Luncheon at Crispers
 

Hi Guys,

My friend and I attended the luncheon today and was very disappointed about the organization of the group. Why weren't all the tables pulled together so everyone could talk? And if this would have happened then each person could have introduced himself. Shouldn't we all have been given name tags, just cheap tags to write our names on, possibly by our administrator or someone he designates? And that person could have given a short Welcome Speech.

We thought there was someone who said on TOTV he or she was traveling a distance and was looking forward to meeting everyone? I don't believe we gave that person a good impression... just a little disappointed.

I agree Nancy. This was our 3rd Crispers but will probably be the last. Gracie and another member were at our first meeting with name tags and made everyone feel welcome. The second one was just like today. Kind of hard to know who is TOTV and Who is not. We were happy to meet four fellow Georgians today and I do apologize for not getting around and speaking to everyone but it felt very uncomfortable to us.

I was with you all in spirit. We were taking a brand new wannabe around The Villages for the first time and she only had yesterday and today.

Of course she loved it. And we loved showing her around. It is like taking a child to Disneyland for the first time, nearly as thrilling for the person who watches them be so enthralled.

Lila and I plan to attend in February and/or March while we are there. We were at Crispers for the gathering in April 2010, and also felt it was less organized than we had expected. Perhaps someone who is a frog, and will be there, needs to be nominated each month to be the official greeter for the next month's get together. That person could then provide the name tags and make a short welcome and encourage an introduction of each person and their screen name. That would not require a great deal of effort or expense for anyone and would add a teeny bit of structure. Any nominations for the February get together? How about KathieI for that one??

Isn't it a gas to show someone around a place that you love, and see it anew through their eyes? I remember taking our daughter to Maui when she was 25and getting ready to be married. It was our second trip there and it gave us goosebumps to see her react as positively as we had. I am sure your enthusiasm rubbed off on your guests and they will probably be residents soon.

Good idea eweIssenbach! I'd take a turn!

No why didn't I think of that? I'd take a turn!

I'll take a turn.

Cool! Who wants to step up and take February? Then it is that person's responsibility to see that someone else takes it for March and so on, and so on.

I will be happy to take February. I'm relatively new and too naive to know better than to volunteer! Unless Nancy wants Feb. if so, I'll take March!

Cool X 2! Two more ideas. The designated person in charge should put out a daily reminder post the week of the get together. Second, the new Admin should be invited to meet his peeps and make a few comments about the forum.

Additional thoughts:

- Someone designated to take and post photos
- Someone to get the peel-and-stick name tags and some ink pens
- Someone to coordinate appropriate seating with Crispers mgmt

Bill :)

Someone to bring popcorn :popcorn::popcorn::popcorn::1rotfl:

Geez........who's ever done THAT before???? :icon_wink:

Bill :wave:

His name might be Beeel. Check out Crispers photos from September....:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

When we first started organizing TOTV lunches in 2007, they were intended as informal "meet and greets". Village Kid volunteered to bring name tags and pens. I talked to the Crispers Manager who suggested the time of 3PM, so there would be adequate seating available. Pictures were taken and posted by whoever was in the mood. Although the luncheons weren't officially organized by the Admins, Jan and Tony both dropped by on a few occasions to say Hi.

The TOTV lunches are still a great way for newbies and oldies to informally meet. I think it's wonderful that some of the newer members are getting involved to organize the lunches. I hope you all meet many new friends.

I didn't even know they had a lunch at Crispers. Iwould have love to meet some of the TOTV posters

:agree:

This was our first Crispers event and we didn't know anyone. We just stood around not knowing who was there eating lunch and who was with the TOTV gang. We weren't even sure we were in the right place. No signs indicating a TOTV event. I even asked the cashier if we were in the right place and she didn't know of any get-together going on that day. We are thankful that we finally met you and your friend and also the table of GA folks, but had we not been forward enough to introduce ourselves, we would have probably left early without meeting anyone.

You can go to the top of the TOTV page and click on User CP. Scroll to the bottom and click on Event Reminders and set it up to remind you of Crispers on 3rd Fri each month. I have mine set to remind me 3 days in advance. Hopefully that will be soon enough to plan to go and does not give me much time to forget it! Plan to come Feb 17

This was my second meeting and because everything was non-organized, and with me being probably the biggest TOTV poster attending, maybe I should have stepped up. I sat at a table of eight and I thought of asking each table to introduce themselves but I felt awkward. As others have said, there was nothing to tell anyone who any of us were or of a TOTV meeting.

Does anyone know who the administrator is ?? Has the administrator ever made himself or herself known

As far as I know, The Administrator has nothing to do with The Crispers meetings. I believe it was organized by Village People wanting to meet other TOTV's.

Like Bare, I was part of the early Crisper luncheon organization,posting announcements, taking and posting photos. This goes back over 4 years now and has almost exclusively been a member initiated function. Many of the early TOTV organizers have moved on to other things or otherwise become less visible on the forum.

So, your idea to have someone volunteer to take the lead each month is spot on. It's not that hard and will certainly help first timers and newbies feel welcome.

Don't give up on the Crispers luncheons yet!!!

does the admin actually live in TV ??

Disappointed
 

This was our first Crisper lunch and we were looking forward to it but how disappointed we were. If it wasn't for Tom and his wife and Tom introducing us to Swindflu and another person, we would have been completely alone. As I viewed TOTV You Tube video of past, I thought it would be much livelier and people introducing each other etc. We've been here now two months and belong to our neighborhood group as well as to other clubs, so we don't have to attend Crispers but those wannabes coming to Crispers for the first time or Newbiees, this group maybe the first real introduction to TV. We give them warm welcome on these postings but on real time at Crispers, it is a dud. I was told that Kathie was not around so this time it was disorganized. But, Swindflu told us there were sometimes only six people. This get together is a great introduction and a nice Welcome Mat for Newcomers and Wannabees visiting TV. I think it will be sad to see this venue go by the wayside. How can we make it a real Welcome Wagon?

Another Suggestion
 

Since unforeseen things can occur (happened to me yesterday), instead of depending on one person each month to provide the name tags, why couldn't each person do his/her own and wear it to the meeting? Even if others might be there with name tags from another meeting or something, chances are they wouldn't have screen names on theirs.

THAT is an excellent idea. I truly understand anyone's reticence to stand up and say..."Hey THERE! Anyone from TOTV??" but that would be all it takes, just take a deep breath. It is kinda like jumpin' in at the deep end of the pool.

Just ask everyone to stand up and introduce themselves to anyone else who is standing.

THEN try like crazy to remember their real name, who their spouse is, his real name, her TOTV name, his TOTV name and what village they aspire to, or live in, and their old home outside TV.Whew!

Now that is a trick and a half to do. So next time you see me at Crispers and I act dazed, I have NOT been drinking....

Getting the Crispers meeting together
 

I'm glad you all are figuring this out now so when I get there I won't feel like a nincompoop! It's such a great idea to have this "mixer" so the tadpoles can meet the frogs. TV is such a friendly place and to have an event like this where others felt awkward isn't so great. Everyone seems to have a handle on it now and I'll bet the next one will be a fun time! We'll see you the third Friday in May!! :icon_wink:

Alright, Guys, since I started this posting, I will volunteer for February to announce on TOTV the meeting, bring name tags, be at Crispers early to set up the tables, and make a Welcome Speech. Will someone volunteer to bring the popcorn (excellent idea)?

I was attending Crispers gatherings from the very first meeting but became involved in other things at one point during the same Friday time frame.
You just need someone to appoint themselves a Greeter with name tags (for real name and screen name) and pens for everyone - can't imagine not having name tags which makes it so much easier.
:welcome:
P.S. Sorry, mikeannancxy1112, I had not read your post when I submitted mine. Good for you!
:BigApplause:

No problem, Islandgal, just hope folks reply to me.

We would love to come, and if you still need somebody to bring popcorn....let me know the week before,and I will bring a big bag!

I'd feel funny bringing popcorn into a restaurant as I would my own drink. It's a business that sells food and welcomes us there in order to do so. I quit going since summer because it was never organized, name tags were always forgotten and on my last one half sat outside in 98 deg. heat and the rest inside in A/C. With these new volunteers it sounds interesting again.

As a long-time member of TOTV and a pretty regular attendee at the monthly "luncheon," I must admit to:

1] being somewhat embarrassed when folks
a] don't show up
b] don't identify themselves
c] seem to be 'shy'

2] being somewhat embarassed that
a] there's no apparent organization
b] there's no apparent welcoming committee
c] there are few, if any, follow-up pictures, etc.

I know of many 'reasons' why these deficiencies exist. And, I can think of several ways of correcting them. That said, I think that this thread is on the right track to making the monthly luncheon at Crisper's an EVENT worthy of note!

Personally, I frankly have too many others things going on to take on any responsibilities for TOTV. I do hope that some of you will do so, though!

SWR
:beer3:

Les, that would be great, but my only concern is the whether the restaurant will object.

Why would the restaurant object? We're spending money there. The Villages Gourmet Club has members that go to restaurants in groups and sit together and wear name tags if they want to.

Jblum,

I am just wondering whether the restaurant would object in us bringing our own popcorn.

I can't wait to get down there!!! I would have no problem helping to organize (or doing it myself!)...I also wouldn't have a problem standing up and asking how many there were from TOTV (guess you can tell, I'm not shy!) Stick on name tags with markers available would be all it would take...might even get some of the other customers to join TOTV.

Personally, I would not bring in your own food/snacks in this situation. I think it only fair that they make a few $$ off of people buying snacks, etc., in exchange for using the facility at no charge.

I think you guys and gals are on the right track with getting it organized again!! :coolsmiley:

ummm...kinda thinkin the popcorn is a joke???? I found it funny, even if everyone else took it seriously.