2009 CDF Social

Update: We have finalized the date and location of the next social. It will be at Lafayette Blue Springs State Park, July 4, 2009.

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Original post:
We're in the process of planning the 2009 Cave Diver's Forum Social. While we've started making arrangements, we would like to get input from the members so we can make changes if necessary.

In the seven years that we've been holding socials we've gone in several different directions: we've had them at Ginnie and in Mayo, we've had them in the winter and in the summer, and we've had them on holiday weekends and non-holiday weekends.

What we're planning this year is holding the social at Lafayette Blue Springs State Park in Mayo, Florida on Saturday, July 4. Here is their web page:

http://www.floridastateparks.org/laf...gs/default.cfm

I know some will complain that they can't make a holiday weekend because of family obligations. But there are many that can only schedule a trip on a holiday weekend. We try to alternate when we can.

So - who likes this, or do you have a better suggestion? We've already made the reservation, but we're far enough out that we can change our plans if we need to.

Feedback, please!

Sounds good.

I was going to try and get to this one but don't know if I can make July 4 if it changes cool if not ill have to catch you all on the next one

Come on, Joseph, don't give up so easily! The purpose of this thread is to determine if enough people can't make it that day, so we might need to change it.

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Originally Posted by Slüdge

Come on, Joseph, don't give up so easily! The purpose of this thread is to determine if enough people can't make it that day, so we might need to change it.

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lol I would love to finally come and meet you and everyone else maybe get a dive in with you

Is the park willing to work with the CDF to allow us to reserve some campsites?

Mark

I'll get BobK, our official CDF Social Director, to look into that.

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Originally Posted by cavemark

Is the park willing to work with the CDF to allow us to reserve some campsites?

Mark

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I don't want to get into reserving blocks of campgrounds or cabins. The park generally wants a deposit, and I fear I'd be left "holding the bag".

The ranger says they get pretty busy in the summer, I image the 4th of July would be very busy also. You can reserve a cabin here:

http://www.reserveamerica.com/campin...72&search=site

For tent camping you have to call the park, 386-294-3667, as I don't see the reservation system supporting those types of reservations. I recommend doing so early.

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Originally Posted by Slüdge

So - who likes this, !

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Since you ask, I personally try to avoid cave country on big weekends like July 4th and Memorial as it is hard to get accommodation (have to decide a long time ahead), a lot of dive sites are crowded by non-divers, etc. For me the extra day off isn't an issue since I have good schedule flexibility at work.

Have it the last week of March and I can guarantee 4 or 5 attendees. :smt081

One doesn't have to camp at Lafayette Blue Springs, even if the party is there. River Rendezvous is only a few miles away. Last time I looked, River Rendezvous had tent campsites, RV hookups, and motel rooms.

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Originally Posted by J_glenn06

lol I would love to finally come and meet you and everyone else maybe get a dive in with you

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You don't want to meet Russell... ;)


One question: Why Lafayette? I'd also be more likely to go if it was on a different weekend. I don't like public places on holiday weekends.

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Originally Posted by RN

You don't want to meet Russell

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Why? Are you saying I talk so much you might miss a dive?

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Originally Posted by Slüdge

Why? Are you saying I talk so much you might miss a dive?

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You said it, not me! :)

Laf.Blues campsites are horrible.Theres very few of them and they are all bunched together in a line.You have to park in the parking lot and carry your supplies to your camp.No vehicles allowed at camp site.Also the system has very poor vis due to nitrates I suspect.Other than that its a nice park and improvements are being made.Flies are worst in July/August trying to cook and eat,the humidity and the unexpected thunderstorms are a threat.Just some other things to think about.

Bump!

The purpose of this thread was to get input. Since very few comments were made, we went ahead and made reservations. These are subject to change.

Would most of you prefer to hold the social when it's not as hot? Should we move it to September or October, not on a holiday?

Should we hold it elsewhere? As much as we love Ginnie, and as good as they are about free stuff and reduced entry fees, some feel we should hold the social elsewhere now and then.

The social is currently scheduled for July 4 at Lafayette Blue. Who likes this, and who has other suggestions?

Speak now, or forever hold your peace...

Need a poll? :smt081

Since you pretty much demanded a response:

I prefer "not a holiday", but then again, not "workday" like the December 31st one (many of us were off on the 1st, but not the 31st). Just a plain old Saturday would be cool.

I don't care where.

I don't care what season.

I believe the organizer(s) should get the final say (or 50 votes, whatever) as organizing is a tough job and you'll never make everyone happy anyway! Kudos to BobK and his lovely bride, and to Russell, who seems to be the defacto assistant social director :clapper:clapper:clapper

Have you thought of JB? Contact Chuck Hatcher and get a special permit to camp out there overnight. I've seen other groups camping there. I'm not sure what it takes, but I know it's possible. If there, it would be better in October once it's closed to swimmers.

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Originally Posted by RN

Have you thought of JB?

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Yes, we have. In fact, from about 2000 through I believe 2006, a bunch of us used to meet at JB on the first Saturday after Labor Day. JB had been closed to cave diving from Memorial Day through Labor Day (except nights and Mondays), and that first Saturday was usually the first day in over three months a lot of us could dive it.

We have considered JB, but rejected it for several reasons. First, it is 175 miles from the heart of cave country. Although it is actually closer for me than the other places, a great number of our members live closer to cave country. Also, we'd probably need to get a new Social Director, as BobK lives almost 400 miles from JB and I can't see him volunteering to do all he does presently.

However, this is a brainstorming thread, so let's hear some more opinions.

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Originally Posted by RN

You don't want to meet Russell... ;)


One question: Why Lafayette? I'd also be more likely to go if it was on a different weekend. I don't like public places on holiday weekends.

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We wanted to do something up towards the Peacock area this time, since we had the last one at Ginnie. Considered RR but I think the facilities are better at LB. Also, LB is within 15 minutes of Cave Excursions and the Dive Outpost. There are multiple places around there, and lots of dive opportunites, even if someone doesn't consider LB one of them :)

As far as the 4th of July. You should go to Bike Week in Daytona. After that, Ginnie or LB on Memorial or Labor day will seem like a ghost town !

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Originally Posted by Slüdge

First, it is 175 miles from the heart of cave country.

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For some JB is the heart of cave country and the other locale is...well... ;)

I understand the concerns, but I also heard that the CDS Workshop, which was held in Marianna last year, had the largest attendance in several years. Maybe people just need an excuse to get out of town...


Bob, I've been to an Arizona Lake on Easter Sunday. That makes Ginnie look like a ghost town. Just imagine standing room only in the water along the shore line and several souped up car stereos blasting Hispanic boompa music all day and NIGHT long. The cops couldn't even drive to the locations of the fights that broke out over whose stereo was louder!!! I did that once!!!

I like the locaction just would like the date to be diffrent like SOONer lol

We have finalized the location of the CDF Social at Lafayette Blue Park. The date is July 4th. I'll post more information about activites, food, and so forth in a little while. The park is currently getting "refitted" and will have pretty nice facilities by July. If you're up in the area stop by and take a look. I hope to have a dive report on Monday :-)

Thanks,

Hopefully Lafayette Blue Park is better about this, but they said the same thing about Morrison being refitted and it's still closed...has been for over a year now!!! Yes, I know, Morrison is county managed and Lafayette is state managed, but it did take several more weeks than planned for the road grating in Peacock to get finished...

I believe its the state permitting thats holding up Morrison from opening back up.



I miss Morrison :/

No disrespect, because I know organizing things is a very tough chore, however I cant help but notice you asked for feedback here, and just about all responses seemed to be against either the location, or the date. Yet the date and site still was selected as originally proposed. Did you receive other feedback via PM, e-mail or phone calls to come to this conclusion? Again, I dont mean to rock the boat here, just curious.

When holding a social lots of issues have to be taken into account, and we sought feedback that would make it impossible to hold the social at Lafayette. We didn't get any. We need to hold it in different locations when possible. Ginnie Springs hasn't seen the last CDF Social, but we need to hold the meetings elsewhere and Jackson Blue and Lafayette were only ones in real contention. Jackson Blue just had a Workshop (CDS) there, but aside from a cave diver cleanup a few years ago, after it just opened, Lafayette Blue hasn't had much exposure. This will be good for Lafayette Blue State Park.

Picking the date is the hardest thing... and in the past, it has changed even after we picked one... hurricanes and conflicting event dates are reasons that come to mind. We had our largest ever social on July 4th... don't rememeber the year... but it was great... just super congested. Lafayette Blue State Park could be crowded, but not as extreme.

They are not closing the park while construction takes place. We had a great day and dive there last Sunday, in the middle of construction and equipment... and we were well received.
http://www.divetraining.net/pictures...8/DSC02082.jpg

The state is building a new restroom/shower building, more walkways, an ADA ramp and much larger parking lots. They are even building a parking lot next to Green Sink JUST FOR cave divers. Unfortunately they don't have funding for any steps there (and they could sure use some). I have the park supervisor's contact information if anyone, or any agency wants to look further into that endeavor email or PM me. Sounds like a great project.
http://www.divetraining.net/pictures...8/P1013942.jpg

Oh, and having a social, in Florida, ONCE a year is not a rule...

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Originally Posted by deepdiverbob

Did you receive other feedback via PM, e-mail or phone calls to come to this conclusion?

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Yes, we've been talking about it since before the December 31 Social. As has been noted, we alternate holiday vs non-holiday when we can. It seems locals complain about having it on holiday weekends, and travelers complain about non-holidays. We just try to please as many as we can.

One memorable social was July 4, 2003, held at the River Rendezvous near Mayo. People dived Peacock, Cow, Little River, Telford, whatever in the morning, then came to the social around noon, then after all the festivities, went diving again afterwards. We hope that will happen this year. We certainly don't expect fifty divers to dive LB all at the same time.

No disrepect was taken, Bob. Believe me, the moderators have put a LOT of thought and discussion into the date and place. I'm hoping that folks that live sort of in the area will show up for the social, even if they don't want to dive that weekend. I really don't expect Lafayette Blue will be the madhouse Ginnie will be.

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Originally Posted by tj

Oh, and having a social, in Florida, ONCE a year is not a rule...

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A bunch of people that made the Galaxy Dive said we need to do it again this year. I expect to be there. Maybe CDF 2009 Social #2!

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Originally Posted by deepdiverbob

No disrespect, because I know organizing things is a very tough chore, however I cant help but notice you asked for feedback here, and just about all responses seemed to be against either the location, or the date. Yet the date and site still was selected as originally proposed. Did you receive other feedback via PM, e-mail or phone calls to come to this conclusion? Again, I dont mean to rock the boat here, just curious.

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Guess I'm late getting back to this, but we did have other feedback. After considering it all, we came up with this decision. Like most things, time will tell if we have any idea what we're doing :-)

Looking for someone to volunteer the use of a large grill for the social. The park has small ones, but we could end up with a cooked food backlog if we just use those.

Thanks !

OK, We are just under 10 weeks away, any new updates or info?

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Originally Posted by Jay

OK, We are just under 10 weeks away, any new updates or info?

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Nothing new yet. I'll be making some announcements in May with some more details. I'm trying to get up to Lafayette Blue this weekend and see if there is any land :-)

Seems like a good group of people to hang with, but I most definitely will NOT be on the road on the 4th of July :orcass

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Originally Posted by ShagMan

Seems like a good group of people to hang with, but I most definitely will NOT be on the road on the 4th of July :orcass

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Me either, I'm showing up on the 3rd :-)

I have put a page up in the volunteer section looking for picnic items. Please take a look.

Thanks,

We'll start grilling around 11 AM, continue to 5ish. Please take a look at the list in the volunteer forum, still looking for a few item volunteers.

Thanks,