Reunion 2015: Location Planning

Plans and Discussions
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First round choice of two for the 2015 Reunion locale

Poll ended at Sun Sep 01, 2013 2:49 am

Branson, MO
5
10%
Denver, CO
1
2%
Las Vegas, NV
2
4%
Mobile, AL
17
35%
Nashville, TN
6
12%
Rapid City, SD
16
33%
No preference
2
4%
 
Total votes: 49

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Reunion 2015: Location Planning

Post by Board Admin »

This is a preliminary selection.

In this first round, you are asked to select two (2) choices. This is your first and second choice. There is no way to distinguish between your first and second choice.
This poll will remain open until and through August 31, 2013. (Using GMT or "Zulu" time).
The top two (2) choices from this selection will go into a second round. You may change your choices up until the poll closes. Your two choices cannot be for the same place. In the second round, everyone will be able to vote for only one (1) choice. Second round voting is expected to be open September 1-30, 2013.
They are listed in alphabetical order here. We have included some basic information about each choice. We have a bit more info on Rapid City as the Hixes did some research and campaigning.
If you'd like to "campaign" on behalf of one of these locations or have additional information that you'd like to share, please reply here to make that information known to others who will be voting.
If you have no preference, please indicate that. It's good to know that a broad number had the chance to voice a preference, even if they had none.
For reference, past locations were: 2004 - Charleston SC, 2005 - Jacksonville FL/Kings Bay Ga, 2007 - New London CT, 2009 - Bremerton WA, 2011 - Charleston SC, 2013 - Jacksonville FL

VERY IMPORTANT: If you are a former Madison sailor and/or a member of Reunion Association and cannot login and have your vote counted, send an email to website@ussjamesmadison627.com NOW to make it so you can. Do not wait until the voting closes and then say "oh there was a problem". I am not set up to take votes by email.

Branson, MO – Honors Veterans. They have a Veterans Memorial Museum. Mostly an entertainment town. Many of the shows start at 3 PM. Springfield/Branson International Airport serves AA, Delta, American Eagle, Allegiant, United, and is 45 miles north of Branson. Branson Airport serves Air Tran and Frontier, and is 10 miles south of Branson. Both have car rentals, some on site and some off.

Denver, CO – All they e-mailed me was that they have Fort Logan, 5 Air Force Bases, 1 Army Base and Wings over the Rockies Museum. Denver International Airport serves American Airlines, Delta, Southwest, United, US Airways, Frontier, Air Tran and jetBlue. They have rental cars on site.

Las Vegas, NV – They have Hoover Dam/ Lake Mead Cruise with Hoover Dam, Area 51 Tour, but nothing relating to the Military. There are tours to Grand Canyon National Park but they may be too distant to include as part of the reunion although they could fit into an extended stay. McCarran International Airport serves Air Tran, Allegiant, AA, Delta, Frontier, jetBlue, Southwest, United, US Airways and Virgin. Car rentals available off site – south of the airport.

Mobile, AL – Fort Gaines Historic Site (pre-Civil War), USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, which includes the USS Drum and Gulf Quest/National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico. Access to other Gulf Coast towns including Pensacola NAS or Mississippi casinos. Mobile Regional Airport serves US Airways Express, United, Delta, ASA and American Eagle. They have rental cars on site.

Nashville, TN – The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson’s home) and a replica of Fort Nash Borough (1779). Mostly Country and Western attractions. Nashville International Airport serves AA, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, United, and US Airways Express. They have car rentals on site.

Rapid City, SD
Possible Tour - -Badlands National Park, Wall Drug and Ellsworth AFB tour of the Air & Space Museum.
(Arrive at Ellsworth AFB to tour the Air and Space Museum. Continue to world's largest drugstore, Wall Drug. Unique shopping. Take a scenic adventure through the Badlands National Park, were rain, wind and frost have carved steep canyons, sharp ridges, gullies and glimpse into the geologic change.)

Possible Tour-- Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial and Custer state park wildlife loop in the southern black Hills, home of buffalo, antelope, deer and prairie dogs roaming free.

Possible Tour-- Mt Rushmore Lighting Ceremony with time for viewing, and patriotic lighting ceremony.

Things to do on your own ---------
Tour the town by trolley fare for unlimited on/off per day is $2. per adult $1 for over 60, see Journey museum, Founders Park, Chapel in the hills Stavkirke chapel. Dahl art center the trolley is a narrated tour.

Free admission at the museum of geology at SD school of Mines and tech. college.

Historic Deadwood SD gaming town home of Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok.

Visit Hill City and ride the 1880 train, to Keystone makes a tour that starts and stops in Hill City with shopping and dinning available.

Rapid City has summer night every Thursday with free bands downtown and food stands to enjoy.

Fort Hays old west town and dinner show, tour the Dances with Wolves film set chuck wagon dinner show. free admission and parking you pay for the meal.

Yellowstone National Park is in 300 miles away for those who wish to make it a longer vacation.

Rapid City Regional Airport:
Allegiant non stop service to/from Las Vegas, to /from Phoenix
American Airlines non stop service to/from Chicago, to/from Dallas/Ft. Worth
Delta non stop service to/from Salt Lake City, to /from Minneapolis/St Paul
United non stop service to/from Denver, to/from Chicago, to/from Houston
Rent A Car at the airport Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and National/alamo
Hotels have free shuttle service, the airport has a shuttle service available.

Specific costs are not available this far in advance and will be negotiated with the final choice. Information about specific airlines or businesses subject to change, of course.
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Re: Reunion 2015: Location Planning

Post by kenhoyer »

Does not seem to work. I tried twice with no joy.
Keith Holman
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Re: Reunion 2015: Location Planning

Post by Keith Holman »

OK, I'm working on it. <mutter, mutter>
~Keith
Reunion Association President
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Re: Reunion 2015: Location Planning

Post by Board Admin »

Think I found the problem, should be working okay now. Thanks for the patience.
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