An Apology To Our Aussie Members

Crap.. I knew it was too good to be

Crap.. I knew it was too good to be true! But I totally understand.

I don't suppose there are any MT devotees out there with the power to Sponsor the conference and pay for some flights and hotels for the guys?! :)

Canuck- We feel like crap too. We

Canuck-

We feel like crap too. We regret the failure.

We were thinking similarly about a host...but also, what about offering a web version for you guys (reduced price), or maybe making a video available, followed by some web-enabled chats?

We want to do something for you guys.

Mark

If you have to charge an extra $500 to

If you have to charge an extra $500 to cover costs, I will still go.

That's awfully generous of you Mark,

That's awfully generous of you Mark, and all of those sound like good ideas. I'm probably the minority on this but I wouldn't be as keen on web or long distance type learning. I could be wrong but I get a strong impression that a lot of your conferences are very interactive / practice heavy. Not that I wouldn't do it, it's just that hose two things appeal to me a lot - after all, it's all about the relationships!

And Good things come to those who wait right?

I also second what RPope says. I think Aussies are used to paying more for overseas things, so I'd pony up a higher than usual fee. And we're used to paying in $USD to minimize some of your risk.... The Aussie dollar is reasonably strong against the US dollar at the moment too.

Guys- Thanks for the input. Mike

Guys-

Thanks for the input. Mike and I are talking about possible solutions, and we want to make this work!

Mark

Yes bummer++. Well, never say

Yes bummer++.

Well, never say never.

Keep the possibility alive. I'd like to be able to say I'd pay extra for the privilege too - but it looks like I'd be paying for it myself (I work for a small company, currently not in a position to support me for this conference) so I can't say I'd easily come up with extra $. However, in principle...

Peter

We'll do our

We'll do our best.

Mark

Ditto to the comments so far. I've

Ditto to the comments so far. I've been very much looking forward to the conference and agree with Canuck that a web thing might be OK, it's no substitute for a face to face. And, like Peter, I'd planned to stump up my own dosh to be there.

Still - thanks for thinking of us and keeping us up to date.

It would be interesting to see how many

It would be interesting to see how many people from New Zealand would be interested in attending your conference, as it might be viable that while you are down this end of the world, you could scoot across the Tasman and hold a conference in NZ. This might amortise your 'cost-benefit outcomes'?

Joel

Im also keen to be at a MT Conference,

Im also keen to be at a MT Conference, especially if you hold one in NZ.

I agree with many of the comments

I agree with many of the comments above. I am not sure that a web enabled chat and video would have the same effect as a face-to-face, but certainly willing to give it a go :) Like many of the others, no company sponsorship for me, however I am sure that ROI will be high regardless of the cost to attend.

Just a thought - Sydney is an expensive town. Melbourne or Brisbane could host just as well and save a few $'s

Rie

It is not to be. I agree with the above

It is not to be. I agree with the above comments. That face-to-face is still the best. But web chats or video can benefit us and all international member. Great work guy.

Hi Team Aussie, Let's keep the dream

Hi Team Aussie,

Let's keep the dream alive to get Mike & Mark Downunder.
As someone that has been with Manager Tools from the very beginning, I am willing to wait till the time is right to benefit from a Manager-Tools One on One (with Mik & Mark) in Australia. :-)
Web is nice, but there would be nothing better than being in the same room with like minded Managers here in Australia experiencing the Manager-Tools philosophy first hand.

Regards
Guy Pilens

Really disappointed that it is not

Really disappointed that it is not going to happen in November. I am with most people here in hoping that it will happen sometime in the future. Webcast or something similar would be nice, but from all the comments I have seen from those attending past conferences it would seem that this would not replace the real thing.

Hoping this is a postponement, rather than a once and for all cancellation.

Cheers
A

Hi ANISE from Brisbane here, I too

Hi ANISE from Brisbane here,

I too am really disappointed.

I had budgetted the cost for 2 of us to come to the conference in November, and I am a tight wad - it was to be my big expenditure this year :( Ahh well my mortgage will be happy about that!

Brisbane is definitely a cheaper option than Sydney. Brisbane is a great place (except for all the southeners who keep moving up here he he) we have beaches, the Great Barrier Reef, Australia Zoo, great weather food & wine...maybe 2nd honeymoon could justify it!!

(only a girl would suggest that hey!)

ANISE

I was planning on coming from Israel to

I was planning on coming from Israel to Sydney for this. I can justify travel to anywhere in APAC to the company but cannot justify Europe or NA as I can't combine it with other business activities. I imagine that everyone would be willing to chip in another USD 200 for the fees which would surely cover the additional plane fare.

Assuming that isn't possible, how about we meet halfway in Thailand? I'll volunteer to do some legwork with hotels to set up a good rate with facilities.

C'mon guys, say it isn't final!

David and all- It's NOT final.

David and all-

It's NOT final. We're making efforts to get down there. It's just a tough call relative to cost.

But we have it on the agenda.

Mark

I'm grateful for the heads up. I'm sure

I'm grateful for the heads up. I'm sure you'll work it out.

To the other Aussies, Kiwis and even Israelis remember it's a huge trip from the East Coast USA to Australia, so I'm guessing Mark & Mike have to factor recovery time at each end as well. That's the opportunity cost side of things.

regards

Paul

I have just spent the two hours a week,

I have just spent the two hours a week, negotiating a contract via email, Teleconferences and a WebEx or two with a company based in lower Manhattan. We are in a wired world and to get business done and in the most sustainable way (ie reduced Carbon emissions), this way was cheaper and meant we got a better outcome - two return flights and a week in a hotel in Sydney for two were not added to the bill.

I am happy to do the wired approach, especially after working for a number of US firms and being awake from 1-4 AM in morning on con calls you get to enjoy a lack of sleep occasionally ;-).

When the window of opportunity is there I will be opening for all use 16 hrs ahead of the east coast guy.

I did get my own back on the Vendor as we did the all the comms between 10AM and Midday Sydney time. There is nothing like telling a guy in the Lower Manhattan late at night in the middle of the Aussie winter we are doing it tough down here at 12-17 deg C

Enjoy guys we will see you when we see you in the Antipodes...

Regards

Stephen

Stephen- A great post! Thanks for

Stephen-

A great post!

Thanks for giving us a different view.

Mark