Reply To: JCCC3: Speed Meeting Discussion Topic
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Big huge ginormous thank you for the survey response we’ve gotten so far! As of writing, we have received 84 responses, roughly 15% of last years Sea Monkey population. That is a fantastic chunk of data we have to work with. It’s never too late to respond though (well, after January 2013 would probably be too late…beyond the point!). We’re constantly looking for more feedback and suggestions, so if you’re just joining us, don’t hesitate to help us out!
Since we got such a great quantity of responses, we wanted to address some common points that came up in the survey. While we’re still a long ways away from JCCC3, but we can still provide some insight into the direction we’re heading.
Will Sea Monkeys be in any way obligated to participate?
Not at all! Like all things JCCC, Speed Meeting is entirely voluntary. While we have every intention of maintaining the basic structure of the event, a number of aspects will be optional, including participation in multiple events, participation as a couple, use of ice breakers, etc.
Will groups be split based on interests, region, gender, relationship status, favorite type of monkey, etc?
Short answer, no. Our goal is simply to provide all Sea Monkeys with a means of meeting each other in a comfortable and structured environment, and the ideal outcome for us is that a number of new friendships are created. It’s great to see interest in these specific groups on the cruise, but they’re simply not aligned with the goals of this particular event.
Not even dating?
Not even dating! In the interest of making things comfortable for everyone, we do ask that any romantic interests or inquiries be kept outside of the Speed Meeting event.
What happens if we have nothing to talk about?
We were discussing the possibility of providing ice breakers before the survey went out, and the responses we got only confirmed the demand for them. We will definitely be providing some form of ice breakers for participants. We haven’t decided exactly what they will be yet, but they will definitely be appropriate for the Sea Monkey community.
I’m not sure if I’m an Introvert or an Extrovert!
While we’re using Intro and Extro as a guideline, the main factor is basically which side of the table you feel more comfortable on. If you would rather people come to you, then feel free to stick to the Intro side. If you’re cool with going from person to person and helping maintain the conversation, then go for Extro. If you’re comfortable on either side, then we will most likely ask you to take part in whichever side has less people.
When will Speed Meeting happen?
This is far from set in stone, and may not be set in stone until we have an official schedule to work around. However, as of right now, we would like to have one major event towards the beginning of JCCC3, an undetermined number of smaller events throughout the week, and probably a beta test at the Radisson and/or Cocoa Beach.
What happens if we end up meeting someone more than once via Speed Meeting?
Good question! We actually don’t have a solid answer for this scenario yet. Suggestions welcome!
I have a different idea for an event or social activity!
That’s great! Remember that Speed Meeting is just one Sea Monkey-driven event on JCCC3, and isn’t mutually exclusive with anything else. We encourage you to pursue your idea and make it happen. However, there was an overwhelming amount of positive feedback from the survey, so we would like to maintain the Speed Meeting format for the purposes of our event.
Who is Beige Bear?
We’re using the name Beige Bear to collectively refer to the Speed Meeting planning group. If Scarface can do it, we can too! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdtsuhTBt4U
I’d like to get in touch with you guys!
And we’d love to hear from you! The more discussion there is about Speed Meeting, the better! We are certainly keeping a close eye on all of our networking channels, but because we’re such amazingly tech savvy people, we have also set up our very own email address! You can reach us directly at SeaMonkeySpeedMeeting@gmail.com with questions, comments, suggestions, anything at all related to the event!
Thanks again everyone! Feel free to continue discussions here, on threads on the various social networks, or at our email listed above!
-Beige Bear