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!!!

[SimplyJRB-ADs Mom]

Please let me know your thoughts.

[WyattsMom/Ship 3/Div 317]

Has anyone brought any of the complaints on Ramada to their attention? Maybe they aren't aware of the dissatisfaction of the 8/13 group. Proffessionally speaking, if they are made aware of it, they would probably be willing to fix it. As far as them furnishing food in hopes of renting rooms, that's just good PR on their part. Doesn't really matter to me where its held, but free food? Who am I to complain if its salty, People can still order off of a menu. It just seems that it would really be complicating things to try and change the location of the Meet and Greet at such short notice. There are alot of people that would need to be notified and families coming from all over the US. I am somewhat local, but considering the distance and stress that those traveling will have , I am inclined to say, "keep it simple and stay at Ramada". When people call to make there reservations, they could maybe mention their concerns. Personally, I am in such a state of excitement over the whole Navy thing, that it will take alot more than bad food or pins and sashes to ruin my night..

[TN.sailormom'10]

Wyattsmom,what I think we're trying to do is just change the M&G for N4M,that way all of us who've become friends here can actually meet,and not be in such a crowd that we may not get to.I'm all for it,and would gladly pay for my own meal,since we gotta eat,anyhow.I don't really know how they(ramada)can fix it,since there are so many people coming,you can't really help how crowded it will be,we just are hoping for a chance for our group to be able to get together...and actually be able to enjoy it..I agree,I am all excited too,and want this to be a perfect situation...

[WyattsMom/Ship 3/Div 317]

Codys Mom:That makes sense, but please bare with me, as I am confused. Are they only wanting to change the meet and greet for certain divisions? :)

[NavyMomX2]

I already have reservations at the Ramada. I really don't want to change everything now. Is the Ramada really that bad? If is, I have to decide if I want to stay there or not.

[WyattsMom/Ship 3/Div 317]

I spoke with the Ramada, they were very nice on the phone. I haven't made reservation yet, but my husband and I decided to go ahead and stay there. I really think at this point, it would only confuse things to change the location.I'm all for keeping it at the Ramada.

[SimplyJRB-ADs Mom]

NavyMom, if you have not read this PIR experience, you might want to : http://www.navyformoms.com/forum/topics/pir-813-our-experience

WyattsMom, no I was thinking that the WHOLE N4Ms groups would change. That is why I started this discussion; so we could talk it out & see what the majority thought.

I'm just throwing it out there.........If the majority decided to start at the Ramada & then go next door to Anastasia, that is fine to. My family will need a meal, & I would love to have time to sit & chat with all the other N4Ms that I have met on here. I just figured that if we keep this as a separate discussion that it will be easier to follow along with.

[WyattsMom/Ship 3/Div 317]

Oh I get it. Told ya all I was slow.. lol Anyhow, back to the basics.. I hope everyone has a great time and I know we will all enjoy the time we get with our kids. Have a great week and thanks for taking the time to clarify to this dummy.. lol ..sincerely, Wyatts Mom

[SimplyJRB-ADs Mom]

WyattsMom, it is not a problem. Sometimes I read what I wrote & go boy that would not make any sense to anybody except me!!! So forgive me if it was confusing.

[WyattsMom/Ship 3/Div 317]

Nah Your fine, and all is great !! Go Navy !!

[momofcurtis]

SimplyJRB, Thank you for starting this discussion. The "I wouldn't go there after dark" comment concerns me more than all the rest. We've never traveled to the Chicago area. How close is the Ramda to GL? It would be nice if we could all be together, in a warm, inviting, and safe atmosphere. I would like a positive experience, setting the tone for the next morning and our weekend with the boys. It sounds like Anastasias' was a good experience for the former PIR. Has anyone talked with them, or is it just going to be Ramada? I'm sorry I'm late coming onto this discussion. I didn't notice it until this evening. The graduation is the main thing but these boys are forming lasting bonds and I would love to meet you all, the parents of these wonderful boys. blessings, Lea

[tinkerbell]

I know, I should stay out of this, but I just have to share my thoughts:

I, too, went to the M & G at the Ramada. (It was back in January!) But, I didn't experience the same thing as the other mom. I think it would be nice to just poke your head in at the Ramada M & G and then go to Anastasia's about 7 pm. Ramada offers 2 free drinks to anybody that is staying there, but yes, opens the M & G to all Navy families. I have found that, although the N4M's were there for each other through all the trials of Boot Camp, there are a lot of people that don't know that N4M's exist. Wouldn't it be nice to let them know? N4M's goes on well after Boot Camp. This is not the only time you will need support. Wouldn't it be nice to offer support to someone else who needs it? And I think it matters how many divisions are graduating. For us, we had 6 divisions, so the room was full, but you could easily walk around. The week before, they had 15 divisions, so I can imagine it was packed. True, it is dinnertime and they just serve finger-foods, so that is why I'm saying go to Anastasia's. But, please go to the Ramada, too, and show the people that don't know about us the caring and support you have all received here on here at N4M's. You may find someone that your son or daughter knows or may be stationed with them at the Ramada!