In the US you get a bullshit stipend and that makes it all okay so have to be excused from work
And quite a few employers pay for jury duty here too.
Funny story. Neither of my parents have ever been called in for jury duty, but I got my 4th summons for the end of this month. I was excused the first time because I was going to be out of the state for my internship on the date. The second time, I didn’t end up having to go in. The third time, I was on the jury for a trial, which was pretty interesting.
For most US companies they pay your wages while you are on Jury Duty (don’t remember if it is a law that requires it, but it is likely). However there are lots of reason’s you can put down to get an exemption, esp for state jury duty.
Here in the States there are also 2 levels of Courts - State and Federal - and the rules vary significantly. Is there a federal level in Canada? I wouldn’t expect it since most of the laws are provencial, or city/town, but while I work with Canadians all day it is never something we discussed.
But what Shooter is being called for is a Grand Jury, which is normaly Federal - which has many more restrictions on excueses to get out of it, and in a lot of cases you have to serve, unless there is some physical reason you can not.
I’m on a Grand Jury right now until the end of April. I don’t know if it’s the same there as in AZ but as long as your vacation plans are less than two weeks they can work around it.
There are multiple levels of court in Canada as well. Which court system you enter depends on the infraction I believe and similarly to the USA, if a provincial case goes wrong it can be petitioned to be tried at a federal level, providing there’s a legal reason for it to be escalated. The city I live in no longer has a civil court I believe. They pay another city and outsource trials there. Now the old court building is rented out to studios for TV and movie shoots, which generates enough revenue to pay for the outsourcing, plus make a bit of money for the city.
I’m not sure how jury duty differs between the levels, or if a Federal court even has jury cases. I’ve, thankfully, conducted myself in such a way to never have become familiar with the Canadian court system, though I know from other people that it’s an amazing pain in the butt to deal with.
So I am getting closer to buying my plane tickets, but right now the cheapest, with more flight options comes in on Wednesday. Otherwise I would need to get in late Thursday (as in almost Friday), and that just isn’t what I had in mind.
Any one thinking of arriving on Wednesday?
EDIT: So I went ahead and booked - I arrive Wednesday at 2 pm!!! Now to find a car (it went up $25/day from when I looked earlier today) and figure out where I am going to stay Wednesday night (If anyone is coming in on Wednesday and wants to share a room let me know)
So, I decided =)
I’ll be coming up Friday and having to leave Saturday after lunch…but at least I’m going. grin
I remembered to call and make my reservation today… and whoever is at the sales desk was away. Try back later.
I WILL GO THIS YEAR. I WILL.
My flight arrives DFW at 2pm on Wednesday and I’ve made reservation at the Aloft from Wednesday night (Yes, the gwc rate is available for the Wednesday too!)
I’ve decided I won’t be hiring a car as I’m not too keen about driving on the wrong side of the road! :o
Did I see someone mention that there’s a shuttle from the airport to the hotel?
The number for the sales desk seems to automatically go to voicemail but leave a message and she’ll call you back straight away 
I don’t believe there is a shuttle from the airport to the hotel (or maybe it was that they didn’t run on the weekends). We have always all our own arrangments on rides (through me).
The good news is that I arrive at 2 pm also, but I will be at the other airport. However if you don’t mind waiting a little bit I will come and pick you up. Will you be getting a US cell phone, or will you be without phones? DM me all the details and I am sure we can work something out with either me or one of the locals will pick you up.
And I don’t blame you for not wanting to drive on the “wrong” side of the road ;). I know I wouldn’t have wanted to have to drive in England when I was there.
Aha! Thanks for this. I will make my reservations today for sure!
WOO HOO! Can’t wait to meet you in person!
Impressed someone is coming all the way from Australia for the meetup. I think the most far place last year was Sweden.
I’M GOING! happydance
I’m noticing some downtime during the day on Saturday, and I remember hearing or reading or something that a bunch of GWCers have never played a roleplaying game. If it’s not horning in on territory, I have a system that’s light on rules and could run a quick adventure? Also, my husband and I have a walk-in closet full of board games that he’s dying to find people to play with. I’ve never been to a meetup and don’t know if this is a done thing, but if there’s any interest…?
(I’m sorry if this is some sort of weird taboo, I don’t know what goes on!)
I’ve been promised board games for 2 years running I would be totally down for playing some German ass German board games if I’m not getting inked or something
I know he said he’d bring the BSG game + expansions up, and I can have him make a list of other stuff. Things I can guarantee will be on there: Cosmic Encounter, ASoIaF the CCG (he has packs for ALL THE HOUSES), and Race for the Galaxy. He has the Honor Harrington Saganami Island Tactical Simulator game but I have a feeling that might be a maybe since it takes forever to explain and play for the first time. Like I said, we have an entire closet full of stuff, I can’t remember it all.
ugh, I’d give anything to go
“That’s our Moon, bitches!!” --beef
Good times. Good times. Carry on.
Just called this morning (Feb 11) to set my reservation for Friday Night. I was told that the “GWC Block of rooms has already been sold out” and that I wouldn’t be able to get the $89 rate. On the plus side, she was able to lock in a room at a $99 rate which is fairly close.
Just a heads up for anyone still wanting a reservation and thinking they have until Feb 16 to get in at the GWC rate.