Does anyone know what date the STRA banquet will be on?

Tom,
We normally try to have it the 2 weeks after New Years. This gives a week to recover from the holidays. This year that date would be Jan 16. At this point, it is preliminary, so if anyone knows of major conflicts, please let me know. The location is still open for discussion as well. I tend to favor a location such as Chattanooga that will let us have an organized fun ride the next day at the TTC, but that is just one opinion.

IF THATS THE CASE, THE WESTERN SIZZ. IN JASPER IS ALWAYS HAPPY TO HAVE US. WE'VE HAD THE MEETING THERE BEFORE. BIG ROOM, GOOD PRICES, AND 10 MINS. AWAY FROM TTC. LET ME KNOW IF THATS THE WAY WE WANT TO GO, AND I'LL MAKE ALL THE ARRANGEMENTS.

TD

I HOPE I'M NOT OVER STEPING MY BOUNDS, BUT I JUST TALKED TO THE MGR AT WESTERN SIZZ. THEY WILL BE HAPPY TO HAVE US BACK. JAN 16TH IS OPEN AND WE CAN HAVE ONE OF THEIR BIG ROOMS. IF WE GO THAT WAY, ALL I HAVE TO DO IS CALL AND CONFIRM THE DATE.

TD

The sizz sounds good!

I think the Western Sizzlin' is a good idea too. But I have another option for everybody to think about. Not everyone wants to, or can stay overnight and most of the attendees will come from the Atlanta area.

Fos a number of years we had the biz meeting and banquet at Wally's BBQ (Exit 1) in Chattanooga. It is not fancy, but the rooms are very suited to our needs and their BBQ is great.

It is easier for me to use the Sizzlin and I appreciate Darrell's offer. I just wanted to throw another option out there.

Please vote for the one you prefer (in the form of a comment in this thread), or make another suggestion. We will give 2 weeks for the group to reach a concensus.

I vote for the Sizz. and riding at TTC. Jamie.

I think the hawg trough (Western Sizzlin') is a good spot to meet.

I vote for the Western Sizzlin.

Western Sizzlin

Western Sizzlin, Ofishul vote

Just my two cents, and I have no strong opinion as to venue, but as the banquet date does include the annual BUSINESS meeting, and the goal should be maximum attendance for rules and policies discussion and changes, would it be more logical to determine the meeting site to make it possible for more members to be there by lessening the overall aggregate miles driven by all those planning to attend, by making the choice be geographically closer to the demographic core of the STRA's membership?
In other words, a town such as Chatsworth, GA seems centrally located to the membership in that it is reasonably easy to get to from south of Atlanta, northeast GA, eastern Alabama, and the Chattanooga area. Having people drive all the way to Chattanooga for the meeting in order to have easy access to a riding facility the next day doesn't seem that logical to me, especially in light of the fact that January can pack some seriously evil weather and literally wash and/or freeze out any riding plans for Sunday. Like I say, I'll be there regardless, but in order to maximize attendance, a more centrally located choice could be made. I'm just sayin'.

On second thought, any restaurant that would be willing to jeoparize its reputaion by accepting our collective extended presence at their place of business should be heartily patronized with all our might.

I vote for the Western Sizzlin' of everyone else's choices.

WOW, THAT WAS GOOD!!! I'M NOT SURE WHAT DREW JUST SAID, BUT, I THINK, I MAY AGREE....MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW.....HEY DREW, ARE YOU A MEMBER OF ANY CHESS CLUBS, OR YOU KNOW....SOMETHING?

TD

Nah, Darrell, it's merely a geographically defined dialectic idiosyncrasy of mine, a hemispherically dictated cerebral construct of right lobe dominance, a moribund attempt to validate the syntactical superfluousity of language.

I'm just not good at chess or expressing myself simply.

I vote for Western Sizz and riding at TTC.

OK-
Banquet and Business Meeting Jan 16 at Western Sizzlin (I-24 Exit 155). Fun ride on Sunday Jan 17 at TTC.

Drew, I didn't know you were left handed too.