We need to discuss our Meetup location

Hi Everyone,

When I started this Meetup I thought that it would be nice to meet in a place that has coffee and food. This is especially convenient for those who don't have time to eat beforehand. The Ithaca Meetup gets together in a restaurant. The drawback to this is that we really have to support the business since we are taking up space, and likely displacing other paying customers. Most of you know that the 2nd Story Bookstore now serves coffee and food. So if we want to continue meeting there we really have to at least buy coffee, etc.

How does everyone feel about this? Do we want to avoid essentially having a cost associated with getting together? One alternative is to meet someplace such as a library (I've asked Lorne about the availability of the library meeting room just around the corner from the 2nd Story Bookstore. He started a Philosophy Meetup that meets there.)

If everyone prefers a public place, I'd propose those of us who want something to eat can get together in a restaurant for dinner before the meeting, then we could all meet in whatever public space I can find.

Please give me your feedback.

David

When CNYSkeptics began, we met at Barbagallos. I did not like the obligation to buy food in order to have a meeting. We swtiched to Bett's Branch Library as they had a nice large room freely available on almost every 3rd Wednsday of the month. FUNY was already meeting in libraries when I started going to their meetings. They've used North Syracuse, Cicero, Betts, and Brewerton as needs required. This gives us the option of having a FREE meeting and then a group can go out to a restaurant afterward is some of the group wants to continue the discussion.

I've been a "member" of this group for a while, but I've never been able to attend any of the meetings. I work nights, Sunday through Thursday. I'm surprised you don't meet on weekends. It just seems like it would be more beneficial, as most people probably have the most free time then.