M&G Location WILL NOT BE CHANGED

[SimplyJRB-ADs Mom]

Since there has not been feedback from a large majority of the PIR group; I'm going to call this decision made.   The M&G will be staying at the Ramada.  Please be sure to let Maureen know how many in your party will be attending the M&G. 

 

Thank you to all of you for the feedback that you gave. 

 

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I have gotten info on the Meet & Greet location...First, if you have not read the PIR Experience from 8-13, please do. http://www.navyformoms.com/forum/topics/pir-813-our-experience 

(the personal references below are not from me but from someone else in the 8-13 group).

If the decision is made to change from the current location, I will take on that challenge (a back up or assistant would be great if someone would like to help).  

 

However, I can not afford to foot a big party bill, so everyone will be expected for pay for their own meals. I will ONLY be setting up the location chosen. I just want us to be able to SAFELY enjoy ourselves & have a good memory from it. :)

Pins, sashes, scarves, etc... but they've been around for a long time and each division is responsible for doing their own if they want to. It's not a necessity, but it does help you locate the members in your specific division.

We have so many options... different colored scarves, lanyards, sashes, t-shirts, hats, etc... get creative and think of something unique to all of you and work with the talent in your Div. You will be surprised what all you come up with. It really is just a fun thing to do to make each division easy to stand-out at the M&G.  (Each division will need to decide if you will be doing something for yourselves or not.)  I think it would be fun to do something that we can wear to PIR so the whole N4Ms group stands out.  :)

1.) M&Gs were originally held at Flanagan's, and some at Anastasia's. About this time last year the Ramada did a big publicity & advertising coup offering "free appetizers" to get people through the door. The appetizers are things like fried cheese sticks, fried vegetables, fried chicken pieces... all really salty food designed to make you thirsty and spend more money on drinks (for which they charge-sodas $2.50 & beer $5.50.). Not a stupid move on their part at all. Arrived at 6:15 p.m., the place was packed wall to wall people... hundreds of people literally all packed together. Think they started this M&G and invited N4M members as a way to make their numbers each week. Without Navy business there is no way this place would survive.

2.) The Ramada could care less about you being there. I walked in and asked at the check in desk where the N4M members were giving out the pins & name tags and they had no idea what I was talking about and basically ignored me. Thankfully someone noticed me peek in the bar and came to grab me to help with the pins.

3.) Hoppi aka Angie, She is the one who first tipped our group off to the issues with the Ramada. I asked her if the Navy endorses using the Ramada for N4M and her reply was the Navy does not endorse any hotel, and in fact tells them to stay away from that particular area after dark. You can find more on this on the 8/13 board, under the M&G discussion.

4.) You absolutely do NOT have to rent a room, or a banquet center or pay for anything out of your own pocket. The two locations who have hosted M&G's are Flanagan's & Anastasia's. They each have private rooms to accommodate the M&G's, & full menus so people can eat - it is dinner time after all. I didn't know about Flanagan's; our group picked Anastasia's; food was good and they seemed to have something to make everybody happy from sandwiches, pizzas, pastas to entrees of chicken, etc... They knew ahead of time that we expected close to 100 people and that each family would be responsible for their own check. That worked out beautifully. Everyone had a great time, we all mingled, kicked back, and visited with each other. If you have a lot of people, they will spill the group out into the main dining area and everyone is welcome to use the bar as well - which is HUGE with an outdoor patio. They even had a washer or horseshoe game going on when we were there. I felt completely comfortable letting my kids go up to the front and play the toy game with a claw. I could see them from the room, and the staff at Anastasia's were also looking out for them... that was comforting to me.

Have FUN with your M&G. Do your own thing! Make it your own! You are not accountable to anyone on N4M on where you have it, how long you have it, or what you want to do for fun stuff - pins, ribbons, etc... It's all up to your group. This night is for us... the rest of the weekend if for our sailors! You will NOT forget it any time soon, and take lots of pictures!!!

[TN.sailormom'10]

The idea of starting at the Ramada,then going over to Anastasia's sounds good to me,but wouldn't we need an idea of how many were going to do that to reserve tables or room for us?Sounds like they may be close(ramada and Anastasia's),so we wouldn't have to drive all over the place to get there?You girls just let me know what is decided,and I plan to get as much out of this experience as I can...

[SimplyJRB-ADs Mom]

Above I mentioned Flanagans: I have e-mailed them, here is the response:

There is no cost (to host, each family would pay their own bill) for the navy moms to have a meet and greet here and we can accommodate you for this as we would be giving you the whole dining room, Please call the restaurant and let John know what all you are looking for as he is the one that sets up this type of things. He is available all week after PM central time. The number is 1-(847)-689-9062. Thank you for considering us and we sincerely look forward to seeing all of the proud military families.
This location I'm told is a nice location & near the base. Again, just a suggestion.

[momofcurtis]

SimplyJRB, Thanks again for your efforts on the M&G. After all that I've read, I would rather do Flannegans or Anastasias but I'm with whatever the majority decides. Please keep me posted and we'll be there.

[NavyFam (Ship13, Div 321)]

My vote - I'm all for keeping at the Ramada, since the experiences have been mixed it kind of sounds like we can prepare for any minor difficulties. I like the idea of starting at the Ramada then moving to another location. Since we all have to be up pretty early we will likely not be able to make a night of it at the Ramada anyway. (wishing we could though) :)

Personally it will be easier for me to do the Ramada, but I'm open to what the group wants to do.
Can't wait to meet all of you!

[SimplyJRB-ADs Mom]

Thanks both of you, MomofCurtis & NavyFam. I will keep everyone posted, would just like to get a good majority of the PIR group to let us know what their decision is so a decision can be made! I will be happy to do what the majority wants. :)

[TN.sailormom'10]

I will do whatever majority wants,also.And am definitely for moving it if it's gonna make our experience better!! I agree,we do need to decide and let the restaurant know if we decide to move it...Thanks,so much Simply for your work in trying to make us be able to enjoy ourselves!!!

[WyattsMom/Ship 3/Div 317]

I'm for whatever everyone else decides, if I need to make my own reservation, just let me know, otherwise I'll say there will be 4 in my party. Looking forward to meeting everyone and having a great time. It'll be nice to meet the families, that I'll be gushing and crying with the next morning.. lol.. PROUD Momma of Wyatt..

[NavyFam (Ship13, Div 321)]

Seems like the 92/2010 M&G was great. Maybe reserving the ballroom made the difference? What do you think?

[SimplyJRB-ADs Mom]

Since there has not been feedback from a large majority of the PIR group; I'm going to call this decision made. The M&G will be staying at the Ramada. Please be sure to let Maureen know how many in your party will be attending the M&G.

Thank you to all of you for the feedback that you gave.