Roll up! Roll up! Exciting bespoke SN conference available - cast your votes now!

[lougle]

Back in February I asked Moondog if she would be interested in repeating her very successful 'masterclass' which she held for some MNers. Moondog very kindly said yes, but to make it viable, there needs to be 15 attendees.

I made a thread here and asked MNSNers if they were interested - a brilliant response was had, with 20-25 people expressing interest.

Now, Moondog has been able to confirm details of the event as follows:

Date: Saturday 14th June 2014
Venue: Swindon (with easy access to motorways, etc).
Cost: TBC - around £100 per person, but the more that come, the cheaper it will get.

In order to meet the needs of everyone, Moondog has recruited her Lovely Colleague, who will attend with Moondog and offer different topics. That way, they can each cover topics so that people can pick and choose what the hear about.

Moondog wants to know what you are interested in finding out more about. She has compiled a list of subjects that they can each cover, and I've put together a survey here

Please, Please answer the survey if you intend to come or are very interested in coming. If less than 15 people respond, the event will be called off altogether.

If more than 15 commit to coming but others intend to come and don't fill in the survey, then you may find that they don't cover the subjects you really want.

This is your chance to tell Moondog what would be most useful to you.

(I have reported this post, so that MNHQ can see that we're not 'advertising', we're just organising a meetup with a helpful poster who knows her carrots onions.)

just to check, if we have already responded to previous survey then we don't need to here?

Oh yes, please don't! If you do, I'll only count your answers once, but it would be much easier if you only reply once.

Have already answered and confirmed my attendance. Just marking my place here really!

Checking in. Just realised that I used to live about 5 mins from the venue!

Checking in.... excited

Marking my spot

Marking!

Hello! Can I ask do we know if we have enough punters for this yet?

HI I am always interested to know more.
what sort of thing will be covered (forgive my ignorance I am not sure what the scope of this would session be).

Thanks

If you look at the poll, you'll see the list of broad topics to choose from.

I have been to two of these and would absolutely recommend, though be prepared to use your brain and leave behind your shield for patronising bull.

Stop it Star - you'll make me snigger.

It's been slowly dawning on me over the last week that 5 years of carroting have meant my default brain activity has been dumbed down to a level where the instructions on an iceland toastie box seem complex.

Likewise genuine human interaction as opposed to just conserving all my energy so that I'll smile and nod as if I enjoy being patronised at least twice daily, rather than snapping now seems strange. Not working and too much carroting did a mind meld on me - thank goodness for the sanity this forum provides!

My OU course has been like a cattle prod to the brain (in a good way!).

Handywoman so far I've had 20 survey responses (but Atomicmitten has 2 friends, so I'm triple counting her) with 22 potential attendees, 17 'very interested and intending to come' and 5 'quite interested'. Whether that's enough at this stage, I'm not sure - Moondog will be able to answer. Bearing in mind that there is a tendency to sign up for stuff in theory and then withdraw, Moondog may feel that there needs to be a significant number over 15, to make sure at least 15 do attend on the day.

When I say you'll need to use your brain I don't mean that it is complicated. It is just that it is a stark contrast to 'sing nursery rhymes, see if that helps' and 'make sure you take some time for yourself' or 'try and have a routine'.

It's more 'These resources are excellent and easy to use. Here we've even prepared a simpler more outcome based instruction sheet in plain English to follow. After three attempts you'll see measurable progress, but if not, do this. We don't have time here to slag off our LA's. It isn't a counselling session. Let's move on to how you can develop your child's numeracy now.

Hope I have been fair, but that is how I found it pretty much.

That rarest of commodities - common sense?

So far moondog's rec's on this board have always been common sense, no fluff, and with a clear purpose. She's also brilliant at coming up with simple ways to measure tangible progress in a no-nonsense way, which is incredibly valuable.

When will we need to pay by?

ok thanks - the link was not working,.....but anaged to get to it now.

Bochead, I'm not sure.
Moondog and here colleague have been linked into the questionnaire so that they can see the responses as they come in. I'll give it a while longer, then we'll review the plan.

Bochead, I'm not sure.
Moondog and here colleague have been linked into the questionnaire so that they can see the responses as they come in. I'll give it a while longer, then we'll review the plan.

Hello all. Sorry for prolonged silence. Have been off enjoying some travels with my kids. Lougle, could you link to the survey again so I can draw up a definitive schedule of events please? I will then post again, with an email address that you can contact me on and I will send you the itinerary and payment and registration details.

If you then decide to join us, you will just need to send me a cheque.
I am happy with 15. This will cover our costs and keep it small enough so that everyone (hopefully) gets to be an active participant.

If we don't get 15 booking, I will simply destroy the cheques. Several people on MN know me in RL and can assure you I am not a hairy handed trucker. I am also registered with relevant professional bodies so there is no way I will be doing a runner!

Lougle as admin officer extraordinaire, could you let me know about nearest train station to venue and reputable but modest hostelry such as Premier Inn?

PMing you with the info now, Moondog.

Thanks Lougle. MNers, this woman is totally fab. Super organised and ultra efficient. She has saved me a TONNE of work with regards to organising this, finding venue and accommodation and so on. This is what takes time, not the actual content so much as this is what Lovely Colkeague and I do day in, day out.
Lovely Colleague also v impressed with the survey.
Turning I now but shall get down to it later this week as am on holiday.

Thanks Moondog, but I must point out that the venue is all down to signandsmile's generosity

Yes and thank you do much to Sign for that. Is she posting these days? I need to ask her sone questions about the venue.
You have brought all the different strands together though Lougle and having done this twice before, I fully appreciate that it takes time and energy.

I think sign pops in every so often, Moondog. Are they general questions or very specific? I've been there once for a day, so may be able to answer some of the more general questions. Feel free to PM me if you think I can help.

sign waves at moondog.... (I'm more in SN chat than here these days, but I'm still around...)

do pm with any questions, venue has some free parking, venue usually have one of their team around for any bookings that include projection or PA stuff, (but as dh runs the projection team, he is hopeful of fulfilling both functions for us ) although he would need to talk with you first to 'meet your requirments' .

[Grin]