I don't really get on the Arena much these days but I am excited to see everyone there! <3 This year is going to be really chill and focused on getting to hang out with other collector's. I predict there won't be as much buying and trading but there will be great company!

I wanted to quickly put in my two cents on this since I have been in contact with this person and his mother.

He attended the Southeast Pony Meet this year and his mother did message me at some point asking if it was okay that she drop him off to go shop around nearby. I explained to her that since he was under 18, that she, or someone else, needed to stay with him. She did stay, but I noticed she had disappeared for a bit at some point, and I think she had gone out to the car for a while.

On the other hand, she did personally come up to me to tell me that he does have Aspbergers and is very below his age maturity wise. She was very kind as was he at the meet, however it concerns me that she would even consider leaving him alone with all of us to watch him. I am not sure if anyone gave him free stuff, but I do plan to ask around to make sure he was not going around pressuring anyone into giving him things. If so, that is 100% not cool and I will likely have to take action because I do not want my attendees feeling uncomfortable ever. No one came up to me or any of my Meet staff during the event if he had made them feel uncomfortable and he just seemed to be having a grand time surrounded by ponies and was very excited.

Shelvesofwhimsy, I am so sorry you had to deal with this and no one ever should. I am not excusing his actions by any means but I did feel like everyone here needed to know this information. Sending many hugs to you and I cannot believe I somehow missed this whole debacle over on IG.

Omg that trophy is to die for! I want it soooo bad and it's unfortunate because I know I totally will not win. lol I am so sad about it!

How did I not know about this?! Just RSVPed. So excited! Can't wait to meet everyone! Looking through past photos in the Facebook group and it looks like you guys have so much fun!

This meet is always a highlight of the year for me and everyone is so amazing and friendly. I feel blessed that it has grown like it has and there are so many people willing to drive distances to come each year!

I very much consider everyone at this meet family

The meet sneaks up on me every single year! I can't believe how close we already are!

CapnChan, I always look forward to seeing all the goodies you bring along! I don't think we will be having any panels this year. Maybe one year! haha
This year we are definitely having the mascot contest and I'm so excited to see what everyone comes up with!

UPDATE:
We are officially out of tables! I am updating the OP with a link to a GoogleDoc I am using to keep track of everything. You can see everyone who has RSVP'd and what everyone is bringing for food and raffle prizes!

My mom's house is on the way from Nashville (she lives near the GA-TN border), so if you want to drive to her house and spend the night before the meet, we could totally arrange something! That would mean less driving in one day. That goes for anyone who lives in TN, actually. I'll be going up to my mom's house before the meet to leave my animals with her so I can spend the night this year if that happens.

Anyway, of course I'll be going to the meet, so I'll send my RSVP! Looks like people already signed up to bring my usual snacks, though, so I might have to think of something else to bring...

And I, for one, am glad that we're not doing it in September or May this year, since that's the same time as all of the big GA conventions -- meaning I'll have more pony money this year! Yay!

That is so sweet of you to offer doing that!
Things might change around as time gets closer! Just let me know ^^
Yeah I just tried to avoid it in the past because it gets hot and I don't want everyone to be miserable in the heat. But hopefully with the new fans and the floor fans we bring it will be better!

Quote from: MonstarNomNom on February 21, 2017, 07:40:03 AM

Quote from: UrocyonFox on February 20, 2017, 09:43:20 AM

I need to check my calendar and see if i can go again this year.

It's not the same without you! I really hope you will be able to!

Not the same without the loud awkward pony art woman right? :p

I checked my schedule and I believe I will be there. It might just be me alone and I don't have any new stuff (still just trying to get rid of all my excess ponies like last year) so maybe I'd only need half a table?

As always I can draw some artwork up for a raffle prize.

I have some badge templates left over too if anyone that didn't get one last year wanted one too.

I DID find an actual projector here at work I can borrow (not the old school box one I had last time lol) and I think if I only did one round it would last forever like last time, so there is an option of me doing a trivia thing like I did a few years ago if anyone was interested. I just need to see if I can find a laptop as I only have a desktop.

Um you are amazing. lol
I have you down for trivia and I can't wait to see what you come up with this year! Everyone loves some pony trivia and it's always a blast every year Thank you again for offering to do badges!

Thread has been updated with all of the RSVP's I have received so far! I will be keeping a livedoc this year to keep track of what everyone is bringing and will post it later so we can fill in any gaps
I also added lots of fun pictures from past years!