Hi everyone!!
So, the thought was to have a bit more detail put together before making an announcement, however, thanks to several posts, most recently this one (http://forum.brillkids.com/general-discussion-b5/preschool-academics/msg81125/?topicseen#new), I’m jumping the gun and leaking the news!
WE’RE FINALLY HAVING A CONVENTION!
The good news? We need your help!! This is YOUR convention, Your time, let’s make it your way!
The details to date: Location - Memphis, Tennessee, USA ; Date - August 2012 (why? we are expecting to receive a grant for this specific location to help get it all going. Yes, eventually there will be more in other locations, and even in other countries, but this one must be a success first to ensure that, so we hope you can help!)
The concept, which may change based on your input:
THURSDAY: Arrival Thur afternoon/evening with an optional welcome meet & mingle.
FRIDAY: Friday is for starters. Basically, this day is geared mostly for locals who haven’t yet realized that a child can learn so much before gasp school starts at the ripe age of 5 … 6 … 7? We set it up this way in case some of you out-of-towners can’t take off Fri, but would still like to attend and get to know the rest of us. The goal this day is to give an intro to the basics of early learning. What it is, why it is important, why is it that it’s not being done mainstream, how to do it, etc. Basically, convincing/educating the masses of the benefits and the importance of implementing this sort of education with their children and those children with whom they interact.
SATURDAY: This day we’re gearing it more for those who are already in the know. This isn’t about ‘convincing’ and educating on the basics so much as it is a fine-tuning of the process and getting certain other questions discussed and answered in person, such as “What’s next?” or “What if homeschooling isn’t an option for me afterwards? How do we continue”, or “Brainy Baby on a Budget” … or really, anything else … we are still in the planning stages (although not for long, so any input that you may have would be most appreciated and certainly taken into consideration).
SATURDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING: Although I’m excited about the whole weekend, this portion may be one of my favorites envisioned so far. Larry (as in LarrySanger/DadDude) is helping to coordinate through his contacts a fantastic and fun event for active early learning families! While the rest of the weekend is open to the public, this particular event is open only to active members of the early learning community and will be a true meet and mingle with several of us who are also on this forum and our children! Imagine summer barbecue, great cookout grill, plenty of water events for the kids, watermelon, lemonade, and finally getting to meet one another in person!
SUNDAY: Wrap up with a call to take action and how to effectively share early learning with others.
Part of the planned presentations for the weekend is a “Panel of Parents” with certain notables whose work with their wee ones truly inspire, so be on the lookout!
Again, this itinerary is not set in stone, but will soon be finalized, so we are looking for any and all input soon. If you have input after we’ve finalized, no worries, it will help influence upcoming events, as this is our task from hereon out.
In brief, the mission of GiftedVillageCARES is to provide charity, awareness, research, education and support when it comes to early education. The vision, when it comes to these events is to eventually change (even if it’s 30 years from now) what’s considered ‘normal’ and ‘acceptable’ practice in the preschool years in favor of guided, nurturing, stimulating early learning to help maximize a preschooler’s true potential. Each parent should not have to re-create the wheel alone, especially when the resources are available for each of us to allow our children to fly! But as many of you know, doing it ‘on your own’ can be quite exhausting and overwhelming, which is why GiftedVillage is hoping to change the preschool experience, and eventually, through the nonprofit, create a generation where each child will be gifted beyond what was once thought impossible into the amazingly unimaginable.
On that note, there is so much left to do for this first event, so again, please PM, email, or reply to this post with any constructive thoughts you may have that can make this convention a success. In addition to your comments, we are also looking for anyone interested in specifically helping with the following:
Speakers/Program
Marketing/PR
Registration
Children's Activities
Sales/Exhibit
Web Site
Site Management - Transportation, Catering, Signage and Audio/Visual
Podcast (in addition to having part of the event available via podcast/online/youtube,etc, we are planning a series of podcast/youtube interviews with notable parents, scientists, product creators, etc to help generate the buzz about GiftedVillageCARES)
If you would like to be on any of these committees for this event, please let us know asap, as well as if you have any prior experience (nothing required but desire!) 
Can’t wait and hope to meet you soon!!
still I am sure we will all benefit from what you discover on the forum.