I can't absolutely commit, but that's the best chance for me as well.

I might make a meetup, WOOHOO!

Rochester Get Together III
 

OK.....Looks like June 30th - July 2nd....with the Independence Day weekend holiday extention as a bit of padding. This does not mean we have to party for five days (though this is an option)....and as always, spouses and friends are welcome. Short of a Great Lake Tsunami......this should be the biggest party yet, so......



Chime In Folks

Guess I better stash cash.....

oh well crap....count me out....the 2nd is my bday and we are leaving for my bday trip on the 30th

ya'll have a drink for me ok?

I'm in for at least one evening. My wife, son and I are planning a long weekend road trip around it. :)

I'm in for the 5 days, my soon to be employer just doesn't know it yet :)

It's too far away to be certain if I can make it. I will know more as we get closer to the date.

/me will try, but the holiday weekend is not the best for me...

What a copout!! :p

We plan on making it from Chicago. If all goes as planned, onodrim, SecretMethod70, shesus, and I will be carpooling across the wonderful eastern midwest in order to be there.

If WE can make it, you better be there.

Not distance... time. That is a very busy time for me. Most likely I will be there but family comes first.

One of these words doesn't belong ;) The only thing "wonderful" in the midwest is Chicagoland :D

I will try my hardest to attend this gathering. Hopefully my mother in law can take the kids for the weekend, and maybe her son too. ;) I just realized that July 4th is a Tuesday. Which means I am off from July 1st through July 5th. :thumbsup:

See above ^^^ :D

Hush, heathen. Both Kansas City and St. Louis are amazing. :p

if I'm in upstate new york (and I plan to be)
I'll be there.

So Far...So Good...
 

Way early yet but....I like lists

ngdawg...............yes
amonkie...............yes
Shesus.................yes
Jumpin Jesus.........yes
onodrim................yes
SecretMethod70....yes
fresnelly...............yes
ziadel...................yes

uncle phil.............maybe
sportswidow05.....maybe
Charlatan............maybe

ShaniFaye...........no



excellent start

I said yes???

MMMM, maybe I'll run my ship aground at Rochester and make it, otherwise I'll probably be working.

Add me to the "maybe" list. I'm going to attempt to get enough fundage to go. With the new job, it's looking better, but I have other bills to pay first.

Here's some breaking news of intrest for our Canadian buds. Looks like a car pool might be in order for those of you that are planning a trip to Rochester this summer.

link: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/...WS01/601110337


Mayor shuts down ferry, vows to 'stop the bleeding'


Brian Sharp
Staff writer


(January 11, 2006) — Rochester taxpayers likely will be saddled with debt for many years to come and the city will sap reserves, in a stunning announcement by Mayor Robert Duffy Tuesday to shut down the problem-plagued 2-year-old ferry service between Rochester and Toronto.

Duffy ended weeks of speculation in deciding not to back further borrowing to shore up ferry finances and provide for its first full season. Duffy said the financial risk was too great to go further in debt.

"We as a city are bleeding," Duffy said, estimating the city will be faced with repaying $30 million once the ship is sold. "We are now going to stop the bleeding."

Duffy said he will ask City Council to borrow $9.5 million from the city's $12.4 million insurance reserve.

While ferry officials had spoken optimistically about the opportunity of next season, Duffy painted a grim financial picture. One telling figure: In the ferry's best month last season, ship fuel expenses exceeded ridership revenue.

"This is the right decision," Duffy said.

The city backed a $40 million loan, created Rochester Ferry Co. and bought the ship last February. Rochester Ferry then hired Bay Ferries Great Lakes LLC to manage the service. A delayed, midseason startup hurt ridership and revenue during what was the second partial season for the ship. The service lost $10 million in 10 months, exhausting its reserves.

Last month, then-Mayor William A. Johnson Jr. sought to shore up ferry finances, proposing the ferry board be allowed to borrow $11.5 million more — which would have brought the total debt to $51.5 million. City Council backed the idea but delayed action until Duffy could weigh in.

Duffy said Rochester Ferry was out of money by late October, leaving Bay Ferries to cover what has grown to $2.5 million in expenses that must be repaid by the city. Duffy, who never rode the ferry, said he expected the community would be split over his verdict, but he was "at peace" with the decision.

"I'd rather take the hit right now and maybe gain some credibility," he said, noting it was only the 10th day of his administration, "as opposed to next year with an inflated debt, maybe even more uncertainty."

Projections for 2006 showed that, even if the service doubled its ridership, increased ticket prices by 20 percent and had no major, unplanned expenses, it still would come up $2.7 million short. That is the amount owed on the initial borrowing, an amount that doubles in 2007. Duffy said he thought that was a "best-case scenario" but that losses likely would be higher, leaving too little money to continue in 2007.

Support from council

"I think the ferry board did not see it as a best-case scenario, we saw it as a reasonable scenario," said City Councilman and ferry board president Benjamin Douglas. He noted the debt would be similar under either scenario and thought it was worth giving the ferry a chance to prove itself. But he added, "I respect (Duffy's decision). I'm not going to second-guess that decision." Johnson, the main backer of the project, was visibly disappointed Tuesday but declined comment, saying "I have the benefit of time" and that "I'm a private citizen." He said he may comment later.

City Council members expressed regret Tuesday but said it was Duffy's decision to make.

"No big decision is without risk," said City Councilman Bill Pritchard. "I think the community was rallying very hard a year ago for us to save the ferry the first time (after previous operator Canadian American Transportation Systems shut down). We tried it, and it didn't work out. There is going to be an expense to that."

Council President Lois Giess said the ferry was seen as an economic development tool, particularly for the Charlotte harbor area, which is Councilman Robert Stevenson's district. Stevenson said he wanted the ferry to continue but recognized it became unfeasible. He suggested that the terminal could be used for festivals, shopping and maybe even converted into a hotel.

Just what damage the ferry deal has done to the city's image remains to be seen, City Councilman Adam McFadden said.

"If we are going to be a business-friendly city, we have some growing to do," he said. "We're not totally lost, but we've got some growing to do."

County Executive Maggie Brooks said that while she had hoped the ferry would have succeeded, she supported Duffy's decision.

In a prepared statement, Toronto Mayor David Miller called Tuesday's news "a regrettable development."

Dissent

Members of Johnson's former staff were more open about their disappointment with Duffy's decision. Some of Johnson's staff spent years on the project.

"I'm very disappointed that (Duffy) was not willing to take a chance," said Linda Kingsley, who served as Johnson's corporation counsel. "Rather than taking a risk on a little more debt, he chose to let a really valuable asset go."

Lisa Raitt, the president and CEO of the Toronto Port Authority, said in a statement that the decision to end service was "disappointing" and "unfortunate." She said with two shortened seasons under CATS and city direction, the ship was "never able to realize its full potential."

Thomas Richards, the city's corporation counsel, said shutting down the current operation should not mirror the mess of liens and claims seen in 2004. There are only two significant contracts, he said. One, a three-year deal with Bay Ferries that allows for breaking the deal, and another in which Rochester Ferry must pay $250,000 annually to the Toronto Port Authority for docking the ship, plus per-passenger and vehicle fees.

"It's much cleaner than when CATS fell apart," he said.

Richards said the service being shut down is far different from the one first sold to citizens. The initial business plan relied on freight and a 12-month season, both of which were proven unrealistic. Other assumptions were for a money-making enterprise, or time-saving trip. Richards said, "As far as I'm concerned, they were never valid. But people bought them."

The city now will aggressively market the ship for sale — hoping to get nothing less than $20 million for the ship the city bought for $32 million last February. Duffy said Bay Ferries, which once expressed interest in owning the ferry, no longer appears interested. The same ship would sell new for $52 million today, officials said.

"I'm not here to second-guess what was done before," Duffy said. "I stand by what we're doing now."

In making his decision, Duffy said he asked four questions: Can the city afford to operate the ferry? Is there a sound business and marketing plan? Is the ferry likely to succeed? Is this the best way to spend so much money?

The answer to each of those questions, he said, was "No."

BDSHARP@DemocratandChronicle.com

Includes reporting by staff writers Joseph Spector and James Goodman.

Oye ... that's really sad to hear :(

I have to agree that taking the ferry is not neccessarily timesaving - I spent a total of 9 hours in October either waiting at the docks or on the boat. Great ride and view when you can see past the clouds though.

I heard about the squashing of the ferry this morning... That really sucks, I will have to either figure out a way to get to Rochester on my Vespa, or hitch a ride with someone.

WAIT! It's not too late! If you believe in Ferries clap. Clap really loud! You can save the ferry if you just believe!

That has to be just about the funniest and saddest thing I've ever read.

I'll be driving down with my wife and son, but I can't promise any seats until closer to the date. In addition, we'll be continuing on to Pittsburg or Cleveland for the weekend, so I don't know if our schedule will match up with others.

This is a real bummer.

I might go

Hell of a trip there SF.....you coming stateside for awhile?

yeah, Im gonna be staying in CT for 3 weeks this summer.

If the time Im over is the same time as this, I might go.

count me in...maybe i wont have to make back and forth trips this time though...

Im really sad to know I wont get to sit and talk to you :(

Hmm... I have no idea where I'll be living or if I'll have a job then, but I would love to head north and meet yet more TFPers. Count me another maybe!

I will be done classes by then! If I can get off of work, and convince my mum that Rochester won't get bombed just because it's in the US, I'll be there with Simon. :)

who me? i have to add some extra stuff aparently my message is to short.

yes YOU lol

A quick update:

ngdawg...............yes
amonkie...............yes
Shesus.................yes
Jumpin Jesus.........yes
onodrim................yes
SecretMethod70....yes
fresnelly...............yes
ziadel...................yes
teknotoeknee........yes

uncle phil.............maybe
sportswidow05.....maybe
Charlatan............maybe
cellophanedeity....maybe
onesnowyowl.......maybe
Supple Cow.........maybe
Strange Famous...maybe

ShaniFaye...........no


Still quite a ways off....but looking great

I think I can attend. I do have to check my budget though to see if I can afford the gas and living arangements to get out there. Wait, let me just yell out my back window to you and ask to borrow 15 cents for gas to get to your house.

Uh yeah...I'm in ;p

I'm in

Canada day in the USA? Gotta represent.

Looks like a great line-up. Now hopefully work and finances will cooperate. :)

Think Positive Shesus!! :)

Are you people UR graduates, or is this just a random Rochester party thingy?

This is an annual TFP get together....though I dont think we have any UofR Grads in the lineup. Last year we had representation from Canada, Arizona, Oregon, Georgia, New Jersey....hell we may even get a Brit this year....heh.

Update:

ngdawg...............yes
amonkie...............yes
Shesus.................yes
Jumpin Jesus.........yes
onodrim................yes
SecretMethod70....yes
fresnelly...............yes
ziadel...................yes
teknotoeknee........yes
Ace_O_Spades......yes
ZeRoGRaViTY........yes


uncle phil.............maybe
sportswidow05.....maybe
Charlatan............maybe
cellophanedeity....maybe
onesnowyowl.......maybe
Supple Cow.........maybe
Strange Famous...maybe

Halx...................well......one can hope

put me on as a maybe