Just for the record, during the one hour that I was waiting, I've circled the venue numerous times, including the patio and the line up at the door, including asking every group sitting near the bar if they were proZers, including asking to use the PA system if they had one. I don't think that level of due diligence should be blamed as inadequate just because we didn't continue checking the patio while hungry and with our plates in hands. Thanks!

I'm sorry, but having waited at the bar for an hour, we do need to sit down to eat. The wait staff brought us to a table in one of the dining rooms and it wasn't up to us to pick the patio. Before we left the bar table we repeatedly told the wait staff, including the manager, that we were a group of interpreters/translators meeting up so anyone mentioning anything remotely similar to that, please bring them to our table. I don't think it's fair for those who came late and chose to sit at the patio (instead of the designated meet up area, the bar) to point fingers at us. Why didn't *you* check the dining rooms?

Didn't even occur to the mind of those who missed the even that the patio is a possibility? If you are translating a text and some word looked weired in the context, do you put it as weird as it is or you check for the appropriate meaning if possible? Why don't you apply this to a crowded place where it is obvious that a vacant place is not easy to find?

Dear all,

I am deeply sorry for the misunderstanding and that some of you were not able to meet other attendees at this powwow.

I just want to let you know that it was agreed with Suzzane White to award BrowniZ points to you as it is clear from your posts here that you were at the bar at the time agreed.

Again, I am sorry for this and I know Suzanne feels the same way. I hope you can all make arrangements to have another meeting soon.

Just let me know if you have any doubts, comments or concerns by submitting a support request here:

http://www.proz.com/support

Regards,

Lucia Leszinsky
Member services and support

I support Tania on this issue. I was at Richtree at seven as scheduled, had been waiting for more than 20 min., asked several their hostess, checked and walked around the inside area but couldn't recognize or see anybody. Of course I was upset with the way it was organized and for me it was illogical to wait till 8 pm or more for someone, including the organizer, to show up if the event was scheduled at 7 pm.

I think that I, Yuriy and Tina have earned the BrowniZ points too, because we attended the event. It is not our fault that we missed the other group. At the very least, we deserve them in the way of apology for the messed-up organization.

Perhaps a sign at the bar saying "proz on patio" would have helped! That, or someone leaving a phone number in advance (I trust that people in this group are considerate enough to not abuse that info).

Thanks Tania for the post. It just goes to show that we should probably not meet on another Friday night if we meet at Richtree, it is just too crowded to meet without a firm reserved table. Even after we told the hostesses where we were sitting on the patio, it appears that there was still confusion. One of the attendees was even sent to sit at a table with another group! He found us by recognizing my Proz profile picture.

Suzanne

The four of us were standing at the bar untill well after 8pm and we did not see anyone walking around with the sign. We also repeatedly talked with the bar staff and the management telling them we are looking for a party of people under the name of Susan White, and they apparently heard nothing of such party.

Thank you to everyone who made it to yesterday's PowWow. As noted in my message yesterday, Richtree would not confirm an exact table for us. We have had a good turnout at the last two 2009 PowWows in February and May, but even with reserved tables, not everyone found us or made it early enough. Five of us managed to meet yesterday and had a good time sharing ideas, leaving after 10 PM. There were a number of topics discussed and these will be detailed in a report that will be posted for everyone's benefit as soon as Proz.com gives its approval.

I do take issue with Yuriy's comment. If he had copied the whole quote, it would read " I will unfortunately be delayed due to a commitment that will be running overtime". Obviously, I would not have planned two events at the same time. In the past, the first people to show up naturally act as greeters to the rest. I held up a sign and walked around well after 8 PM, and waited at the bar, as did others, so as to find other Prozians. If anyone has any ideas on making the Toronto PowWows better, e.g. location, etc, please do speak up. Anyone can submit a request to host a PowWow or can volunteer to handle certain duties.

To the attendees whose attendance I could record, you should have your 200 BrowniZ by now.

All the best, and thanks for supporting the Toronto Powwow,

Suzanne

4 people showed up including myself, and we had a pleasant chat, so thanks to Susan for bringing us together. I agree that we will need better organization next time, with maybe a sign saying "Proz.com" so people could find the party.

I was at the bar at 7:15. Didn't realize how hard it was spotting anyone there! Even asked the manager for a PA system to make a broadcast (couldn't do it, d'oh). Asked every group sitting nearby if they were interpreters (people must think I was nuts). Finally met up with Tania plus 2 friends she brought. All is not lost but it could have been a better meet-up. Perhaps next time one of us leave a phone number for ppl to call? - Cheers, Tina

I had to kill some time to be at Richtree at 7:00 PM, and then waiting for 20 min frustrated. Only having come home I could read email sent after 4:00 pm that the organizer of Powwow "will unfortunately be delayed due to a commitment" (we who made commitment to to come are "irrelevant" it seems).
Better be noncommittal next time.

I have been informed by Richtree Market that due to the busyness of Friday and Saturday evenings, they will not confirm our tables. Instead, we are to meet at the bar and within 15-30 minutes we will be seated. The reservation is for 15 people, as it is not clear how many will be in attendance. I will unfortunately be delayed due to a commitment that will be running overtime. Someone please bring a camera!

Thanks,

Suzanne