lili, that's easy. Call in sick from Venice! ;)

Lili, we are talking:

1. Automatic free upgrades at one very classy hotel.
2. Door prizes.
3. Guaranteed Cholula t-shirts for each and every F/Ter.
4. A free water taxi shuttle, for F/Ters only, from the Ai Mori hotel to the Rialto and St. Marks.
5. A tour of Verona, home of Romeo and Juliet (you pay only the train fare), guided by a Venetian who has a Veronese fiancee. (Interestingly, they come from two households, both alike in dignity.)
6. Pre-Meet drinks, the night before the main Meet, in St. Marks Square.
7. A Post Pre-Meet visit to the Casino -- housed in a former palace.

Isn't that temptation enough to call in sick?

Monitor, I agree with everything you said about the importantance of getting to know something about the type of people you will be with at a Meet -- especially before making the effort to go somewhere as far as Venice.

I also don't understand how someone who is not going, and therefore is probably not reading this thread, can be upset by humorous exchanges. Someone who has decided to go, on the other hand, most likely enjoys them.

For all that, a very long thread filled with off topic comments can be difficult to work your way through. That is the reason I have been updating the first three posts with all the necessary information.

And, fortunately, we have the Delta Forum Silly Thread, in which we have been posting the majority of less-serious, and less-informative, remarks about this Meet. I actually believe the Delta thread encouraged more people to come than this one did -- anybody who reads it knows he/she is going to enjoy the people as much as the city.

Let me give a different perspective. I think that the Community thread is essential, because it shows that the event is inclusive. When any discussion takes place solely within an airline forum - and I've seen this in several - it feels as though only those who fly that carrier are welcome. (Well, ok, *I* get that feeling.) In this thread the Delta regulars have been making everyone feel welcome to come to Venice.

Oh lili-dui, I too am struggling with what to do. Even though I am my own (and Hunki's) boss, I feel guilty about taking time off during the work week during our very busy season. What to do, what to do?

I am certain that we can find adequate internet connections, and I just checked the Nextel site, and it would appear that I will have high-quality cell phone coverage in Venezia, so my employees will be able to contact me 24/7 and, believe me, they will--there is always someone who gets the time difference wrong when I am on an international trip and calls me at 3:00 a.m., just to tell me that it really isn't important, but that they need to set up a time to talk to me about something when I get back. :rolleyes: Actually it is a very small price to pay for the freedom to sneak in a bit of rapid-fire travel to Itally prior to retirement. I am so jealous of monitor and Franny and their freedom to hang out in Italy for weeks and weeks.

Our plan is to leave SEA 11/18 and leave VCE 11/22. We will probably stay at the Danieli at least part of the time--in true FlyerTalk fashion, we always need to work in a qualifying stay. :D

Dovster, is it wise for Hunki to bring a suit and tie? It is easy enough for him to just wear his jacket on the plane and pack his suit pants, shirt and tie, if that is a good idea. If there is a possibility for fancy dancing in VCE, we would love to indulge. We have been know to crash grand events that included dancing in fancy hotels. :o We are good enough to class them up. ;)

lili-dui, I am just thinking of wearing my Gortex walking shoes, bringing along dancing shoes, and buying boots in Italy if that becomes necessary.

Dovster, you forgot two items on your list:

8. An opportunity to once again see some very charming, intelligent and interesting Flyer Talkers, whom you have previously met.

9. An opportunity to meet a whole bunch of very interesting brand new Flyer Talkers.

Howdy folks... Platbrowngal A is in, so chalk her up on the Definites list.

That being said, there's still nothing stopping me from finding B, C, D, and/or E if the opportunity so arises. :D

Is this going to be an ultra-dressy sort of thing (like suits and jackets and such) or will smart casual work with the exception of the casino?

Oh, and do you have to wear a tie at the casino or can you get by with a jacket and slacks? I don't much care for ties. If a tie is required at all times, Cholula will have to tie it for me on flight 1726 into VCE.

---

I just received a reply from the Hotel Ai Mori:

Madam,
In reply to your kind mail we confirm your reseservation but please contact Mrs Rozanscky for the watertaxi for your group and let us know.
Best regards
Yours Sincerely
HOTEL AI MORI D'ORIENTE
Marco Musco


-I'll let the "madam" slide because Kyle is an uncommon name in non-English countries, but who is this Mrs Rozanscky? If she works for the hotel, no email address or phone was provided; if she is an FTer, could somebody PM me with her FT identity?

Thanks!

platbrownguy....glad to see your plans are firming up and that you and platbrowngal A will be joining us!
As for the undecided’s and fence-sitter’s out there, let me say that when I first saw the dates, there was no way we could do this trip. But we decided that it was a trip that simply HAD to occur and made it happen. We’ve got long-standing Thanksgiving plans with friends and are going to literally get off our flight back from VCE and join them.
Plus I didn’t want to pass up the chance for a free t-shirt!! ;)
On the coat and tie thing, I’m not bringing one. I only wear coats and ties to weddings and funerals nowadays and am not planning on attending either while in VCE. I live close enough to Las Vegas and about a bazillion Indian casinos that the casino in VCE doesn’t hold any special attraction.
And, platbrownguy, on the mysterious “Mrs. Rozansky”, YGPM.

The good old trusty GSM phones with US numbers and Dovster's assurances that he will show me how to access the web in Italy at a reasonable cost has made this possible. We too must be available to our employees 24/7 and the improvements in communications over the last few years will allow us to take the holiday weekend (when our business is much less likely to need us over there).

We are truly excited by this trip as much as any we have undertaken in years, and the answers to Punki's sartorial last questions are of great interest to us. We must just keep in mind that a bulk of the answers will be attempted by Dovster, to whom (as with most Israelis) wearing a shirt with a collar generally is considered to be "dress up."

A number of points:

SanDiego1K, you are right in pointing out that non-Delta Forum regulars are just as welcome at the Meet as those of us who were recipients of the LMOS (Leo Mullen Official Screwing). At the Great Delta Board PBI-FLL Meet in May, we had a number of non-Delta flyers and they added quite a bit to the gathering. Hopefully, confining the fun remarks to the the Delta Forum thread will not discourage them from joining in.

Lili-Dui, I have just added you to our "Possible List" on the first post of this thread. I hope to be able to move you soon to the "Definite" list. (The same is true of SanDiego1K, who has been only a "Possible" for much too long!)

Punki, you wrote that "Even though I am my own (and Hunki's) boss, I feel guilty about taking time off during the work week during our very busy season. What to do, what to do?"

Answer: Assign your employee, Hunki, to work in Venice that week and then accompany him to supervise. Internet access really will be no problem. It is my understanding (possibly incorrect) that the Ai Mori has both wireless and cable connection. It definitely offers the possibility for Dial Up Network, and I can set up an account for you in a few minutes. The only cost will be the charge for a local phone call. (It will also be good anywhere in Italy and will always be free.)

I don't think a suit and tie is necessary but remember that Italian men like to dress up. It certainly would not be out of place in any restaurant, even during lunch. Venice, incidentally, is famous for its silk ties. You can spend tons of money for them in expensive shops or buy almost identical ones for pennies on the Rialto Bridge.

Platbrownguy, you have to wear a jacket and tie at the casino if you want to go into the gaming rooms. It is not required to play the slots. Remember to bring your passport to the casino or you will not be allowed in. I am very happy that Platbrowngal A is coming, but was sorry to see that it meant you cutting your trip short by one day.

Hunki likes very much to dress up as well, so he will probably bring a suit and is easily tempted when it comes to buying shoes and ties.

Name tags
 

Can we have name tags for the VCE meet? I found it very helpful.

Who was in charge of that at PBI?

I agree -- they were a big help.

Cholula provided them in PBI, but I don't think it is fair to ask him again. He is already bringing t-shirts and other goodies.

Any volunteers? (Blank tags which can be stuck on your clothing will suffice.)

"Call in sick from Venice." We would love to see you. Can you drive to LAX and take the AF codeshare via CDG?

HELLO...my name is____________
 

I will be happy to volunteer for the blank tags, unless anyone wants something different from that.

Dorlee, as far as I am concerned, that will be fine -- and thanks.

(Please bring extras as those worn during the 19th drinks at the bar may well be in very poor condition by the time of the big meet on the 20th.)