A successful FT weekend event requires committed organizers. And committed organizers do a lot of work. I know. Captain Mike and I organized the SAN FT weekend last July, that attracted about 60 FTers.

My personal philosophy is that whoever is willing to raise his or her hand in the air gets to propose whatever location and dates suit the organizer (of course, avoiding FT events on the calendar). If mjm wants to organize an event in Perth, that's great. And some will come. I didn't attend mjm's Party in Provence last November, but it was obvious that he put enormous effort into planning a delightful party.

Will a US based party attract more? Yes, because so many of us live in the US and are able to fit in weekend travel into our work week. So far, it looks as though Chicago might be the best attended FT weekend event 2002. But the London dinner in January pulled in 20-plus people, the DUS weekend in Feb pulled in 40? or so; there will be a Paris weekend in late September that will attract many from Europe and the US, and even a Santiago weekend in November that has a dozen or so of us indicating we will fly south.

While it's all well and good for each of us to say where we would like to go, a party requires an organizer. I salute the people willing to do the work of planning, and will always argue that those of us who volunteer get to chose destination and timing.

mjm, if Australia sounds like a party place to you - go for it! There'll always be some FTers willing to take the flights and join you.