"Hi Suzy,
Larry here in northern California again. I still plan on going to the Social, I just have not made my reservations yet.
I have not been to one yet, but I want to bring up something and maybe make an offer regarding the tshirts and bandanas. It may be easier if you could call me?
Larry and guide dog Galleon"

Well our new friend and 'brother', Larry called to say he is willing to make our T shirts. He has the time and skills and resources to help. Go Larry!!
I think our Theme will be RP Social 2009 Portland,Oregon, the City of Roses

Pam Hogan is supplying examples of previous T shirt logos and she told me she has made the bandanas in previous years. If this part proves challenging, I too can get creative and find a nice rose print at Fabric Depot and pitch in to help Larry.
Larry,Thank You So Much:^)

Guess What!
Suddenly the buffet suggestion rooted in me and began to become a viable option. I called Anna Abraham at the Sheraton today to pursue the idea and take another giant step towards fixing the cost of the dinner dance and completing the registration form, ( Thanks Dan) Anna said they will have servers at the buffet line to help us and we are certainly help one another since we are a 'family'. To have an entree served to us was the same price as the buffet which has so much more to offer.
We added an in room bar for $95.00 which will ease the traffic to and from the bar in the lobby. Dan says the drinks are reasonably priced. Having a bar in the ballroom only adds one dollar to the total cost.
So I am happy, how about you? Here is the description. . .

"Simply Sheraton" Buffet $28.95
Seasonal Mixed Greens with assorted dressings
Fresh Fruit Salad
Bow Tie Pasta Salad with Smoked Ham
La Trattoria Vegetarian Lasagna
Herb Roasted Chicken
Green Beans and Herb Roasted Potatoes
Rolls and Butter
Chef Barry's Dessert Table
Starbuck's Cofee and Tazo Teas

Okay, it's not a Rose but it is a hydrangea from the yard next door.
Inviting you to the Pacific Northwest. . .

RP Social in Portland, Or.
July 23-26, 2009

Save this Date!
RP Social
July 23-26, 2009
In beautiful Portland,Oregon
Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel

8235 Northeast Airport Way, Portland, Oregon 97220
800-325-3535 for reservations

Mention RP Social to get our negotiated room rate. We have reserved a block of 40 rooms.

A basic room rate is $109.00, or
$129.00 for a package that includes daily continental breakfast and Happy Hour

Hosted by Dan and Suzy Gustafson
(Mirage Guide Dog Hostess)
danandsuzyg@comcast.net

Please email us with suggestions on activities
we might include.

Registration fee, including cost of the Saturday night dinner/dance, to be announced.

Here is the link for RP Social attendees to book reservations
RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA/RP ANNUAL
(copy and paste the following link into a web browser)
http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/res?id=0811170817&key=95276

More to come!!!

I have to admit that I am frustrated.
Of course I will work through it. . .
But you may think I am not being productive. And I guess I am spinning my wheels a bit.
I called the Sheraton today to confirm the menu I was given in October and to confirm the prices. Well, I had the pleasure of speaking with Anna Abraham and she sent me a copy of the new dinner 'offerings'. As a well trained chef I would not be content to offer the sames entrees year after year either. So many foods and so little time! Anyway, if we don't offer one entree then by adding a second entree everyone pays an additional three dollars to their entree plus twenty one percent to cover the gratuity and cost of the ballroom.
Wouldn't it be easier for the vegetarians, Dr. Gis and me to simply go to the dining room for the roasted vegetable ravioli and carrying our plates to the ballroom to eat with y'all than to charge one hundred people a total of three hundred dollars to accommodate our personal choice?
It's maddening.
They offered the buffet, but is that a viable option? Dan and I avoid buffets like the norovirus . . . Mirage a good guide goes nuts with the 'crumbs' she finds on the floor.
This I will have to sleep on.
Maybe we just offer beef or vegetarian on the registration form and Dan can bring up a vegetable lasagne and salad for the vegetarians among us.

Dinner and Dancin?
Dan brought this to my attention. . . if we have a dance we will need music :-)
Okay, I agree.In previous years a band of smoking, red haired men named Dan haul in a lot of discs and spin the tunes while we dance. It's always fun to just bop abound the dance floor with the girls and your occasional 'good sport' if a man. Thanks Guys!!!



Here is a letter I received today~
"Suzy,

If the Dans won't be spinning discs, I don't think you necessarily need to
hire a band or a DJ. A sound system and a couple of iPods are all you'd
really need (and a volunteer,of course). That'd be a whole lot cheaper
and quite possibly free. You'd want to check with the hotel, though, to
make sure that they wouldn't have a problem with a do-it-yourself setup like
that.

Just a thought in case Daniel won't be doing the music.

Mark"

Any other ideas? Shall we go low budget? Call in favors or Find the Dans!

Graduation Day at GDB will be on July 26th.
I just spoke to Jane Grecco who will happily accommodate the guests at the RP Social 2009 who want to attend a graduation and tour of the residential facility. The school is about 20 minutes from the Portland Airport. We will arrange a shuttle to Guide Dogs for the Blind.I am guessing this option will be 12 to 4 on Saturday the 26th. You'll be back at the Sheraton in time for the happy hour that will precede the Dinner and Dance.
A full day to be sure.
We are also thinking of a trip to the Coast for Saturday. Let me know what else YOU come up with.
Thank You Mary Dignan for this superb suggestion.

Help

Dear Suzy:

So we got the hotel, and I got my tickets, so let's see some folks signing up, lol. I will post my "advertisements" for the social, lol. It looks like there will be a lot coming if everyone who says they are actually does! Are you and Dan hosting alone? Do you need any help? If you need me to look anything up, or be a contact, or lead a group, or anything, just let me know. I am here for you, lol! But don't ask me to design the t-shirt, ha ha; it would be stick figures!

Have a great day and be good to yourself.
Mickie ; ) RP in NJ
Life is short; break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably - and never regret anything that made you smile.