[dlv] One month until DLV 2008 ...

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This is the Diva Las Vegas 2008 announcement mailing list.
This list contains only announcements and high importance items.
See information on DLV Discussion Forum below.
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Replies to this message will be forwarded to: dlv@geekbabe.com
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. . . . .
In this mailing:

One month to go
English High Tea
For those who have not registered yet
If you have recently registered
Important reading material
Things to come
Jam session
Big Sisters
Rooms and roommates
Summary schedule of activities
Administrivia
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Only 29 days Until DLV 2008!
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One month to go:

Welcome to those who just joined. Yes, you can still get in on
things, but you will need to act now. Deadlines are creeping up
on us very quickly!

If you're new and have not registered yet, see the item below in
this mailing, it's for you. :)

If you are a newcomer who has just registered, there's an item
for you below too. :)

As of Saturday afternoon there are no validations outstanding!
Thanks to all for your cooperation on this!
. . .

Registration cutoff:

DLV 2008 registration is scheduled to close April 15.

We do not expect to close registration early this year, however
we expect many of our activities to be near capacity or at
capacity.

Our headcount projections are now converging in the 150-160
range for total attendance. We'll have more accurate numbers
once activity sign-up starts to come in.

Please be aware that the limiting factor is the individual
activity capacity, and those registering late may not be
able to attend several of the more popular activities.

Sign-up for activities will, in most cases, be on a first-signed
first-served basis, with some being first-paid first-served.

Activity sign-up begins in about a week. If you're registered,
please keep an eye out for the special activity sign-up mailing
which will go out on or about April 1. See notes below.
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English High Tea:

This week we feature Thursday's English High Tea on the DLV
Discussion Forum:

http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/dlvdisc/
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For those who have not registered yet:

Here's what you need to do if you're starting out from scratch
and want to attend this year:

1. Read our web site carefully! Be sure you know what DLV is and
what DLV is not. We are quite a bit different from most of the
TG events that you're likely familiar with. Be sure to read the
Frequently Asked Questions list and the back mailings of this
list to get up to speed. See links below.

2. Register for DLV. This is not optional if you want to attend!

Only registered attendees will be admitted to our activities. You
will need to complete the registration process this week in order
to get in on the first round of activity sign-up (see below).

3. Make your travel and lodging arrangements, if necessary. As of
this time, hotel rates are still reasonable and available, but
that is expected to change as the date approaches. See below for
link to our suggested hotels.

4. Sign up for optional activities. This will begin around April
first. See below.

5. If you have any questions or concerns, first check the FAQ
(link below) or ask. The Discussion Forum is the best place to
ask, but if you have a question or concern that you don't want
to ask in public, e-mail: dlv@geekbabe.com
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If you have recently registered:

We've had a number of people register since general registration
opened who did not previously appear on our mailing list.

If you are one of these recent registrees, first of all, welcome,
we're looking forward to having you with us. A few notes for you
in particular:

1. Be sure you know what we are and what you registered for. If
you are expecting a High Desert clone of Be-All or Colorado Gold
Rush, you may very well be disappointed. We are not based on the
model used for most of the other TG events that you're likely to
know.

2. Please catch up on the back mailings (link below) to get "up
to speed" on things. Yes, there's a lot of material to cover,
but if you are well-informed on things, you'll have a much
better time at DLV.

3. Be sure you make your travel and lodging arragements without
any further delay. If you hold off on doing this, you will pay
more and have fewer options available to you. See hotel info
below.

4. If you are any way unsure or apprehensive about attending, let
us know. Let us know your concerns, the sooner the better. If you
need some one-on-one assistance or assurance, we'll get you in
touch with one of our Big Sisters. See note on Big Sisters below.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Important reading material:

Main DLV web site:

http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/
. . .

Frequently Asked Questions:

http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/faq/
. . .

Archived back mailings:

http://www.geekbabe.com/annie/dlv08arc/

Please be sure to read the important "kick-off" mailing at:

http://www.geekbabe.com/annie/dlv08arc/0004.html
. . .

"Roadmap" of how to get to DLV:

http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/roadmap.html
. . .

Suggested hotel information:

http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/dlv2008/2008hotels.html
. . .

Registration form:

http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/register2008.html
. . .

DLV Discussion Forum:

http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/dlvdisc/
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Things to come:

One very important point is that to get the most out of DLV, you
will need to carefully read these mailings and the Large Final
Mailing. Yes, there's a lot of verbiage, but most of it is quite
relevant to your participation in the upcoming event.

Each year our feedback survey shows a small but significant
number of individuals who "never got any maps", "never got
contact phone numbers", "did not know about ride share", "did
not know about the Big Sister program", etc. The reason for
these responses is simple! They did not read the material!

Here are the significant happenings over the next several weeks:

1. Activity sign-up:

The big thing in the immediate future is activity sign-up.

On or about April 1, which is just over a week away, everybody
who holds a validated registration will get a special mailing
which contains a link to the activity sign-up screen.

If you hold a validated registration to DLV 2008, please watch
for this the week of April 1 and let us know if it does not
arrive by Wednesday or so at the latest.

Activity sign-up also performs one other very important function.
It reconfirms your intent to attend. For this reason we ask you
to please fill out the screen even if you do not wish to do any
of the optional activities.
. . .

2. Large Final Mailing:

One very important thing, and yes, we're shouting, because each
year a few of our people miss this.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE IN LAS VEGAS AND CHECK IN AT DLV 2008, YOU WILL
NOT RECEIVE ANY PRINTED ITEMS SUCH AS MAPS, SCHEDULES, ETC!

These thing will be sent to you the week prior to DLV in what
we call the Large Final Mailing. Please be expecting this if you
hold a validated registration for DLV 2008.

You should print these items out and bring them with you to DLV.

If you will be leaving early and will be away from e-mail, an
advance copy of this will be sent, on request, beginning around
April 10 or so.
. . .

3. Arriving, making contact, checking in.

One thing we need to point out, which is often unexpected, and
even somewhat of a culture shock. Prior to DLV, we tend to be
very structured and very explicit. Many newcomers expect the
atmosphere at DLV to be this way, but in reality it tends to be
very informal.

You will need to make your plans prior to arriving and ask any
significant questions prior to the event. Once DLV has started,
it's very fast-paced and informal and things will not slow down
to allow someone who is not prepared to catch up!

DLV does not have any central "headquarters", information desk,
hospitality suite, etc., as are common at other TG events.

When you get to DLV, you can check in at any activity marked
"check-in available" on the final schedule. Check-in is quick
and informal. Except for a few of our very largest functions,
there will not be a check-in desk. You may find yourself checking
in at a lunch table or at a bar. The check-in host or hostess will
take your name, give you your name badge, review a few items with
you, and ask if you have any questions or concerns. At our larger
gatherings we'll have the volunteer greeters to introduce you
to the others.

If the first activity you want to do does not offer check-in,
don't worry. As long as you appear on the roster you will be
admitted. You may have to wait to get your name badge and
get "officially" checked in.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jam session:

One suggestion which is gaining some traction is an option for
a late-night Friday jam session.

As Susan writes:

>It could be anything from an informal jam to a private party
>with food if there is enough interest.

>There is a piano on site and I have a guitar and a bodran which
>is an Irish drum. It's posible to have another guitar or 2.

If you're interested in this, please go to the DLV Discussion
Forum at http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/dlvdisc/ and join in on
the conversation.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Big Sisters:

It's natural to be nervous before heading to an event such as
Diva Las Vegas, particularly if you're new and don't know any
of the others yet.

The Big Sisters of Diva Las Vegas can help!

Big Sisters are volunteer DLV veterans who are standing by to
help as needed, either prior to DLV, or during DLV.

Big Sisters are intended mainly for those who are new and don't
have much public exposure, or those who may be feeling a bit
uneasy about the upcoming trip, but Big Sisters are available
to anybody who wants one.

If you haven't been out in public at all, if you're new to public
exposure, your exposure has never been in the mainstream before,
or if there's any reason you feel uneasy or uncertain about the
upcoming trip, the Big Sisters are here to help, either before
DLV, during DLV, or both.

Before DLV, if you would like to correspond with somebody
one-to-one about concerns regarding DLV, just send a brief
note to dlv@geekbabe.com and say that you would like to get
in touch with a Big Sister. Examples of concerns might be
questions that you don't feel comfortable asking on one of
the mailing lists, request for an honest fashion critique,
etc.

During DLV, if you need some fashion advice, Big Sisters can
help.

If you are uneasy and can't get the nerve to walk out of your
hotel room (this has happened), phone us, we'll have a Big
Sister meet you, assure you, and escort you if necessary.

If you would like to be put in touch with a Big Sister, just
send a note to bigsister@geekbabe.com and we'll get you in
contact with one.

Also, if you have attended DLV in the past and would like to
volunteer to spend some time helping others, please say so and
volunteer to be a Big Sister. (Just reply to this mailing or
e-mail bigsister@geekbabe.com and state you would like to
volunteer to be a Big Sister.) The primary qualification is
the desire to help others.

You can also sign up to have a Big Sister, or volunteer to be a
Big Sister on the web as you register.

Big thanks to Nora for coordinating our Big Sister Program!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rooms and roommates:

We're very aware that lodging will be the greatest expense for
most of you attending DLV. Sharing a room two ways cuts this
expense in half, in one third for three to a room, and 1/4 for
four in a room.

We have a Roommate Clearing House for DLV 2008. You can either
contact our Room Share Coordinator via e-mail at:

roommate@geekbabe.com

.. or sign up to participate in the Roommate Clearing House
when you register on the web.

There's also been some interest in sharing such things as
rental apartments and timeshares and such. If you're so inclined,
please coordinate this with our Room Share Coordinator.

When you sign up for roommate matching, we'll ask you a few
questions, such as if you smoke, if you (knowingly) snore,
things like that, in order to make better matches.

On the roommate screen there is also a large blank area into
which you can put any comments or concerns you may have. For
example, you could say something like "I don't care about
smoking or snoring, I just want the cheapest room!" if that's
what you want.

One important caveat! The Roommate Clearing House is a good-faith
effort on all parts with NO GUARANTEES! Roommates assume all
risks. Please have a contingency plan. Your Room Share
Coordinator, as well as other DLV organizers and volunteers, will
not be responsible if a roommate fails to show, fails to pay,
fails to make reservations, does not get along with you, or in
any other way things don't work out.

Big thanks to Diane for coordinating the Roommate Clearing
House! :)
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Summary schedule of activities:

Preliminary and subject to change.

Monday, April 21:
11:00am Studio Lites Open House
1:00pm Lunch With Ginger
2:00pm Walk Off Your Lunch
6:00pm Happy Hour/Business Hour
7:00pm Dinner
8:00pm Welcome Celebration
Later Rock Star Karaoke

Tuesday, April 22 :
10:00am Boat Tour Breakfast
12:00n Lake Mead Boat Tour
12:30pm Lunch With Mary Beth
1:30pm Walk Off Your Lunch
5:00pm Night Of The Soiled Doves
6:00pm Local Happy Hour
7:00pm Local dinner

Wednesday, April 23:
8:30am Diva Las Vegas Invitational Golf
AM-PM Art Tour
11:00am Glamour Boutique Open House
1:00pm Lunch With Ginger
2:00pm Walk Off Your Lunch
6:00pm Happy Hour/Business Hour
7:00pm Eating Out Night
7:00pm Milano's option
7:00pm Prime Rib Loft option
7:00pm Trevi option
7:00pm Border Grill option
7:00pm Blue Ox option
7:00pm Nora's choice
Ev Mainstream-Alternative Night
8:30pm Alternative Bar Crawl

Thursday, April 24:
1:00am Lunch With Lori
2:00pm Walk Off Your Lunch
3:00pm English High Tea
8:00pm Big Show Pity Party
7:00pm LeReve Show
8:45pm Limo Tour

Friday, April 25:
2:00am Charles Bar
12:00n Town Square shopping
1:00pm Lunch With Ginger
2:00pm Walk Off Your Lunch
6:00pm Happy Hour/Business Hour
7:00pm Dining options
7:00pm Informal option
7:00pm Alternative option
7:00pm Affordable option
7:00pm Upscale option
7:00pm Do Your Own Thing option
Ev Activity options
Ev Dancing option
Ev Socializing option
Ev Gaming option
Ev Do Your Own Thing option
Later Late-night options
10:00pm Dueling Pianos option
11:59pm Jam Session option

Saturday, April 26:
12:00n SBS Social
6:00pm Happy Hour
7:00pm Dinner
8:30pm Farewell Bash
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Administrivia:

This is the Diva Las Vegas 2008 Announcement mailing list.

This list is limited to announcements and other high-importance
items.

Questions/answers and discussion items are redirected to the DLV
Discussion Forum, which may be subscribed to separately or viewed
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To view the DLV Discussion Forum on line, visit the URL:

http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/dlvdisc/
. . . . .

One address for all items regarding this list, additions,
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dlv@geekbabe.com <--- NOTE: all lower case

Archives of this list appear on the web at:

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. . . . .

Diva Las Vegas 2008
April 21 - 26, 2008
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
. . . . .

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