We have had requests for more information re Friday and Saturday evenings.

Click here to go to the Lamplighter Inn web site. They have directions and maps on how to get to the hotel. http://www.lamplighterinn.ca/atrium.asp. You can also check the City of London site for information. http://www.city.london.on.ca/

What do I bring?

Everyone who wishes to do so, should bring an Exchange Gift, valued at $15.00 or more. This should be in a box or container that is clear, so that everyone can admire the contents. Saran wrap works well as a clear lid. You will turn in your Exchange Gift on Friday night at registration. All during the week-end, names will be drawn to receive the gifts. You bring one, you receive one. Of course, if you do not wish to participate in the Exchange, you do not have to do so.

At the Saturday night banquet, it is usual to exchange Table Gifts. There are eight people seated at each table, and so you would bring seven Table Gifts to give out to your seat mates. These gifts are usually hand made by the giver, but that is not necessary. The value can be from $2.00 each to priceless.

If you have said that you will bring Tote Bag Favours, and you have not (preferably) already mailed them, you can bring them with you.

If you have said that you will donate a Gathering Helper,  you bring that with you.

If you have said that you will bring Centrepieces, bring them with you.

Friday Afternoon and Evening - including "What do I do when I get there?"

Check in time for the hotel starts at 3:00 p.m.

Friday is an informal evening where we "meet and greet" each other before, during, and after dinner which is served buffet style. If you wish, you may wear clothes in the theme colours but that is not essential.

We will be celebrating winter as it is in most of Canada, cold with snow. We actually like it as long as we can be dressed warmly, and as long as we don’t have to shovel it. You will be greeted at the registration table by people who are very happy to see you in this winter setting. Since our southwestern Ontario winter will be ending by April the spring flowers will be blooming and the climate could be fairly warm but we can’t promise that.

After checking into the hotel and finding your room, go to the Gathering registration desk to tell the registrars you are there and to receive your registration package. Meet and greet anyone you see after putting on your name tag so everyone knows everyone else’s name. The people in charge of receiving tote bag favours, centrepieces, exchange gifts or Gathering Helpers will be near the registration table and they will be happy to take them from you. 

The buffet dinner will be starting at 6:00 pm in the Regency Room and will end by 7:00 pm.

This evening there is no set seating and we sit at any of the tables. Meet and greet the others at the table you choose.

After dinner at 7:30 pm we will gather in the room designated during dinner for the opening of the convention. The co-ordinator will welcome you and present the Committee Members who have been working for two years to make this Gathering a great one.

From 8:00 to10:00 pm we’ll all take part in a complimentary get-acquainted workshop. At 10:00 pm the Round Table workshop kits will be for sale and after that it’s time for our bedtime snack.

Saturday Morning:

The workshop instructor will let you know when it is time for coffee breaks in the morning and afternoon, and when it it time to go for lunch. There is set seating for the lunch, so find your table and meet your table mates.

The workshops will end some time between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. and at that time you will go to your room to rest and to get changed for the Saturday evening banquet.

Saturday Evening:

This is dress-up night! If at all possible we want you to dress up to match the theme of the evening: a Hawaiian Luau. We’ll leave the Canadian winter behind this evening and take a trip to a warmer clime for our Winter Fantasy. The extroverts among us will be wearing grass skirts, coconut bras and a Hawaiian lei while the more timid ones will feature a muumuu and a lei for their costume. There may be some 'tacky tourists' too and they will be as welcome as the ladies in grass skirts. Will we have a Don Ho or a Jack Lord among us? What about a ship's cruise director? 

At 6:30 the Luau cash bar will be open for business. We want everyone to come to this meet and greet time for fruit juice, water, soft drinks or a bit of wine so we can admire all the costumes. It’s a fun time.

After that at 7:00 pm we enter the Luau room which will be decorated in a suitable way for our served dinner. There is set seating for this meal. Find your table, give out your table favours to your table mates and have fun opening them; however, don’t open the souvenir or tote bag yet. Your hostess will tell you when they may be opened. 

After dinner there will be an entertainment before the sales and display room opens at 9:00 pm and closes at 10:30 pm. After that you are on your own for the rest of the night.

Sunday morning:

The buffet breakfast is from 7 to 8:30 a.m. in the Atrium. After you have eaten, you will go to your pre-registered workshops, or to do Round Table workshops. There will be a mid morning coffee break at 10:30 a.m. 

Important: The check out time for the hotel is 11:00 so you need to take your luggage to your vehicle and check out of the hotel before that time.

The Sunday lunch is from 12:15 to 2:00 p.m. and it is set seating. You will have the same table mates that you had for Saturday lunch and dinner. We draw for the Gathering Helpers at the lunch, give out the last of the exchange gifts, and learn about the 2006 Gathering!