Just wondering who's going, how many people usually show up, and what to expect?
Not sure if I will be attending yet, although I would love to make it.
Who's going to Stay At Home Dad Convention in KC?
Don't have much of a choice.
Seeing how my name is on the list of people organizing it, I'll be there!.
It's an interesting event if you've never been to one. A room full of guys who have all been puked, pooped, or pee-ed on at some point in their careers, and who will give you the understanding smile when you tell them your tale of expelled child substance.
The attendance varies, in the 4 I've been to, (The first three, #'s 8,9, and 10) in Chicago had 95, 115, and 85, and this past year (our first in a new home) we had 50 dads, and about 10 assorted media/family members.
What to expect? Well, that depends on when you get there. Should you get there on Thursday, the host dad's group usually has an event put together, I believe that beer and bowling was mentioned, although I haven't read the updated post yet on it, Friday there is a tour of the Harley-Davidson factory planned in the early afternoon, and then the main gatherings start Friday night. There is a meet& Greet Friday night where we will be bussed from the convention hotel to the Boulevard Brewery, for some beer and food. This is a great event to get involved in. This is where some of the best discussions for the weekend get started, and where you will get to know some of the best guys in your career field. After the M&G groups of guys will often find other local locations to continue the discussions and beverage tasting.
Saturday, The formal convention. Breakfast (at the convention), then breakout sessions filled with as many relevant and requested topics as we could fit in to the schedule. Sessions as serious as dealing with depression and isolation, and anger management (led by the University of Missouri, Kansas City Psychology department chair Dr. Arnie Abels) to hair braiding to basic repair sewing (led by Ms. Lillie Triplett of the Hallelejua Sewing School). There will be a session led by our own at-home dad legal guru D.W. addressing legal issues for at-home dads, (estates, trusts, living wills and such). And others.
The most requested sessions are always the open forum discussions, as the norm there will be the session by age of you child, and back by popular demand, there will be the "what about me" forum, where you have a chance to voice your concerns about you, your relationship, the way you're treated by other's at the playground, or whatever ails you.
By far the most important part of the convention, and I don't think that there are many that will disagree, the convention is more about commeradere, and being able to take a break for a few days, hang with some guys who know what you are going through, make some new friends, and re-charge for another year's work.
We hope to see you there!
PS the formal convention announcement is coming. Stay tuned!!!
Dayv
dglusing@athomedadconvention.com
12th Annual in KC November 2007
I attended the 2006 convention in KC and really had a good time. The meet & greet at Boulevard was pretty cool, the convention itself was very informative and the friendships built added to a great time. I am hoping to make it to the 12th Annual in KC once again however, having difficulty with working things out with the wife. If all goes well I am planning on being there on the afternoon of the 2nd and heading home the morning of the 4th. I highly recommend being there if you are able to.
Planning to attend
I am planning to attend. I am just now trying to find out which hotel and when I should fly in. Are there cabs available or is everything in one location, do I need to rent a car, if so, should I drive from Wisconsin? I think last year they had a topic about starting and growing a group. I would like to find out about keeping the group I started going and web site help.
Dan
Coming from WI?
I got a cheap flight from Midway on Southwest ($69/each way?) but going to Chicago was a bust last year. What normally takes me about 4 hours to get from GB to Midway was well over 8 because of the sleet, snow and rain! I could have just about drove it in that time. I shared a room at the Hampton Inn with some other guys from the convention. I would consider driving and picking you up & other dads on the way. Last year the KC dads were great about shuttling the out of town dads to and from events. They were great hosts!
Bruce Cantrall, dad to 3!
Northeast Wisconsin at Home Dads (Green Bay)
sleeping and driving
There is an official hotel again this year, the Hampton inn. We will have a link soon that will get you your reservations with the convention discount included. (next week or so)
As for transportation. There is a shuttle that goes from the airport to the hotel, last year it was $17 each way, and I am working on getting us a discounted rate with a rental car company. Often what works best is finding other dads that will be flying in near the same time and sharing a ride in.
I should be there
I should be there again unless something goes horribly wrong between now and November.
I hope to be there…
But the wife has a new job and hopefully 1 day of a Mini Me shuttle to and from Kindergarten will not be a problem if I can help it, I hope. I will drive unless I can find a good Southwest airfare but gas at 3 bucks a gallon that should not be a problem.
Plus, we got Cancun coming up in Feb. so cash american might be tight.
Anyone from Colorado attending?
About MileHiDad
We Dads are Pioneering New Childcare Methods in the Worlds Second Oldest Profession!
What happens if you're in a car going the speed of light and turn the headlights on?
Mile High Dad
If I were you I would drive, just put it neutral and coast, it's all downhill!
I'm Not a Slacker
Colorado?
I got the deal of a century on Frontier for the convention this year. They were cheaper than southwest by $200. Everything Frontier goes through Denver.
No matter
Where I go in my Dodge 1500 truck it's uphill into the wind bothways getting 10 MPH.
About MileHiDad
We Dads are Pioneering New Childcare Methods in the Worlds Second Oldest Profession!
What happens if you're in a car going the speed of light and turn the headlights on?
night night
Affermative. There will be a link coming that takes you directly to our discount.
Dayv
I will be there
We started making plans last November for me to be at the convention. Maybe I'll persuade some other Des Moines Dads to come, too.
---------------------------
On Fresno Dome
I suppose I ought to be there too...
Hmm, since I'm the point-person on the ground in KC, I strongly suspect I'll be there too. :-)
Great stuff this year: Thursday night (11/1) DNO with the KCDADs group at a new entertainment district west of town. We'll be having dinner at The Yard House (100+ beers on tap) and possibly going bowling at Pin-Up Bowl afterwards (marketed as a bowling alley/martini bar with night-club atmosphere...basically a new bowling alley with much better ambient lighting than usual). Friday features, as Dayv mentioned, a tour of the Harley assembly plant in the late morning and the official Meet & Greet at Boulevard Brewery at 6:00 pm Friday evening...transportation will be provided from the hotel, leaving at 5:45. The convention runs 8-5 on Saturday (breakfast and lunch included), and there will be an optional post-convention dinner at a great BBQ join at 7:30 that evening
- Andy
____________________________________
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kcdad/
Ride Share
Bruce,
I would consider ride sharing if you were sure that is the way you were going. Whate dates are you planning to be there. I am going to check out the room rates once the link is up and book Thursday through Saturday night, leave on Sunday.
Dan
Southwest Airlines
I was just at http://www.southwest.com/ and entered to get to KC MCI on Nov 2 arriving at 2:05 PM from Denver and leaving the fourth at 2:40 PM from MCI. It returned a price of $138.80 or $69.40 each way.
Now if I could just get the Boss to say OK, I would be there.
About MileHiDad
We Dads are Pioneering New Childcare Methods in the Worlds Second Oldest Profession!
What happens if you're in a car going the speed of light and turn the headlights on?
db will be there!!
If peer pressure works, let her know that I am going for sure!! D.W. giving legal advice? Hair braiding? Drinking? And Jimmy telling some of the best jokes you can get without a prescription (BTW loved the "Father of one of my children" joke)? Yeah I am all over that. And having made the trip from Denver to KC about a billion times, I plan on flying (although not having to stop every hundred miles for bathroom and running around would probably speed the trip up immensely). And I have not brought it up to the fledgling Denver Dad's group yet but I will get right on that.
db
NO FRUIT LOOPS FOR YOU!!!
Recieved 8/6/07
Mr. Glusing,
Thank you for contacting us with your request. We certainly appreciate your interest in our company.
As you might expect, we receive many requests for financial and other assistance from people and organizations all around the world. Without question many requests, like yours, are very worthwhile. While we wish that we could be of assistance to all who contact us, the tremendous number of appeals we receive simply makes it impossible to do so.
While we are unable to provide assistance, we do offer OUR SUPPORT IN SPIRIT and hope that you will be able to find the help you need from other sources. We wish you well in this endeavor.
Sincerely,
Natalie Felix
Consumer Affairs Department
Kellogg North America
PO Box CAMB
Battle Creek, MI 49016-1986
A Call to Arms!!
I call on all the AHDs of American to only get generic Tootie Fruities, we can bring this multi-national conglomerate to its knees and once again make it safe for our children to eat processed hydrogenised corn syrup in a chemically flavored and colored way again (or at least score some free junk)!!!
db
Oh, right, Howard...
I don't believe you Howard...I'll bet you and Bubba jut have shooting practice that weekend.
:-)
We'll miss you, sorry you won't be able to join us...best to all of you for the arrival of #2.
- Andy
____________________________________
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kcdad/
Join me at my house....
Liam: maybe we can kick off the early arrivals at my house...I'm only 15 mins from the airport, and then we (and anyone else who wants to join in) can head into town for the rest of the evenings events later in the day. I'll get Jimmy hooked in, see if he wants to join us too...
- Andy
____________________________________
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kcdad/
I'm hoping to
I'm hoping to make it to what will be my first AHD convention. That is if I can convince HH6 to let me. It'd be much easier if the official website were updated so I can show it to her.
web site
Keep checking it. The material has been delivered to our crack website design team. It should be there between now and Saturday morning Chicago time,.give or take some editing of some spelling and punctuation errors by yours truly.
ANToW
You know all the stuff you have about the classes and tours are great, but the one I am most concerned about is the Friday night "Andy North Tour of Westport", do I have to get my reservation in ahead of time? Which bar are we going to drink the most at? Is Jimmy going? Is there going to be a prize for most profane joke? I need answers!!!
db
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Denver_Dad/
2nd annual Andy North Tour of Westport (featuring Jimmy)
It's on ! In fact I think it will be starting Thursday morning at about 10 a.m. when Andy picks me up from the airport and should end around noon Sunday. It might carry over to Monday if I "accidently" miss my flight. I hope the tour does not involve a 2 a.m. 5 mile drunk walk from the bar to the hotel this time. Maybe we can contact Kellogg's to donate the prizes for the most profane joke.
Liam
Joined: 2007-03-15
Dad Points: 62