New Orleans Reunion - Detailed Information

Open Invitation:

This is an open invitation to all fun loving, non judgmental, giving people and it will stay an open invitation to all these types for as long as the hotel has the rooms and the parade permit will allow. We are expecting at least 100 people to attend and possibly as many as 200.

Limitations:

We only have a certain number of rooms “blocked” at the special rate. Once these rooms are gone, it is completely up to hotel management as to whether or not they want to extend the “block“. Please note that October is the second busiest month of the year for this hotel and at the rate they have offered, I find it highly unlikely that they will extend this incredibly generous rate.

With over 100 verbal commitments already received, we strongly encourage and suggest that any person or persons wanting to have a blast in New Orleans for the “Wishes Wonders & Whodats” reunion weekend …………..book their room ASAP or sooner

THE SPECIAL RATE OFFERED BY THE HOTEL IS ONLY VALID UNTIL JUNE 15, 2011.

Dates:

October 21-23 2011

Location:

French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana

Host Hotel

“It’s been said that the French Quarter begins in the lobby of the hotel Monteleone. In fact, this venerable establishment sits majestically at the foot of Royal Street” Giving guests the best point of departure for all things New Orleans“.

I normally like to rant, but for this one there is no need - the grande dame speaks for herself http://hotelmonteleone.com/

Booking & Registration

Booking and registration for the event is very simple. In order to receive the special group rate for this event, please identify yourself as part of the group: Make-A-Wish Benefit Reunion. The telephone number for reservations is 1-800-535-9595. Once you book with the hotel you are registered for the event. The room rate is $175.00 per room/per night.

If you have any questions let me or t know at robandtonyacummins@yahoo.com we would also like for you to let us know once you book so we can confirm those attending

We are expecting the full allotment of rooms to be taken so make sure you book/register quickly. If you are planning on going and expect to automatically be “in” because of your verbal commitment - please think again. We do expect you though, as we based our agreement with the hotel on the verbal tally. But please understand that from this point forward, these rooms are first come first serve basis……….. so if you have committed please book soon so that you can make sure you have a room at the host hotel.

T and I have already booked!
　
Weekend Schedule:

Friday Evening

Meet & Greet Social Hour- 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. River View Room - Hotel Monteleone

Sponsor - Hotel Monteleone is one of the sponsors and we are still looking for a few more J

Lets get to know everyone and have a nice introduction to the city at the same time. The river view room is located high above the French Quarter on the roof of our host hotel overlooking the rooftop heated swimming pool and the Mississippi river. The hotel is allowing us complimentary use of this highly valued room. A gesture for which we are highly grateful.

At a very minimum, we will have a cash bar and should we get another sponsor or two (more sponsors are my next projects J ) then we may have a touch more to look forward to here
If you or any one or entity you know of might be interested in sponsoring this event on some level please let me know

A Night in the Quarter- 9:00 p.m. - until - location TBD

Sponsor/Host Check Point - Bart and Annette are working on this one for us

We are going to work our way down Bourbon street to a location with a balcony and throw some beads for a little while…………and then see where the night takes us. We are presently working on the details for this

Saturday Afternoon

Jim & Taras Wishes, Wonders & Who Dats Parade & Pub Crawl- noon - til 6 p.m. - French Quarter - route of parade/crawl currently under construction

Sponsors are Rob & Tonya Cummins, Cancuncare.com, the Hotel Monteleone, Erin Rose Irish Pub and several other local establishments to be named in the coming weeks

This event will begin in the Carousel Bar (located in the lobby of the host hotel), perhaps one of the most famous bars in the country. It will end in the Royal Ballroom (located on the first floor of the host hotel).

Make sure you come dressed for the occasion. We more than likely will receive some type of media coverage. The theme for the parade is fairy tale characters and story book characters. The possibilities for your costumes are endless. We are also asking everyone to enter the Carousel Bar with a ton of New Orleans attitude and a parade umbrella.

Prior to our departure from the Carousel Bar we will be handing over a large cardboard check (the result of our year long donation drive) to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. As soon as the formalities are over the grand marshal will signal the band and we will begin our parade through the French Quarter.

After the parade ends (location TBD), we will be doing a pub crawl (by foot) and a contest all the way back to the hotel Monteleone. The pub crawl will involve 5 “check points” aka bars on each hour. At each “check point” a contest will be held. The pub crawl will end back at the Royal Ballroom inside the hotel Monteleone where we will announce the pub crawl contest winners, best costume winners and present prizes

Saturday Evening - open

We will establish approximately 5 “check points” aka bars for all reunion people. The quarter is a very busy, wild and crazy place and it will be impossible to keep a large group of people together so instead of trying to keep every single person together the entire evening as some will want to do a dinner, others will want to keep drinking and so forth and so on.

So instead of having a detailed plan will just leave saturday night as "open" and set up several locations (approximatley 5 or 6) which we will call “reunion hangouts”.

People tend to move around in the quarter as the party moves from location to location and getting separated from a group of people (no mater how small) is always a possibility. By having these “reunion hangouts” one will always know where at least some reunion people are located.

Sunday Morning

Special jazz brunch for monthly donation contest winners10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m - secret location

Sponsor - got a couple im waiting for a “yes” on

We will be having a very special invite only jazz brunch and inviting the event sponsors, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and roughly 27 donation contest winners (3 contest winners per month at 9 months) to this particular jazz brunch. Again, it will be open only to event sponsors, the event beneficiary and donation contest winners due to seating constraints.

The donation contest winner will select a very special “wish child” during the jazz brunch. That is correct. They will look over the list of potential wishes and select a child and grant the wish. It’s going to be an incredible moment

For more information on the event donation contest and how you can participate and potentially be a part of this very special jazz brunch, please check out the information below about the donation contest. We are strongly encouraging everyone to get completely involved in this donation drive over the next 9 months.

For those unable to get an invite there are also a large number of jazz brunches which we will list for all other event participants - We encourage all going to New Orleans to take in a jazz brunch. They are so much fun and such a part of the New Orleans experience.

Sunday Afternoon

New Orleans Saints Game ??????

The schedule for the Saints is not going to be made public for quite some time, but if the Saints are playing and in town, we will list multiple web sites for those wishing to purchase tickets and attend the game. We will also establish approximately 3 prime locations in the French Quarter for reunion people to gather and watch the game.

Event Cost:

The sponsors of this event will be providing a tremendous amount of value for the event participants. The sponsors are paying for the parade, the parade permit, and the parade band as well as providing meeting rooms, discounted hotel rates, various giveaways and much much more still yet to be determined (we only have four sponsors on our way to well over 20)

In return, these sponsors are simply asking for a minimum donation of $35.00 per person made payable directly to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a non profit organization that grants wishes to children with life threatening conditions.

100% of this money and all other money raised will go directly to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This $35.00 donation can be paid upon arrival at the hotel via check made payable to the Make-A-Wish Foundation

Please note that this $35.00 registration fee can easily be waived by fully participating in the donation drive contest (see below) which we are hoping everyone attending will be participating in
　
Donation Drive/Contest:

As many know, we have proudly associated ourselves with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and are listing them as the sole beneficiary of this event. In an effort to raise money for this charity, we have initiated a year long donation contest which started on January 1 and will end the weekend of the event.

There are a large number of prizes available to the contest winner and this long list of items will continue to grow as we get closer to the event dates.

The donation contest winner will presently receive the following:

(a) stay for 2 nights free during the event weekend - that’s correct the donation contest winner(s) will stay for free thanks to our host hotel.

(b) the donation contest winner will get to select a “wish” child from a list provided by the make a wish foundation - you will get to review the actual child/wish and decide which child gets to have their wish granted - a truly special moment for anyone

(c) the donation contest winner(s) will serve as the parade grand marshal

(d) the donation contest winner will present the check to the Make-A-Wish Foundation

These items are just the tip of the iceberg.

This is truly a contest you are all going to want to participate in.

To participate in the donation contest be sure and let Rob and Tonya know by informing them that you are interested in participating.

It’s a really easy contest with some big rewards for some kids who need some wishes granted and for you as well - raise as much money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation as you possibly can each month and mail it to them (will get you the all the detail on where to mail it) .

The three contestants who raise the most each month will be entered into a drawing to be held the reunion weekend.

For more information robandtonyacummins@yahoo.com
　
Transportation:

We are still working with a couple of airlines in an effort to establish an event sponsor as soon as that information is made available I will post it to all attending.

Event Website:

http://www.no-halloween-2011.socialgo.com/

please understand that the web site is information only and the "sign up" is not functional.

Sponsorship:

Sponsorship opportunities are available for any of those attending or unable to attend. if you, a group of people, an organization or any other entity would be interested in sponsoring on any level please contact robandtonyacummins@yahoo.com and let them know so they can explain what opportunity may exist

looking forward seeing everyone in New Orleans

please note this is an information only sticky. there is another thread available for event discussions