USA-UKLEM

[Bradfo69]

O.k., I've given this a lot of consideration and figured it's time to throw it out there for discussion. I know for myself personally that, one of the things I find on my "bucket list" is to one day attend a UKLEM. For a number of reasons. For one, it's my ancestory since my grandfather was born and raised in London. I've been to England four times and absolutely love it. Always ready to go at a moments notice if the right opportunity comes along. For another, I quite frankly find a lot of our laser bretheren across the pond fascinating, hysterically funny at times, and often working on things and builds in completely different ways. I would LOVE to associate a face and voice to the words typed on a page. I love reading the UKLEM planning threads even though I'm not attending. Lasers in general seem to be much more widely accepted and regularly seen plus, in ways that are much less restrictive than in the US. I've spoken to some PL members and some of them also share the same desire of "one day" being able to go.

Well... "one day" will continue to loom further and further in the future with it never actually happening unless someone were to step up to the plate and make it happen. So, maybe insanely, here is what I am asking and proposing. Assuming they would be willing to welcome some of us, I am willing to commit to the legwork necessary to investigate and put together a travel "package". I can't imagine it would happen anytime before mid 2013 or maybe even 2014 but, hypothetically, if I began asking the questions, investigating accomodations, side tours, transportation, and sorting out the other myriad of logistics that will probably ultimately make my head explode, and... kept it to a reasonable price - say between $2000-$3000 for maybe a week of touring ending with a weekend LEM. Who honestly thinks perhaps they would be "in" for such an experience? I do have connections in the travel industry and, other resources to bounce ideas, traps and pifalls off of regarding putting something of this magnitude together. I also firmly believe I am organized enough to pull something like this off and once committed, won't "drop the ball." If some "standard" and science related side trips were arranged (say, behind the scenes at London Plantarium) would things like that also be of interest? Would flying from a central point together, say JFK be of interest? Just like a cruise or something of that nature... you get yourself to a particular spot and then we go from there.

Would love to get peoples thoughts, concerns, suggestions, ideas and input. (Or, feel free to say go f#@k yourself, we don't want you Americans here. LOL)

Maybe this should be put in The Lounge" thread where it's more visible. Spec, Permission to double post??

[tonyaztec]

Or, feel free to say go f#@k yourself, we don't want you Americans here. LOL)

I'm sure all would who attend the UKlem would welcome you with open arms, do it, bring a PJ, sleeping bag and some cash.

Tony

[dnar]

I have been trying to "line up" one of my business trips with a UK or NL LEM. I came close last year, but it was still out by a few weeks.

I am keen to see your "package" and I mean that in a non-gay way as I might just do it. I am also keen to meet the other Aussies.

[Jem]

Hey Brad

I'm sure this could happen and of course you'd be made very welcome indeed

Travelling over to SELEM has been on my list of 'to do' things for quite some time, but sadly the recession hit and money's recently been a bit tighter than it used to be.

If there's any info you need from this side of the pond give us a shout.

Cheers

Jem

[White-Light]

This would be really good if it could be a Jem Lem although I don't think at the hall Jem gets they wouldn't allow tinkering and I'm not sure if the US guys would want to come to just a Show LEM or would you?

The reason I'm suggesting a Jem Lem is the good transport links. There's Leeds-Bradford airport nearby and Manchester Airport and Robin Hood Airport are not a million miles away. I know Surfleet is the usual UKLEM home but it is out in the middle of no-where for international visitors and as a one off, I can't see the harm in anther Jem Lem.

Failing a Jem Lem or a similar hall nearby, there's a hall in Sheffield I can get for £7 per hour + Booking fee. They may even allow sleep overs. They used to allow the scouts do it there. They're also laser friendly and tinkering would definitely be allowed. It's used as children's play / painting area by the school in the week after classes and by classes during the school day, so they're not too stuffy about dirty screw drivers etc although I would expect us to respect it and clean up afterwards. I'm willing to co-ordinate the booking although someone else would need to sort money as I'm not in a position to put it out up front. Sheffield is a short train ride from Manchester Airport (1 hour approx) and the station is with 1 mile of the hall making taxis cheap. Alternatively, Robin Hood Airport, Leeds-Bradford and East Midlands are only around an hour away by road as Sheffield sits on the hub of the M1 / A1.

Both Sheffield and Wakefield are slap bang in the middle of the country and in the middle of all of the northerly airports.

[Jem]

Al

Sorry to point this out but it's NOT a 'Jem LEM', it's a 'ShowLEM' and it's everybody's LEM, i'm just the facilitator on this particular meet, as Jim is for the Surfleet meets.

You also have to remember that America is a *big* place . The sort of distances we're talking about in getting to Surfleet is absolutely nothing to our American friends, they'd travel that distance just to get a good breakfast

I'm sure we'd be happy to accomodate them whenever and however they choose to land

Jem

[White-Light]

Don't worry Jem I don't think anyone really thinks its your own private LEM. Jem Lem just has a certain ring to it.

[LaNeK779]

well, if it is to make it such a big event (a "global" lem), i think a show lem only, just won't cut it
there need to be lids fliped open, cables spliced, optics glued, rgb aligned etc etc etc
It has to be the "full monty" (hahaha!)

but i'm in! and i will try to make a uklem prior to that too

just my 2p

[Insanity]

The reason I'm suggesting a Jem Lem is the good transport links. There's Leeds-Bradford airport nearby and Manchester Airport and Robin Hood Airport are not a million miles away. I know Surfleet is the usual UKLEM home but it is out in the middle of no-where for international visitors and as a one off, I can't see the harm in anther Jem Lem.

I would have thought that Surfleet would be better as it is closer to the five London airports which are likely to give a far better choice when it comes to flights... Plus, our US friends cannot visit a UK LEM without sampling the delights of Cod Father, Surfleets very own road kill cafe :-) Plenty of room in the outside fields for outdoor laserscopery as well... Between Dan/Andy T, Rob, Nige and myself we have four scopes... Phhhwwoooaaaarrrrr !!!!!!

Mark

[Jem]

Absolutely agree Mark. Surfleet would be the place to do this .