[CPT-UK] Feedback needed on 3 venue options for CPT gathering

[Tim Nafziger]

Dear CPT friends,

I'm sure you've all heard by now about the death of Tom Fox in Iraq. This is
a difficult time for all of us, but I'm also reminded in times like these of
the importance of community and connecting with one another. The CPT
gathering this summer will be an opportunity to connect with the broader
community of peacemakers in the UK and Europe and support one another. It's
time to move forward with the planning of this gathering even as we mourn
the death of our friend and colleague.

We are provisionally planning to gather on the 4th and 5th of June in the
North of England. We warmly invite all of you to join us, both at the
gathering and in planning and visioning.

I've been exploring various venue possibilities and there are 3 solid
options that have emerged. It would be really helpful to have feedback from
any of you who might attend on which you prefer. I've tried to list a few
advantages and disadvantages for each one.

1. Green Gables, Scarborough (http://www.greengablesscarborough.co.uk/)

The Green Gables Hotel in Scarborough was recommended by Jonathan
Blakeborough as a place popular with church groups. For 31.50 per person we
would recieve:

A bed for everyone (most with 3-4 people per room, but a few singles
available), a meeting room, and Sunday evening meal, Monday Breakfast and
Monday Lunch.

The minimum group size is 10 and the maximum is 30.

Advantages

The big advantage of this venue is that the price is straightforward, we
wouldn't have to have a budget or worry about food

Another advantage is that we'd all be together in one place for the entire
weekend rather than having to shuttle from place to place. People also might
enjoy the setting near the coast and a beach.

Disadvantage

Cost is possibly highest of the 3 options.

We need to tell them how many people we'll have well in advance. This could
make it difficult to accomodate last minute people signing up.

2. St Aidan's Church, York

Sandy Goodwill, a supporter of CPT, has recieved permission from St Aidan's
Church, Acomb, York to borrow their building from approx. 11am Monday to 5pm
Monday. This is free of charge, although it would be nice if we could offer
to give a donation. Sandy has also offered to feed up to 30 people at her
house on Sunday evening.

With this option, most people would need to find their own place to stay
Sunday night. However, I've been told York has many affordable hostels (see
http://www.google.co.uk/local?hl=en&q=hostels&near=York&sa=X&oi=localr for a
few). There also may be a few local families who could host CPTers on a very
tight budget.

We would either need to cook Monday breakfast and lunch for ourselves, hire
a caterer or split up to find these meals on our own.

Advantages

We have a number of CPT supporters in York and this is our opportunity to
support them. We've already been generously invited to a meal on Sunday
night by Sandy.

This also could be an affordable option with the venue for free/cheap. Costs
would be food and lodging for individuals. York is also a lovely setting.

Disadvantages

With venue and sleeping spaces seperate, we would have to spend a fair deal
of time going to and from sleeping accomodations and the venue.

May be more complications with everyone finding their own place to sleep and
arranging for various meals.

3. Leeds

 Ray Gaston has agreed to let us use the floor of All Hallows Leeds for
Sunday night. I've been waiting for  3 weeks to hear back from The Common
Place (http://www.thecommonplace.org.uk/) Leeds as a possible venue for the
gathering itself. This is the least clear options of the 3, but I couldn't
wait any longer to confirm possibilities.

If anyone has other venues in Leeds/Bradford they'd like to suggest, let me
know.

Advantages

Anyone already attending the Christianity and Anarchism conference doesn't
need to go anywhere. Possibly the cheapest of the 3 options. There's a vegan
brunch at the Common
Place<http://www.thecommonplace.org.uk/cafe.php?page=cafe>that we
could join in on and might give us a chance to connect with local
folks.

Everyone who doesn't mind sleeping on a concrete floor could stay together
at All Hallows Leeds.

Disadvantages

As with York, we are sleeping and meeting in different places which will
require commuting time and added logistics.

We'd need to work out all our own logistics for food.

Those who aren't able to sleep on a concrete floor will need to find their
own accomodations.


So those are the 3 possible options for where we might meet. Please email me
with your preference or thoughts as soon as possible. Also any clarifying
questions are welcome.

Sincerely,
Tim
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