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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Many of our members have asked if and when we can get together, tour the factory, voice our opinions, try some new products etc. Well the time has come.
I had an extensive conversation with Rick Hall this morning and we agreed on a date: Friday March 28th, 2003. The date is tenative until Rick confirms with the factory and others involved but unless there is some conflict this will be the date.
Rick fells that we can handle around 150 members maximum. The factory tour will be open to all registered members of the OFC. In a few days Miles will put up an on-line registration form. If you wish to participate I suggest that you register early.
So far we talked about a factory tour and perhaps a question and answer session. With perhaps a little coaxing we may be able to get Rick to include a giveaway guitar for the members and maybe they can develop a Special OFC model for special order.
The factory is located in New Hartford, CT and is about 30 minutes from Bradley airport. In the past, I have stayed at the Ramada Inn near the airport. They have a bar and restaurant, nice accomadations and they are relatively inexpensive. There are many hotels in the area. I only suggest the Ramada since having one "host" hotel would be a nice central meeting place.
All the details will need to be ironed out. If you have any suggestions please let Miles or myself know.
When picking a date for an event you cannot please eveyone or satisfy every request. If you cannot make it this time be sure that there will be another event the following year. The impression I am getting is that Ovation wants to open their doors to their fans and we are welcome.
If you have any skills in organizing large groups and can make any suggestions concerning accomodations please lend your skills to our group.
I hope this will please all of our members. I am looking forward to meeting many of you. BTW make that only 148 places available since Miles and Myself are already on the list....
[ September 06, 2002: Message edited by: alpep ]
[ September 06, 2002: Message edited by: alpep ]
[ September 06, 2002: Message edited by: alpep ] |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Sounds GREAT!!!
Al/Miles:
Lemme know if there's anything I can do to help with organizing.
Also, if there might be anything needed in the way of graphics, signage, banners, etc., just contact me. |
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Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 327
Location: Houston, TX | Oh well, since I started the thread I guess I'll HAVE to go now.
Just kidding...I'm in with both feet and want to help. Just let me know what I can do. |
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Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 327
Location: Houston, TX | Couple thoughts:
We can get a group rate on accomodations if people are willing to commit. I'm guessing this would involve something more than signing up (like giving your credit card number to the hotel) since the rate would be based on number of rooms.
I like the Ramada Inn idea. Cheap and clean is all I need (there's a song in there somewhere). How many rooms at this Ramada? If we book them all we don't need to worry about noise from the jams.
If we tour the factory on Friday, is it a good idea to "breakout" Saturday afternoon, maybe at some hall? Folkies, Cowboys, Rockers, Nyloners, Songwriters in the Round, all could hook up according to like interests. Are their a couple of local public houses (for you, Paul T.) that would host some strumming loonies Saturday night? Then everyone can wake up, down two excedrin with a Bloody Mary (or White Russian, my personal choice), and head home on Sunday.
Add/delete/change as desired, we have time to hone it. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Scott
so far I have the date and tour committed.
Hamer Fans have a jam at a local K of C hall. I can talk to Rick and see if he wants to rent that place for a "jam" on Friday night.
When Miles gets the sign in together and we get an idea of how many actually will commit to attending then we can work on the Ramada for reduced rates or free breakfast or booze or something.
Keep the ideas and thoughts flowing.... |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Bringing this back up to the top, Miles should have an on line registration soon. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Hello Everyone,
Sign up for the Spring 2003 First Annual Ovation Convention and Factory Tour! Remember, there are only 150 spots available for the tour.
Click to Sign Up Today!!!
You can also reach this link, but clicking on LINKS from the main navigation and selecting the OFC Convention link from there. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Don't forget to sign up. Miles posted the link above and it is also located in the links section |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 10
| I'm in, this is gunna be GREAT! Talk about an awesome tour and not far from home either!
See ya there!
Shane |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | For those of you coming from warmer climates the end of March can still be nasty in CT, bring your coats! Ya'll should have a good time. I'll look forward to hearing about it here. |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | This is one of the very few times I wish Minnesota was a little closer to the East Coast! I would love to go, but it would be very difficult to pull it off.
Norse(no disrespect meant to you east coast guys, I just love it here in the midwest! Hey, my soapstone woodstove is from New Hamshire! The Minnesota Vikings head coach is from Maryland! I love New York Sirlion Strips! I love seeing Benjamin Franklin's picture if ya know what I mean!!!)man1 |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 41
Location: Boston MA | HEY just signed up for the tour sounds great!! I live in the Boston area about 20 min from Logan air port. If I can help any one with a ride please let me know. I love the east coast the weather will be a little raw but hey this is where the factory is. |
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June 2002
Posts: 20
Location: east coast | Darn. That is the same weekend as the Beatlefest in New Jersey, I was really looking forward to the Ovation tour, But It's my tradition to go to Beatlefest for 14 years. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | the tour is on Friday you still have the weekend to fest on beatles |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | If anyone is interested in other things to do in CT just ask. I unfortunately grew up there. The New Hartford (and west) is some of the most scenic in the Northeast. Close by is a REAL dinosaur park (real tracks, real bones not props). The Mark Twain house in Hartford is worth a visit, as well as several other local sites. Colt museum too. For those who might want to drive within an hour, there is the infamous, historic etc... Connecticut River Valley, starting with the Goodspeed Opera house in East Haddam, Gillette's Castle in Old Lyme, and Historic cities of Ivoryton and Deep River, all the way to New London and even the famous Mystic Seaport village. As anyone who smokes a cigar knows, a large percent of the wrappers used worldwide come from the Tobacco fields of CT.
There's other stuff, but that was all that came to mind at the moment. If you are looking for something in particular... let me know.
[ September 13, 2002: Message edited by: Mr. Ovation ] |
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May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Miles
Good stuff, that all would be worth seeing, PBS or some channel just recently had a Mark Twain biographical program and that house was shown in detail. It's easy to forget how much of our history is founded there. Too bad the visit won't be in the fall to see the autumn colors (as an ex Ohioen, I miss those spectacular colors).
Bailey |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | There certainly is a lot of History in CT. It's too bad that CT tourism I think went to the same school of marketing as many buisnesses in the state. (hmmm did I just go there... seemed a way to stay on topic.). Last summer I did the Mark Twain house tour and we had a gent that was in period character give the tour. Basically as if Mr. Clemens had just "stepped out" for a bit and we snuck in for a look around.
I also found this link of things to do in Connecticut figuring folks who are travelling some distance may be interested. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 389
Location: RI. That small State out East | Looking forward to the visit / tour. My drive from RI is a little over an hour. I can help. Good going on setting up the tour.
Woz |
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March 2002
Posts: 873
Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | damn!!! i wish i could go :( maybe one of baileys mules will wander down here and i can return it via CT.
if i wasn't always at the airport when my ship comes in......................
maybe i should dust off the old cue stick. on second thought i remember what they did to paul newman's hands in the shitter--------
"yeah i won enough to go to CT, but i'm only playing kazoo these days----say, would you help me get that straw up to my lips?" |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | For those who have not travelled much recently, a quick search of airline fares puts CT in range of most places in the USA for under $200 round trip, and from many places around $100 round trip. SouthWest Airlines and Orbitz are my favorite places to book fares. |
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OFC day at the Ovation Factory