42 replies to this topic

[IcarusGirl]

Thanks! I will take a look & try to get the ball rolling over the weekend.

[dive_sail_etc]

Thanks! I will take a look & try to get the ball rolling over the weekend.

Standing by. Ground Control out.

[WreckWench]

Jose...would you be up for helping Kate get ANOTHER GREAT HAPPY HOUR GOING??? And let's recruit Susi DiviDivaDiver as well!

And while I can't make that one...I'll be there for the one In March! (Or since Jan is over and Feb is short...maybe we should just REALLY MAKE THE BTS HH A BLOWOUT and get off to a great start???)

Keep me posted... it will be a blast either way! Kamala

[DiviDivaDiver]

Kate,My first trip was Bonaire last April and I just got back from the Saba NYE trip (my first live-aboard trip). Both trips were awesome! Cannot say enough about the diving in Saba - just GORGEOUS. At some point I would like to do the Cenotes too, but I have kind of overbooked myself for the year, LOL. I'd love to talk to you about some of the amazing places you've been, that's quite an exotic list! Count me in for happy hour. BTW I sent you my email address since it sounds like you're MINUTES away.Suzy

1391062554[/url]' post='315777']
Hey Kate,

Yeah I think it may be time to get a NJ SD Happy Hour going before BTS and talk about these great dive trips you've been on. Did Saba and St Kitts over New Year's with Kamala and it was great! The pinnacles at Saba were pretty amazing. I see you're already checking out the trips. I did Bonaire last year and it was great. Best of Mexico is one I've had my eye on, but won't fit in the schedule with the other trips I want to do in 2014. Too many great trips!

1391038275[/url]' post='315749']

1391034990[/url]' post='315734']
Hey there Kate,

Welcome to singledivers! I'm also a north jersey diver and like Suzi, I've ..........

Howdy, Jesterdiver! Thanks for the tip re sending a message--I am not seeing an envelope icon, so maybe I need to change a setting on my account. I'll check into that. We should all have a north NJ get-together and swap stories!

I see you recently dove Saba -- how did you like it? I visited there about 3 years ago and loved both the diving and the island. My most recent dive trip was to Montserrat, which was pretty barren of tourism (mostly thanks to the catastrophic volcano eruption they had about 15 years ago) but also had some fabulous dives.

[jesterdiver]

Yeah I feel like the NJ contingency should round up soon. I've never managed to make it to a HH so I have to figure out the process as well. I'll read through the previous HH threads. It seems like NJ has never had one, how could that be?!

Jose...would you be up for helping Kate get ANOTHER GREAT HAPPY HOUR GOING??? And let's recruit Susi DiviDivaDiver as well!

And while I can't make that one...I'll be there for the one In March! (Or since Jan is over and Feb is short...maybe we should just REALLY MAKE THE BTS HH A BLOWOUT and get off to a great start???)

Keep me posted... it will be a blast either way! Kamala

[IcarusGirl]

Suzy & Jose, I sent you both PMs--am thinking we can hopefully ID a time/date that works for all and then post it on the HH forum? Does that make sense?
I vote for a Feb NJ happy hour AND a blowout BTS happy hour!

[WreckWench]

Great plan! Find a date the 3 of you can all do and a venue and then let us know...OR use the site to do the same thing! That way others can chime in as well.

[WreckWench]

Jose NJ has had some HH's but not in a long time!! You are correct in that we are OVERDUE!!!

Planning one is EASY....

1. Pick a date (you can decide on one all 3 of you can do and then post it or throw it out there and ask for input and then choose a date)
2. Pick a venue depending on who can come or something that is quasi convenient for everyone or a venue that coincides with an event...i.e. like BTS
3. We usually have a planning thread that becomes the ACTUAL thread and sign up thread etc. If the person starting the thread can't update it...then our Trip Coordinators do it for you! (You can also post new summary lists of who is going)
4. We'll even do an email blast if you like inviting people in the area to join you. (Just be prepared...we have a LOT of people on those mailing lists.)
5. When choosing a venue do one of the following: either choose a place that is easy for a group of people to meet up with or without a reservation. This means less trendy places which is good because you are there to talk and get to know one another which a loud band or a venue packed wall to wall with people does not facilitate. Get a dive flag (I can send you one or bring one to NJ at BTS for ongoing HH's so you can even just use a large SD sticker or a sign with the logo printed on it or SingleDivers.com printed in big letters.) In other words... have a way for people to find you. Wear your SD t-shirts if you have one to help people recognize you as well. OR YOU CAN set up a reservation but this usually means you have to ensure a certain number of people will arrive. On the positive side you have a dedicated area that has been reserved for you. WE'VE DONE IT BOTH WAYS and it works both ways. When first starting out choose a place that will let you have a large table but won't penalize you if a min number of people do not show up. If this is not possible then choose a venue where you know its quiet and perhaps not real busy even on a Sat or Sun or Fri and do the first one there. Keep in mind that the first few are usually pretty big IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO PLAN. A lot of time is 30 days in advance or longer. Less than that is consider a short time and you will get mixed results. Also it is a good idea to mix up the venues a bit so that its more convenient for different groups of people. The venue can be set AFTER you know who's going and mixing up the venue helps out a great deal to attract more people since everywhere you choose will be convenient for some and not for others.

I hope this helps you out... again let us know if we can give you add'l insight.

Caveats....

1. Please use the site to host and organize these. It give the site new life and helps ensure a single focal point for people joining the HH. (Yes we can use facebook for marketing but at least one of our adhoc HHP's Happy Hour Planners is not really into facebook so the site works great and we can cross advertise on FB but use the site for the official planning.)
2. Please do not try to create separate email lists... we can email members that are not active on the site and by doing so...we hope they become active again on the site.
3. Please let us help you... that means with tools to make more successful or with insight on how to handle something...we've been there and done that.
4. Please don't go away... we've had entire regions of the country bond and unite via SingleDivers.com and then a new dive group is formed and we never see them again. So please work to be the coolest chapter of SingleDivers.com but please don't break off to form a separate club/group/friends that hang out with each other but have no real affiliation other than 'we met on SD.com and now we just hang out together'. And while I can't stop anyone from doing any of the above...if I ask up front I find it rarely is a problem down the road. It just sets expectations and that is good for everyone.

Have a great time! Kamala

[Buzo Guero]

Welcome to the machine. :-)

[jesterdiver]

Yeah would be fun to do a HH. Where should we start the thread to get the conversation going?

[scubaclint]

TRIPS, TRAVEL AND ACTIVITIES! > Upcoming SD Events, Happy Hours & Functions Details > Eastern Seaboard SD Events

Check it out HERE

[WreckWench]

Thank you Clint!!!

[VADiver]

Hi Kate, welcome. This is a great site with lots of fun trips and cool people…I hope to see you on one of the trips.