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In a message dated 1/19/07 2:21:24 PM, larry@spiritedorg.com writes:<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE CITE STYLE="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px" TYPE="CITE"></FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Geneva" FAMILY="SANSSERIF" SIZE="2">The face to face connections and support are not things I can get from a<BR>
virtual event. Hugging my computer monitor is just not the same. So, I<BR>
support a focus on a World Wide event where the chance of worldwide<BR>
participation is high. So I can connect to both old and new friends.<BR>
Maybe that is no longer possible in our virtual and tension filled<BR>
world, but I still want it.<BR>
<BR>
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I'm with Larry on this! I like having a worldwide event, and like moving it to various parts of the world. My travel budget is slimmer than it used to be, and overseas travel is more difficult now that I have some severe diet restrictions. But a worldwide OSONOS is always going to be a top priority.<BR>
<BR>
Maybe we need something like what Gabriela suggested, a voting process that lets those of us who are unable to be physically present participate in choosing the next location. I'm delighted that the Ukraine has such a thriving OS community, and that they enthusiastically invited us there. But for myself, I am disappointed to have the annual gathering two years in a row in locations which present some big challenges for me. I'd like to see us return the the idea we proposed when we first moved OSONOS away from North America--to move from continent to continent, to include local participants from many regions and to make the travel easier for a different group each time.<BR>
<BR>
Regional OSONOS and internet connections are great, but a face to face, worldwide OSONOS is something very special. I want to be a part of that as often as I can.<BR>
<BR>
Joelle Everett<BR>
Shelton, Washington, USA <BR>
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