Virtual Con 2010: The Gathering Cafe

[mommaduck]

THANK YOU SO MUCH for the Virtual Con and and the live stream & chat. It was almost

like being there, and we definitely felt a part of it all.

Big hugs,

Judy

[Perrin]

The chat was so fun. Had a great time with everyone. It was like almost being there.

[becozy]

Perrin!! It was nice to 'see' you!! Sure do miss you around here!!

Judy, it was fun!! Holly did a spectacular 'job' with the video!

How cool that Gerry's going to match what we raise!

so if anyone would like to help generate some more $ for The Shade Tree, you can donate through

GALS Charitable Foundation's Pay Pal with note TST/CONVENTION!

[ladyfran]

My puter is running so slow...all night it's been giving me a fit but I hung in! Thanks to all that worked so hard to help make us part of the festivities ...I had a night of tears and laughter but most of all pride just for being part of this wonderful site and part of Gerry's fandom...There is no other like that man ANYWHERE! Also I think Reno was a blast and a half and I am so happy that he was asked to join the Gals as their guest at this years convention! He kind of reminds me of GB...he's so down to earth and I hope that he stays that way when his own stardom takes off... Now I am going to bed because it's wee hours in the AM where I live my friends!

Sweet Gerry Dreams to all

Frannie

[Perrin]

Miss you too Barb!

Yeah like Frannie said Reno was a blast. Such a nice guy.

One more thing....

*Streaks through the thread naked*

(Do you still miss me? hehe)

[becozy]

Dayna added a special 'streaker' emoti

Think it is in your honor, Pervin!

[Swansong]

I would just like to say, that for us GALS who could not attend the convention this year, the virtual convention was a GIFT! I know it was hard work coordinating everything with the streaming video, and I just want you to know that you made us ALL feel like part of the festivities!

Holly ran herself ragged showing us all the raffle items, decorations, and getting the GALS to do shout-outs on camera. She related our messages and shout outs back to conventioneers and it was lovely! She even got Reno to get in real close to the camera and speak to us (the man is a STUD!). It shows me that we GALS who can't participate in person ARE remembered and valued among our sisters, and it takes the edge off not being there in person.

So to all of you:

Holly, Stu, Barb, Mel, Dayna, Jenni...many more; thank you thank you thank you!

And of course to Gerry, who brought us all together!

Much love,

Swannie

Edited June 6, 2010 by Swansong

[Shamrocked]

Fantastic night with GB GALS at the Virtual Con! I am on such a natural high now with all that went on and have not come back down to earth yet. Gerry called the Con. That just made our night! to all who worked so hard to make the Virtual Con great for all of us to feel so connected to the Vegas one. Wow...just WOW!

Hugs

Diane

[midnightchris]

Thanks again for all the hard work behind the VirCon broadcast, it's been a great ride!

I loved how Holly kept reacting to all the online messages: move the chair, put the camera on Reno, ask Reno this and that. It must have been hard on her to be here and there at the same time. Thank you so much!

I also loved my chatty naughty fellow VirCon attendees whom again I couldn't keep up with - well, not even tried this time, tbh.

And Gerry phoning in, of course! Too bad the connection was poor, I would've liked to hear him speak! Good thing we're gonna get the transcripts, thanks in advance!

And thank you, Patsy, for sharing the wonderful Character Poems! I'd really like to read the previous ones, if I could find them anywhere on the site!

Hugs,

Chris

Edited June 6, 2010 by midnightchris

[becozy]

Patsy's lovely character poems are usually scattered throughout the Virtual Con's 'Cafe' threads.

here are the links to her posts w/i the 'The Connection Cafe' thread from last year!

2009:

Oh: http://www.gerardbutlergals.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=26592&view=findpost&p=1360804

The Game: http://www.gerardbutlergals.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=26592&view=findpost&p=1361086

The Future: http://www.gerardbutlergals.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=26592&view=findpost&p=1361287

The Cusp: http://www.gerardbutlergals.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=26592&view=findpost&p=1361476

A Kind Heart: http://www.gerardbutlergals.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=26592&view=findpost&p=1361632

Questions: http://www.gerardbutlergals.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=26592&view=findpost&p=1361765

Fate of the Mariner: http://www.gerardbutlergals.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=26592&view=findpost&p=1361884

[patsyb]

Good Morning from cloudy England ...

How great that Gerry called the Convention. I'm looking forward to hearing the call and reading the transcript, although I don't have a problem in understanding him. Still, it's nice to read the words too. How generous of him to match the funds raised.

I'm glad you liked the two poems - thanks to Barb for linking to the earlier ones too. I'm not sure what time the Virtual Convention ends today so I'm going to post some more now ... here goes:

Mind Games

Click a button ... send a signal ... do something by remote

It doesn't matter what it is ... use each and every note.

Technology is here to stay so use it to the max

Have some fun - play around - send fighters to attack.

Control who lives ... control who dies ... simply take control

Live it up but keep self safe - let others pay the toll.

See those puppets dance around to your tune so loud?

Are you happy? Are you glad? Do you feel so proud?

Those puppets are but flesh and blood and when their strings are cut

They'll do the unexpected and jolt you from your rut.

To fight or die the choice was given once to burly John ....

No choice at all and so he fought and gamely struggled on.

A superstar across the world in a savage game of chance

His fame was such that audiences were kept within a trance.

Big Brother seeped into their minds and reality was lost

It didn't matter that there was a dreadful human cost.

Throughout the nightmare he stayed strong and remembered his own name

Kable was his pseudonym ... another aspect of the game.

He struggled ever closer to those he held most true

And in his heart engraved so deep the words "I am right here with you".

He won his freedom and destroyed those vicious ties that bound

His loved ones were returned to him and all was then new found

They emerged into the sunlight and left their night behind

But the horrors they'd endured would be forever borne in mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Scottish Youth Theatre

In Glasgow City there's a place where young thesps can hone their art

It's flourished for some years now and has its place in Gerry's heart.

Behind its doors he spent some weeks in the summer of '85

And since that time he's worked quite hard for his career to thrive.

The magic of the theatre was given life upon that stage ....

And so our hero's life turned another fateful page.

His future took a different path for many years and then

He was drawn back by that first love and trod the boards again.

We are the ones to reap the fruits of those first steps he took

Into the field of theatre and bringing life unto the book.

His pleasure now at what he does and puts upon the screen

Has its roots back in those days when it was but a dream.

The SYT exists today and young people go there still

To learn, to practice and create that everlasting thrill.

So if you visit Glasgow give thanks for the S.Y.T.,

It did its part in bringing Gerry ... yes, to you and me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And in honour of the winner of Milo's shirt:

Milo

From being pretty hopeless he cleaned up his act real fast

To corral, lasso and capture a blast from out of his past.

They bickered and fought - she wouldn't be caught - she led him a merry dance

From here to there and there to here with never a hint of romance.

But he won the day with a cheeky grin - he was an outstanding flirt

And he did all this whilst wearing a memorable blue checkered shirt.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Note: the photos that accompany each poem are clickable.

[midnightchris]

Thank you very much, Barb, for the links!

[Dragon Slayer]

Here I am, late to the party again...I missed so much! Who did win Gerry's shirt from BH, inquiring minds want to know?

Patsy, fabulous poems as always! I have saved so many of yours, you are so talented!

Glad everyone had a fabulous time at the Con and Virtual Con! Sorry I didn't get much of a chance to watch.

[ladyfran]

Patsy ....your poems are wonderful!!!! I just had a chance to read them today. I said it many times....the talent we have here on Gals is incredible!

Late night last night but well worth it!

Frannie

[phoenixgirl]

What a wonderful night!

First, a ginormous THANK YOU to Holly, Stu and Barb for the awesome job on the virtual con streaming. It was great, and yes - just like being there. We all felt very included, not just spectators. Also THANK YOU to Mel for taking over for Holly while she was doing other stuff - like receiving awards ....

, Holly on the Phoenix Rising Award. You truly have so much love in your life, and are a very lucky woman.

RENO!! Thank you for taking the time to join the GALS in Vegas, don a kilt and do your thing even though you weren't feeling well. You now have a group of Girlies who will support you forever.

to Marlene and The Shade Tree. Thank you for continuing to take care of the women of Las Vegas who have no one else to take care of them. Thank you for taking in the children and pets so these women can have some sort of family sense. I hope TST grows and expands across the country.

and of course ....

to GERARD BUTLER!! You have never let GALS down during the conventions by taking time to call, but this year you went above and beyond by agreeing to match the funds raised over the weekend. I don't know why we are all still surprised at your generosity, but you continue to rock our worlds.

I enjoyed myself immensely chatting with friends and watching everyone have a great time.

[patsyb]

Good Evening ... from a damp England

I'm glad you liked the poems. It's my little contribution to the Virtual Convention.

It occurred to me that Barb's linking to one of the poems from last year's Virtual Convention was quite timely. I'm re-posting the link to the poem for Game of Their Lives below:

http://www.gerardbutlergals.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=26592&st=80&p=1361086entry1361086

I say timely because England play the United States again in their first match in the forthcoming World Cup. The match takes place in Rustenberg on Saturday, 12th June.

[Dragon Slayer]

I may be wrong but isn't this the first time they've played each other since the GOTL actually took place?

Love your poems Patsy!

[patsyb]

I may be wrong but isn't this the first time they've played each other since the GOTL actually took place?

Yes Marg, it is the first time since 1950. The English press are making much mention of the 1950 outcome as being the greatest upset in World Cup history and the US team is getting quite a lot of press at the moment. I understand that the manager of England, along with David Beckham, watched the US team win their final warm-up match by a convincing margin the other day. They are being taken very seriously. Beckham is not playing during this Competition due to having suffered an injury some weeks ago but, as a very experienced player and former captain of England, he is in South Africa to help with the team.

edited to add:

England and the United States are both in Group C. It is possible for both teams to progress through to the next round if they finish in positions # 1 and # 2. The top two always go forward. There are four teams in this Group. In addition to England and the United States the Group includes Algeria and Slovenia.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for your kind comments about the poems.

Edited June 6, 2010 by patsyb

[framolamdu]

Im so glad you all enjoyed the Virtual Con. I did say to the Mods/Admins earlier going by what I saw in chat when i came in just before the raffle prizes were announced everybody seemed to be having a great time and really felt included in everything. I was very impressed with the picture quality and audio. I have to give kudos to Holly for keeping it going all night.

if anyone has had reservations about attending a Fanvention this Virtual Con will hopefully make them attend in future years. It is always held in Vegas so start saving for next year ladies.

Moira

[Dragon Slayer]

Yes Marg, it is the first time since 1950. The English press are making much mention of the 1950 outcome as being the greatest upset in World Cup history and the US team is getting quite a lot of press at the moment. I understand that the manager of England, along with David Beckham, watched the US team win their final warm-up match by a convincing margin the other day. They are being taken very seriously. Beckham is not playing during this Competition due to having suffered an injury some weeks ago but, as a very experienced player and former captain of England, he is in South Africa to help with the team.

edited to add:

England and the United States are both in Group C. It is possible for both teams to progress through to the next round if they finish in positions # 1 and # 2. The top two always go forward. There are four teams in this Group. In addition to England and the United States the Group includes Algeria and Slovenia.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for your kind comments about the poems.

Thanks Patsy, I'll be watching!