Carribbean - An Adventure at a Glance!!

*MEMBERS AND OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS ONLY* David W., our 2008 Silver Medal Speaker and an avid World Traveler, will share his exciting travel experiences!! Join us for a great time of lively conversations and networking with your fellow travelers over delicious dinner!! Metro (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!) - Gallery Place-Chinatown (Red line). After exiting the Metro, turn right on H and 5th Streets. Take a short walk to the venue and it's on your right side. Metro Map - http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~ AGENDA OF EVENT ~~ 7:00pm - 8:00pm: "Meet 'n Greet" Social Hour over delicious dinner. We'll also take attendance and collect activity contribution fees ($1.00 per person/event, including Organizer and Speaker). 8:00pm - 9:30pm: Speaker's Presentation, Q&A and Members' "Travel Tip of the Day" Discussions. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~ IMPORTANT REMINDERS ~~ 1. Meal Purchase Requirement - NO EXCEPTIONS, PLEASE! The restaurant management reminds me that ALL restaurant patrons (including the Organizer and the Speakers) are expected to purchase dinners, while using their venue for any events, in order not to incur losses from the "anticipated" profits. Please bear in mind that the restaurant is a for-profit entity, NOT a public domain, such as public library, etc. The restaurant managements have been very accommodating to our group's needs, i.e., separate billings, free private rooms, etc., and I don't wish to "dampen" our great working relationships with them and not being able to use their venues for our future events. In all honesty, their request is fair, to the restaurant owner and serving staff, and we'll all do exactly the same if we're "in their shoes". We're all mature professionals and will do the "right" thing. Reminder: You are NOT required to purchase the most expensive dish on the menu for your OWN meal!! :-) Thank you for your understanding. 2. Group Activity Contribution Fee - $1.00 per person (including Organizer, Speaker and Guests). The accumulated fund will be used for the Speakers' Thank-You gift cards (NOMINAL AMOUNT), Annual Appreciation Dinner and Special Awards for Top Speakers, necessary group activity-related expenses, and the administration fees PAYABLE to Meetup.com (a for-profit entity) for keeping our group on an ACTIVE status!! Our Organizer and Speakers are NOT compensated for their dedicated voluntary services. Every penny collected will be spent on all group-related expenditures. 3. "YES" RSVPs - Confirmation Required By 6:00pm on THURSDAY as Professional Courtesy to the Speaker and a Head Count for the Hosting Restaurant!! If you are NOT 100% sure of your attendance after RSVPed "Yes", please change your RSVP to "No" by 6:00pm on Thursday to give other members an opportunity to sign up. A change to RSVP "No" AFTER 6:00 pm is considered a "NO SHOW". To confirm, simply do the following: 1) After signing in, go to the Event Web Page 2) Click on "Change Your RSVP" 3) In the Box under "Edit Your Comments" section, type "Confirmed" 4) Click "Update". 4. Our No-Show, Late Cancellation; Event Crasher Removal Policy - http://travel.meetup.com/21/boards/view/viewthread?thread=1906092&listpage=20 5. Our Awesome "Speakers' Hall of Fame" - http://travel.meetup.com/21/boards/view/viewthread?thread=2218785&lastpage=yes# 6. Our Upcoming Events - http://travel.meetup.com/21/calendar/list/ 7. Great Resources for World Travelers - Enjoy!! http://www.meetup.com/DC-MD-VA-World-Travelers-Forums/messages/boards/forum/175543