While I can understand budget being relative to some, to me it's more the experience I appreciate and am willing to pay for it. I think to myself when will I have a chance to dine in a French chateau again as I did on OP's TDC '07? I still have my name tag here on my desk from that event and compliment OP for being a superb organizer.

My only other input would be to where possible work a local charitable cause into the Do mix as I've found FTers on the whole a very generous group willing to donate to good causes. Handled in the right way as a suggestion and not a mandatory thing I think it could add an extra positive note to what is already a very positive event. Just MHO.