I don’t totally agree with this. There are a select few on here who have the ability (time, money, etc...) to attend this and alot of other festivals every year. I would love to attend this every year (as I know many others would), but with an upcoming wedding, new house, baby in the last few years I was unable to attend the past gatherings. Because of this, should I not be able to vote, especially when I helped with the MI proposal?
I’m not sure if Josh is using any type of cut-off, but I think it would be fair to only allow votes for those that plan on attending that given year and for those that have been on the site for a given amount of time (say over 30 days or more) so people can’t just join and vote.
If you could likely attend one or both of the locations, then you should be able to vote. If you know you’ll be busy in July or wouldn’t be able to attend, then you shouldn’t vote. Seems fair to me.
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Since I joined Ratebeer (or at least been active) both RBSGs have been in California, and I have nowhere near the resources to get out that far. I think I would fit anyone’s definition of an active member, so to shut people like me out would be wrong. Besides, we want things like this to be inclusive and not turn into a little private club.
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Mike (Eyedrinkale) has pulled in more new beers and even breweries into NY this past year that it’s becoming hard to keep up with. He’s damn fucking good at his job, and he takes beer business quite seriously. I have no doubt that is experience in the industry and his organizational skills will prove an awesome RBSG!
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+1
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I’m excited to see both proposals. Any idea (anyone) on when this will be?
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Michigan sounds wonderful...back to the home state! I miss Bells, dark horse and kuhnhenn so much being here in Boston.
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The only point I was making by trying to only include past RBSG attendees, is that I have noticed people in the past have "voted" for the gathering location and haven’t attended. Perhaps they intended to and maybe I’m jaded but I think people like voting without any intention of attending. I actually agree with kp, the next years proposals should be presented at RBSG. Again without lobbying, RBSG NY 2010 is an ideal location for two simple reasons;
1. Bars close at 4:00 am
2. Getting around NY is as simple as raising your arm and hailing a cab, regardless of the time of day or night.
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You’re *hardly* being "shut out." You (and anyone else on the site) are more than welcome to attend, where ever the RBSG ends up being, whether you vote for it or not. I think what Mike and kp are suggesting is that there is a group of people who HAVE the resources to travel far for an RBSG, and have done so in the past. These people will once again make up about half of the total number of RBSG attendees, if it is in an agreeable place that they collectively are happy to travel to.
If it were held in, say, North Dakota because a large contingent of North Dakota RateBeer users popped up and all voted on their hometown, you’d have probably 20-30 North Dakotans and nobody else.
Mike’s suggested restrictions may seem a little extreme, and I’m not sure it needs to be THAT extreme, but I wouldn’t be upset (partly because I *would* be included). Beastiefan2k has a more inclusive voting restriction, which is basically "on your honor," but aims to exclude those who "definitely won’t be going." I think this should be the default ANYWAY, and I’d say it’s pretty lame for anyone who has no hope of travelling to put up their opinion that will change the destinies of those who DO travel. But maybe a lot of sideline folks have put in their votes in the past, so maybe an explicit word or few of discouragement is necessary.
I really like the idea of having the vote for next year’s RBSG at THE CURRENT RBSG, and I thought a couple of years ago that there was an official endorsement of that idea, but I don’t think it ever happened. I might be wrong. But anyway, I think voting on and then announcing the next year’s winner is one of the cool things on this site that deserves more fanfare than it has ever gotten, and making the announcement would be a cool way to throw a toast at the Grand Tasting.
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We are an impatient group aren’t we? Let em see the proposals!
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I see where you’re coming from and if someone knows they are not going to attend they should not vote plain and simple. If you are likely to attend then you should be able to vote.
I haven’t been to one of these in the past, but from what I gather that brewery tours, a kick ass beer dinner(s), and a grand tasting w/ lots of specialty beers is what seems to be preferred. I know neither of us will have a problem with any of these items since I know we already have tons of special beer commitments and I know you have plenty too.
If the Summer Gathering is in NY how many would actually stay out til 4am at the bar’s when there’s tons of stuff to do the next few days? If there is a bus leaving for brewery tours at 9 or 10am, 2am is plenty late enough to have a killer time. And if there’s a need to stay up later there’s always tastings in the rooms.
While I can’t argue that cabs are much easier to get in New York, we’ll have plenty of pre-arranged cabs and shuttles in Grand Rapids so nobody has to worry about getting back to their hotel and there’s quite a few hotels w/in walking distance of the main events for a reasonable price. And those hotels that aren’t as close will be within a short/easy cab ride.
I don’t want to lobby for Grand Rapids since I know that either choice will offer a killer weekend w/ tons of great events, people, and beers.
Lets get this voting underway 
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