Yes, Paula. I remember the ’93 conference in Montreal.  It was very convenient.  But I still think something more central would be a good idea if it could be found there.

Carol

From: Paula Thompson (via socadmin list) <socadmin@urantiabook.simplelists.com>
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2024 2:24 PM
To: Plus EC <plusec@urantiabook.org>; General Council <gc@urantiabook.org>; brent.stdenis <socadmin@urantiabook.simplelists.com>; Membership Committee Society and <socmembcom@urantiabook.org>; society officers list <societyofficers@urantiabook.simplelists.com>; First Society <urantiachicago@gmail.com>; Jacquelyn Koury <jackie.koury@urantiabook.org>
Subject: [socadmin] Re: [societyofficers] Choosing a conference location for our demographics?

Hi Jackie,

I think I've only missed one Fellowship conference in 34 years and that was IC'23.

As you know, I worked through all but one of those conferences as a volunteer and as the Fellowship's Director.

Here is what I learned about our aging demographic.

1. Because we are getting old and not as mobile as we once were, we can no longer navigate big college campuses. We need to be situated close to workshops and food.

2. We are not able to go to high altitudes anymore. Many of our members risk getting altitude sickness, especially in the mountains.

3. We like and need our comfort these days and for safety reasons we need to be able to stay cool. Hot outdoor venues, or walking in the heat isn't safe and will no longer work.

4. We have more special dietary considerations, so good meals and good variety is very important.

Of the many venues I've seen us be in, all over North America, the one that I remember that worked best was the tall hotel in Montreal in 1993. Everything was in the same hotel and most of the movement was done on elevators from floor to floor. Getting around was easy. It wasn't like a gigantic spread-out convention center. The sleeping rooms, meals, and workshop rooms were all there, and the floors were a manageable size.

Some universities we've been to, like Amherst and Salt Lake City, had a great hotel right on the campus, which provided more comfort. Amherst had fantastic food. Even so, at those venues we still had to walk a lot and that is a problem for many of our attendees. Let's face it, summers are not getting cooler, so to have elderly people trying to walk around in heat that is 90 degrees and higher is a recipe for disaster. I remember that we had to shuttle people in Salt Lake City but logistically it's best to keep the need for shuttling people to a minimum. College campuses are just not designed for older people and it's sad because they really have helped us keep our conferences affordable.

The younger demographic can endure much more in the physical sense, but they need more affordable options. Nearby camping facilities have been really important to them. But once they are at the venue, they benefit from convenient spaces as much as anyone else.

I hope this helps.

Love...Paula

Paula Thompson

Nature confers no rights on man, only life and a world in which to live it. Nature does not even confer the right to live, as might be deduced by considering what would likely happen if an unarmed man met a hungry tiger face to face in the primitive forest. Society's prime gift to man is security. (The Urantia Book, 70:9.1)

On Friday, August 23, 2024 at 03:34:41 AM MDT, Jacquelyn Koury (via societyofficers list) <societyofficers@urantiabook.simplelists.com <mailto:societyofficers@urantiabook.simplelists.com> > wrote:

Dear Friends,

This week I talked to you about looking for a location for SSS25. However, it is true a location for the next International Conference (IC26) is being researched as well.

The purpose of this letter is to seek your help regarding what are the most important considerations when choosing a place for our next conferences.

I reviewed the surveys from SSS24. Roughly 50 out of approximately 150 attendees filled out the survey and I personally don’t find them very helpful. It is likely due to the limiting nature of a survey.

At SSS24 20% were first time conference attendees. I must say I don’t believe it lowered our average age group by much. Perhaps a few of our new attendees were 45 to 65

To my knowledge we had peak conference attendance in the summer of 1996 when the IC was held in Flagstaff AZ which is not very close to a major airport.

I heard stories of people loading up their kids, friends and Society neighbors taking road trips and caravanning to the conference in Flagstaff. I believe people were happy to share dorm rooms, sleeping spaces and bathrooms. The average age of our reader friends at that time was probably late 30’s to early 40’s.

We know most of us found the Urantia Book in the 1970’s. I’d say our average age is between 65 to 75 with many of our friends turning 80 or in their early 80’s. The young people are in their late 50’s but I’d say the majority have hit 70 or are close to it and our largest population is between 70-75.

Please correct me if you disagree.

Do we take the average age of our demographics into consideration when choosing a location to gather?

If so, I believe this means we need to be close to a major airport with easy travel to the venue. Many people are widowed or single and want a private bedroom and bathroom. Sharing space is not as desirable. The food needs to be of high quality and the meeting spaces need to be in very close proximity to the dining room and lodging. In addition, the temperature outside and inside needs to be moderate and the costs need to be kept down.

I’d like your help in understanding the needs of our demographics. What do you think the parameters and considerations are in choosing a location. Please share with me your concerns and your vision of an ideal location.

Thank you in advance for your input whether you have attended a recent conference or not. I’d appreciate you forwarding this letter to those not on our lists and you may consider only replying to me if you’d like.

Sincerely,

Jackie Koury

Fellowship Education Chair

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