How do you bring the NHC to your town?

[thatguy314]

NHC has been on the West coast or Central US for the past 5 years. I'd like to see it on the East coast again some time soon, but of course I know that some club has to make arrangements to bring it around. I also know that several people on these forums have been involved with it.

How would I lobby to get the NHC to an east coast city like Boston, Philly, or New York? What is involved in arranging it? Thanks.

[captain carrot]

A local club or clubs has to pony up to do the work as well as the location meeting all the hosting requirements. A few years ago there was a big push to have it in Alaska but it just wasn't practicle. Good Luck from mid coast!

[drewbage1847]

The AHA really does try and move it around as much as we can so that folks don't start feeling lonely, but in order to get it into your town, the AHA needs a proposal from your area.

I'll try and dig up the proposal document later if you're really interested, but for a city to host the AHA looks for a couple of things:

One crazy brewer to shoulder leading the whole deal (ok - maybe 2)

1-3 clubs to support running the conference - different tasks for different folks

A strong homebrewing presence in the region since most of our attendees drive from within a couple hundred miles

A hotel with adequate conference space/facilities and a hotel room rate within reason for ~1000 people

Supportive Pro Brewers

If you can wrestle up those things (and Gary and the AHA staff will help out a lot with finding a suitable hotel - so a little less worry there) and the numbers work out - it could come to your hometown.

The group is always looking for proposals for venues. We're trying to get ahead of the game and start planning 2-3 years out. When the local committee has more time, it tends to make for a much smoother experience in June.

[thatguy314]

The AHA really does try and move it around as much as we can so that folks don't start feeling lonely, but in order to get it into your town, the AHA needs a proposal from your area.

I'll try and dig up the proposal document later if you're really interested, but for a city to host the AHA looks for a couple of things:

One crazy brewer to shoulder leading the whole deal (ok - maybe 2)

1-3 clubs to support running the conference - different tasks for different folks

A strong homebrewing presence in the region since most of our attendees drive from within a couple hundred miles

A hotel with adequate conference space/facilities and a hotel room rate within reason for ~1000 people

Supportive Pro Brewers

If you can wrestle up those things (and Gary and the AHA staff will help out a lot with finding a suitable hotel - so a little less worry there) and the numbers work out - it could come to your hometown.

The group is always looking for proposals for venues. We're trying to get ahead of the game and start planning 2-3 years out. When the local committee has more time, it tends to make for a much smoother experience in June.

I think NYC could definitely provide those things. I'll PM you with my email, to send the proposal document to when you get a chance.

[drewbage1847]

I think NYC could definitely provide those things. I'll PM you with my email, to send the proposal document to when you get a chance.

NYC area would be interesting. I think the one thing that would be a stumbling block would be hotel cost, but that's why we want to explore these things!

[BDawg]

We (WAHA) are trying to get it up here in Seattle in the next couple years. It's been a long haul. The legislation that we finally got passed through the state legislature was a blocking issue for it. Club night would have been illegal.

<shameless plug for my buddy Tom Schmidlin here>
That's another reason to vote for Tom as one of the 4 AHA governing members. He was one of the 3 guys that founded WAHA and he was the guy that drove all the lobbying effort to get the law passed.

This is him (and Tim and Mark) with the Governor when she was signing the bill into law.
http://www.wahomebrewers.org/legal

Tim and Mark (aka HomebrewBaron on this forum) are great guys too. All 3 did a great job of leading the charge so that you guys can eventually come up here to Seattle for the NHC.

</shameless plug for my buddy Tom Schmidlin here>

[ipaisay]

I know that Buffalo/Niagara Falls region has been looking and is serious to get it to happen.

[drewbage1847]

I know that Buffalo/Niagara Falls region has been looking and is serious to get it to happen.

The more the merrier! Seriously, everyone should start looking around and thinking how it could work in your region.

I've been involved with organizing 3 conferences now - Los Angeles (Club Night), Vegas (Pro Brewers) and Oakland (Hospitality Suite). It's a ton of work even if you're not the overall organizer, but there's just something fun about it.