New Collaborative Gathering Calendar

[cdfnchico]

There have been a few folks missing "Destinations" and I got to thinking. What I liked about "Destinations" was that all the gatherings were listed by month in one place! It's a LOT for an individual to keep up with, but I thought we might practice a bit of "Many Hands" making light work. This is a collaborative calendar, that I would be glad to share the ability to create events with individuals who are active and interested in their local chapters/areas.

Here's the start of a list.. This link will take you to the "Read Only" list style calendar. http://bit.ly/TDGatherings I copied the info for a few events so we could see what it looked like.



Please PM me if you would like to help out and add events for your region. Lets see if this works!

[lrrowe]

A central listing of all events would be helpful. For all the events witin a 5 state distance from me, I listed them in my personal google calendar. But lately I seem to be finding out about one I missed every week or so.

[Vedette]

So how does this differ from "Destinations" when Grant was doing it.
From what I understand, he received the information and updated it to the Destinations page for everyone to see.
From a recent post here on the Tnttt, he mentioned the template is there. Just need someone to receive and update the information.
Sound like what is being offered up here.
Please don't take my comments as "Negative"
I for one am 150 percent in favor of a central listing of "Gatherings" and special events.
One that members from all of the many Teardrop sites could access via a link the way Destinations worked.
Again ......if it isn't broken don't fix it! What is needed is a new driver...not a new car.
Cathy if you are willing to take this on, you should contact Grant Whipp.
If I am reading this wrong, please set me(and others who might not be clear on what you are trying to do) straight, with a more detailed explanation.
As a Tear Jerkers Director of two Chapters I would be more than willing to help in any way I can.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[Vedette]

So how did the Farm Gathering magically appear minutes after my above post?
Brian
But, thanks for adding it to the new list.

[grant whipp]

Congrats on making the effort to put something together, Cathy ... ...!

You are absolutely right ... gathering and arranging all the info that we presented on the DESTINATIONS! Page was, indeed, a lot of work ... ...! And, a great deal of thought & planning went into presenting it in the most informative and user-friendly format, taking the best ideas from a lot of different types of event calendars! It gives me a kind of warm & fuzzy feeling to know that folks are missing what I created and maintained for so long, but I gotta tell you, I'm sure NOT missing all the work that went into it!

If I could offer just one little suggestion, that would be to include contact info with each listing so that folks who want more details or have questions to ask can either go to a website or have an e-mail or phone number to reach out to ... I think that would be extremely helpful!

Also, when hosts or promoters are preparing the listing or "announcement" of their events (commonly referred to as a PSA, for Public Service Announcement), there are 4 or 5 very important subjects that should always be included, and usually in the following order:

1) WHEN? - date or dates of the event
2) WHAT? - the name or title of the event (could also include types of vehicles welcome, and perhaps the host club/individual)
3) WHERE? - location of the event, city & state at the very least, address is even more helpful
4) WHO? - as mentioned above, contact info for more information
5) HOW MUCH? - optional, but can be very helpful for folks on tight budgets (I can't tell you how many times I've heard people quietly say or post "Thank Yous" when that info is included in a listing!)

Good Luck with the new calendar! Hopefully, we'll be seeing quite a few of you in our limited travels this camping season ... ...! As always ...

CHEERS!

[Vedette]

Hi Grant
How many Forums or Teardrop clubs or Groups used a link to your "Destinations" page.
Cathy will need all the help she can get if she steps to the plate.
And "Thank You" again my friend, from all of us, for the hard work you put into this for so many years!
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[2bits]

On the South Central side, things have bridged to a few other groups... The Southwest Teardrop and Vintage trailer group and the Texas Vintage trailer Club. (You can see the progression) Most times things are handled on those sites so at minimum, just like in the vintage camper trailers magazine or any other classified ad, a link to the source might be all that is needed and the owners or the source are responsible for everything related to their meet.

[cdfnchico]

mam. how can I get walk the winds added to this? thanks. slow.

I got you Slow! Check back soon!

So how does this differ from "Destinations" when Grant was doing it.

Brian, though the format may still exist for Destinations, it was a lot of work to maintain and tho I am willing to facilitate, I am not planning on taking as huge a role as Grant and Kay did. This format allows several of us to take care of our own little slice. I have already had some folks step up, including you! Who I will gladly place in charge of updating the BC calendar! (Watch for a pm soon!) I am not trying to reinvent the wheel, but am trying to develop a place for the info to be collected without placing a burden on any one individual. Once it is populated I am hopeful a handy link could be placed on
all appropriate sites!

If I could offer just one little suggestion, that would be to include contact info with each listing so that folks who want more details or have questions to ask can either go to a website or have an e-mail or phone number to reach out to ... I think that would be extremely helpful!!

Thanks Grant! The "sample" posts that I shared are "clickable " links and under the "more" button is all relevant info I found in the related post I gleaned it from

We'll see how this s goes...Destinations was great! There is no way this will ever be quite the same.... But may turn out to be a helpful tool that a few folks can easily maintain.

Thanks again for all your efforts through the years!

[Vedette]

So Cathy
Have you posted on the Tear Jerkers Forum or viewed their current Calendar of Events?
And how about Marrianne's T.O.W. Events Schedule.
Great start for PNW information.
And "Yes" I am on board!
A the Tear Jerkers PNW Chapter Director, I would also like to access the North West.
We should talk.
I will PM you.
Brian

[cdfnchico]

I just checked out the Tearjerker calendar, which is awesome! I think it could be added as a stand alone addition to the top of this page, especially since you do not HAVE to be a member or signed in to see it. I don't know exactly if it replaces "Destinations" as there are Gathering that are not Tearjerkers. These would be the ones like our Fall Finale, the Treasure Island Meet and Greet, etc, that would not make the TJ calendar. I am adding some more to the calendar and have authorized some admins, so we will see how this goes!

[Vedette]

Thanks Cathy
This Gathering Calendar has great potential and is easy to "Add Event".
I totally agree that it should have a place on both the TnTTT and Tear Jerkers Forums, displayed as "Gathering Calendar" as a menu item across the top of the page.
Hopefully everyone will start using this to list their upcoming events.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi
PS
I can list your event on this Calendar under Northwest or British Columbia.

[Vedette]

I see that the additions are coming in and the Calendar is growing!
But, we do need the Administrator to add it to the main menu header or at least in the TD Friendly Websites to replace "Destinations"
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[cdfnchico]

A bit of a "bump"here. Several folks have jumped on board and a few regions have been updated. Check it out! We need a few more folks who are willing to add events for their regions in order for it to be successful. Like Brian says; it's easy to add events...you can copy and paste posts from other locations.

http://bit.ly/TDGatherings