about the kattu--no problem with it in general but there's a time and a place, and since you get to wear kattu everywhere, isn't a Nepali convention a time for Nepali dress?--but luckily, Colorado is a kattu kinda place, so the kattu wallahs can be both comfortable and appropriate. Especially if Colorado sets the convention in the mountains and not in the middle of Denver with a view of a freeway.
Bill, good good post post on location location location but do you have to repeat repeat it everywhere?
Straw poll: who would have preferred downtown DC to the farthest reaches of VA? Just out of curiosity.
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| Nk |
Posted
on 10-Jul-02 11:59 AM
My dear Sally: our bill is afraid we missed the 'Posting Of The Year!' Please have some mercy on this poor soul .
Yeah about the location. Before I read your posting I was whining too that it was so far away that I could not really show DC to my friend. But I agree with you that if the location was somewhere in downtown, it would have been too much of a distraction to all ready distracted mind.
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| Bostonian |
Posted
on 10-Jul-02 12:08 PM
- Start programs on time!!!! Just doing this one thing will make the conventions so much more better.
- Cultural programs should be no more than 1 hour and not 3 or 4 hours! Long cultural programs are unfair on the audience and the artists.
- Get bouncers to help with ticket handling if necessary- people should be required to enter the auditorium in an orgnized way and not stamping over each other and sneaking in without tickets.
- Use auditoriums for cultural programs/concerts instead of meeting rooms as crowd management might be easier in the former.
- Those ads between programs were gross. I understand they are a source of revenue but they should be kept to the bare minimum.
- Make registration mandatory and enforce it.
This was my first ANA convention and I thought it was great except for the poor program and crowd management. It was really nice seeing so many Nepalese and meeting old friends and family.
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| realtor |
Posted
on 10-Jul-02 12:09 PM
hey Bill,
You sound so much like arealtor who keeps chanting
Location Location Location
Or did you just acquired a property with a realtor who said
"Location Location Location get this property. You wont find another like this in this Location Location Location."
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| i'll hear u b4 i see you |
Posted
on 10-Jul-02 12:16 PM
>And I won't be weaing a NK tag. Definitley not. That way I can pounce on our dear sajhaite "i.d. tag sajha celebs." Boo! Scared yet?
sure, why not. the aphnos in denver and i have a whole year to prepare an extra special ana 2003 experience just for you.
"Is it safe?" ~Laurence Olivier as Dr. Szell in "Marathon Man"
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| mins |
Posted
on 10-Jul-02 12:29 PM
I'm coming to Denver next year too. I had a great time this year. It was the best convention I have ever been to. The main thing for me was meeting friends/cousins/relatives after so many years(and of course musa,sgy,fed). Oh yes, the concert was the added bonus this year. Horizon, I hope you guys over there will be having a concert too. As far as meeting other sajha memebers, I hope I will be seeing Nk, Suna and Jdv too :)
In my opinion, I was glad the convention was not in downtown DC. Parking would have been terrible and futher it would have been expensive around there. As far as the crowd at the culture show/concert ..never seen such a ANA convention with that many people. I hope Denver will do the same.
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| Horizon |
Posted
on 10-Jul-02 02:01 PM
Good to see that Denver already is a hit especially among the ladies. There couldn’t be a better marketing than this. May be, we in Denver want to believe that it’s not because of the place but us :)))). Looking forward to hosting you all and ofcourse my best fren Suna.
SGY bro – Guess your time is upppppppp :)
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| Sangey |
Posted
on 10-Jul-02 02:13 PM
Horizon Bro,
As of last ANA convention, my time has been up!
All the best.
sgy
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| Tina |
Posted
on 10-Jul-02 02:19 PM
Hey Denver Folks
Here's the list what girls would like to see in Denver 2003 ANA:
1. Dancing-in the club( one could be costume party and one normal dancing)
2. Nice dinner-one Nepali banquet and one mixed(either sea food or chinese) just for the interaction purpose
3. Pls make the tickets cheaper- $ 30 for that uncooked pualo and blood sticking chicken and boiled vegetables is not acceptable
4.Concert- where people can dance and not sit like statues
5.Bars-open till 2-3 am with lots of choices for lady drink
Then it would be nice he he
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| madankrishnaHaribansh |
Posted
on 10-Jul-02 02:51 PM
In Denver the following program is must:
Sight seeing:
1. Petrol Pump(Gas Station) of Govinda Raj Joshi (if it exists!)
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| Namrata |
Posted
on 10-Jul-02 03:00 PM
Yeah,
Bars should definitely open till 2-3.(that would be a blast) and dance party is a must!
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| def |
Posted
on 11-Jul-02 09:29 AM
Atlanta hos
ya Philly
ya ta hos DC
jaad-bhandaar ritiyo
CO ma euta halla cha
Coors ko factory ma
convention garne sallha cha.
:-)
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| MG |
Posted
on 11-Jul-02 09:39 AM
def! Wow! :)
Not a bad idea! Go for it! Coors! Coors!
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| sangey |
Posted
on 11-Jul-02 09:44 AM
Now I have seen everything. Def pani poet bhayecha.
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| MG |
Posted
on 11-Jul-02 10:12 AM
When are you going to start being one Sangey?
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