Suggestions for Meeting Place?

[Jennifer Groves]

Thanks to Jim, we've had a place to meet for these last couple months. But as some have noted, Baroda is on the southern end of the Twin Cities area, so we are still looking for other possibilities and larger venues (hoping the group continues to grow!).

Here's an updated list of where we're currently checking, and another that includes places that we've already checked, but are not viable.

We still need everyone's help on this! If you have ideas, please share--and please do not contact the places we've already checked into or the ones we are currently looking at (we don't want to confuse the contact people we already have with multiple requests from our group, plus it makes TPP look disorganized :) I'm willing to check into any reasonable suggestions.

Our best bet may be in finding people sympathetic to our cause that have access to large meeting spaces. Please consider all your community connections!

Keep in mind that any venue under consideration should be able to seat at least 50 adults comfortably. The more centrally located (think St. Joseph), the better. And of course, free is better than paying rent, but any place with reasonable rent ($50 or less for 2-3 hrs) is a possibility.


CURRENTLY CHECKING INTO--

St. Joe and Stevensville public schools
Riverside
Sportsmen's Club


ALREADY OFF THE LIST

churches--prefer not to be affiliated with a particular denomination
restaurants --too noisy and distracting for regular meetings, but great for a social!
Sr Center on Vineland--too $$$
Lincoln Twp Public Library--liability issues
SJ Public Library--not available Tue and Th nights


Additional suggestions greatly appreciated! And we may even re-visit some on the "no go" list pending changes in their scheduling or our liability status.

[Mark A. Jones]

Hey Sweety, check out the Senior Center in Coloma. I think it's on Rino Rd. It's near that place right off the highway that has all those travel trailers you can see from I-94. I could see about getting you a name and number later today. Thank you.

[Jennifer Groves]

Another option that Jim had checked into is the community room at the Orchards Mall--great central location; seats 100-150 people, cost is $50 for 4 hrs, and it books at least 2 months in advance (currrently booked solid through Nov, but Jan is an option). Also high-traffic area (good advertising for us!).

Mark--please check on the Sr center. Just ask them about seating capacity and cost and how far in advance they are booked. The only issue there is the same as with Riverside--distance--it's 45 min from Stv to Coloma; 20+ from St. Joe, and if I recall correctly, Coloma is trying to start up their own patriots group. But it can't hurt to have more options!

Another patriot checked out the Royalton Twp Hall--also a no-go.

The situation is not as bleak as it seems, esp if we decide to schedule large group mtgs only once/mo and do most of our work in smaller committee meetings. This is the most efficient way to go, in my opinion. As long as we are somewhat flexible on a monthly date and are willing to pay nominal fees, we should be able to book the same location for the next six months or so, and get back to focusing on political issues :)

[Mary Sue]

My vote is for the Orchards Mall for these reasons:
1) The fee is reasonable
2) The location is central and easily accessible from I-94
3) It seats a good number of people, which will be important especially as we advertise our upcoming speakers

If there are no objections by the membership, why not book for the next available month?
As we are beginning to book speakers, it would really be helpful to have such a good location to tell them.
EVERYBODY: Please give us your feedback on this ASAP, so that we can reach a consensus and take action on this.

[Mary Sue]

More thoughts...
We all feel a strong sense of urgency, with 2010 growing so close...so much to do...so little time!
Having this location issue settled will help grow our numbers, if the community always knows where we are and when we meet.

[Kevin Schneider]

quote from above:
"SJ Public Library--not available Tue and Th nights"

It sure does seem like the St. Joseph Public Library would be an ideal place. Is there another evening that would work, that they have open? If I recall correctly, this room is FREE!

Also what about Benton Harbor Public Library?

[Jennifer Groves]

Re: BH Library--it is open until 8 pm 2 nights of the week; closes at 6 pm 2 nights; earlier on Friday and of course not open on the weekend (BH does not have the same tax base that SJ and Stv do).

Re: SJ Library--much busier than the Stv library in terms of scheduling rooms, but yes, a great location. One room seats about 50 (OK for now, but we should outgrow it!); the other, 90. The larger room books well in advance. Some of our leaders cannot meet on M or W nights; the library is not open F, Sa, or Su evenings; so that leaves T or Th. These are both possibilities, but nothing is available on Th nights for at least a few months--it is their busiest evening. Some non-profit groups book the same day/evening in a 6-9 mo stretch (as we are trying to do) so there is a lot of competition for limited space :)

If we can switch to Tu, that might help w/ availability. Earlier the majority of the TPP group voted that Th was the best night for them. We could re-vote at the next meeting--it would certainly help in the reservation process to have at least two options in terms of day of the week.

Keep in mind that as long as we pay no rent, there is always the possibility that we will be pre-empted by library activities.

I'm developing a "short list" of possibilites--a few choices--that we can vote on at the next mtg. The SJ library and mall room are on that list.

I agree w/ Mary Sue--we have to get this settled SOON and book for the next 6-12 mos (we can always cancel, but we can't reserve on short notice).

[Mark A. Jones]

I think we should be flexible with the schedule, ( days of the week or always having same days each month ) IF it means passing up a good location and / or a low fee. I am addressing the SJ Library as a example.

[Mark A. Jones]

Another thought, the Orchards Mall room sounds like it might be a good place to serve as "townhall" arena or any type of "indoor rally" during the winter months. Perhaps having that room on a monthly basis to use for either a meeting or rally while also having the SJ Library, again on a monthly basis, for a more business minded meeting. I don't think most adults would get confused over having the two locations. I don't feel having only one meeting a month will suffice. This idea is cost efficient and also secures an attractive and highly visable location for an indoor rally.

[Jennifer Groves]

Good suggestions. I thought about that, too. I think we need to discuss and plan the calendar of events and vote on this at the next mtg.

[Mark A. Jones]

Well let's see, the scheduled events would obviously include Tax Day-April 15, July 4, Sept.12. However, I feel we should have a Rally or TownHall every 2 or 3 months.