Anyone interested in another Moondog training session?

[messmonster]

Evening all.

I went to Moondog's training session in B'ham earlier this year and found it really useful as well as enjoying the opportunity to meet other MNers.

I wondered if anyone would be interested in attending another one - perhaps in the SE this time?

For me personally, I'd love to consolidate some of what was covered at the first session and being totally selfish, would also want to cover some topics that would be relevant to my DD starting school next year.

For those who don't know, Moondog is a regular poster here. She is a v experienced SALT with an MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA).

The session some of us attended in B'ham was really an introduction to ABA with Moondog and her colleague sharing several practical ABA-based techniques that they have used very successfully with children with SN - to help both with communication and learning.

So, if you're interested and think you could help me persuade Moondog to run another course, please post below giving an indication of what would be helpful to you and what region would suit you best (SE, Midlands etc). If there's enough common ground, then we might be able to set something up.

Many thanks

Morning all.

Thanks for all the responses - 23 expressions of interest is really great!

Just wanted to update you. I've collated all the course content requests from the thread and PMs and have included my own and have sent these to Moondog. She is going to have a look and, when she gets time, put together a course outline which we will post up here.

To try to cater for as many differing needs as possible, Moondog is looking at the possibility of incorporating some separate group work where she and her colleague could offer different topics and MNers could choose the one most suited to them. This would be in addition to some whole group training.

Now for the tricky bit - location. It's going to be impossible to suit everyone . Looking at where everyone is, the vast majority want SE. Within the SE, we have people scattered in all corners but there seems to be a concentration in Herts, Essex and London. Some people are more able to travel than others.

So, my proposition is that we aim for Herts on the basis that we can find somewhere that is accessible by train and road (M1, M25) and we're more likely to find a lower cost venue outside of London.

Star's suggestion of Watford, seems to fit the bill (btw I'm more central and willing to travel, I don't live in Watford or elsewhere in Herts )

Is that a reasonable proposal? I'm acutely aware that this will preclude some people and inconvenience others and I'm sorry for that but this seems the most sensible based on the info I've got.

What do you think?

Oh, I feel a bit guilty at being named like that. For the record, I don't drive and depending on the location Watford will likely take me over 2 hours travelling (which I am okay with incidentally).

Although I must say I do derive some satisfaction from it being held in Herts!

Sorry Star didn't mean to put the spotlight on you.

I feel intensely uncomfortable trying to make a decision on this. I'm in the fortunate position of being fairly central, able to drive and happy to travel for 2-3 hours but am aware that that's not the case for everyone.

Even if you take the people who've said SE is ok - we have people based in Sussex, Suffolk borders and Swindon and everywhere in between .

If anyone has a better idea and maybe even know of a suitable low-cost venue then let's look at it. I'm not wedded to Watford or even Herts for that matter, just trying to suit the majority.

Sorry, read that back and it sounds really defensive - not meant to, just feel very awkward at people being exlcuded because of logistics and uncomfortable being the one trying to make the decision.

I can try to make Watford, but it's a hell of a trek for me. Unsure about logistics and affordability.

Don't be put off Watford because of me. Maybe if I can't go, a later one in Chelmsford / Ipswich might be more easy for people in mid - north Essex and Suffolk. I know there's some in Norfolk too that might be interested.

Maria, I think I have an idea. Let me just test it out and get back to you.

Sorry, meant messmon - not sure what happened.

zzzzz - for me, closest on East would be Chelmsford and on West would be Ipswich. Both take about an hour-ish total travel time by bus and then train.

Watford for me would be bus, train, tube, train.

Right mess

Got a practice thingy for you to look at www.doodle.com/2st2md6y969x5fr8. It's an example so don't start filling it.

This sheduling website shoukd help. You'd have to adapt it. Get dates from MD or just set a random one but make sure people know it means nothing, then when it asks for times, for each 'time' instead write the name of a location.

Distribute the link, then people can say where they can get to. You can go with the majority and anyone who didn't tick that venue can reconsider if they can make it after all.

Then it isn't at all personal.

Just want to say thank you to messmonster for kicking this off. I am SE and south of London but am happy with Watford and happy if it changes too. Am in fortunate position of being very flexible.

Thanks all. Star I like it. Will have a play in a moment and set myself up to be able to do it.

Just checking, plan would be to put all possible locations e.g. Bristol, Swindon, Watford, London, Chelmsford whatever.

People could then tick all that they can make (not just their first choice) and then I go with the majority one?

On dates, nothing set yet, but Moondog and I had discussed early February.

I appreciate cost is also an important consideration but until we know venue and numbers, we won't know what that is.

Yes. If you can only put in three 'times' (which you'll use for locations) them you might have to put additional random dates and make sure people know that. Perhaps if they were way into the future or dec 25th or something people won't get confused.

Ooh - this is exciting. Star never knew this tool existed - it's neat.

So, here's the link.

Just enter your MN name and then choose all the places that you'd be prepared to travel to and submit.

We will go with the majority location and try to find a venue there.

Ready, steady, go....

Bllcks! Can see that my trial data is still in there. Will re-do mine and then discount the trial line

Clever! Have submitted.

I agree zzzzz about weather in Feb. Moondog can't do before Christmas and I would imagine it would be difficult for all of us. Maybe later in Feb might be a better option.

Will let Moondog give us her availability once we have a location.

Getting there....

Don't forget though that location might also affect Moondogs expenses.

zzzzz

Whispered honk - Shhh - I'm supposed to be working

Good point Star and it's not just costs it's time for Moondog too. Maybe Moondog should vote as well or have a double vote or right of veto

Right, back to work for a couple of hours