I think this is a very sensible proposal. Your comment about the "next generation" of referees being under time and financial pressure due to career and family is spot-on. That's my situation at least. I am planning to attend one (possibly two) qualifiers and the Juniors/Seniors. I am also planning to do the Development Camp in 2008, since I was unable to attend either of the first two camps (due to previous commitments/family).
Although I am committed enough to go to Colorado Springs anyway, combining the event with Juniors/Seniors would save me at least $500. That is not insignificant.
It is important for the leadership to keep in mind the different life situations of referees. Many of the senior and more experienced referees are in their 50s and 60s. Most of them could be described as retired, semi-retired, or at least having substantial flexibility in their schedules. They also have more resources to work with, for the most part. Most of us in our 20s-40s have less time, flexibility, and resources.
We can't make it easy for everyone, of course, but if there are painless ways to accomodate large groupings of referees I think that makes a lot of sense. I appreciate your attention to this issue, particularly as one who is in the 40+ category and may be less impacted by the various constraints.
As I read through all the comment there were lots good points. I was hoping to have at least one of the camps before the NQ’s but considering it’s about to start it doesn't look like that’s going to happen and between my work and tournaments schedules my calendar is almost full until after Jr. and Sr.
However I would really like to attend a camp this year. I agree with Lois that having it during Jr. and Sr. will fry us all by the end of the week, maybe they can hold a camp with 2 or 3 of the NQ's. This way they are can be regional (east, west, central), that way it can make it more affordable and easier to get referees for the event/camp and give the referees a change to practice what was learned.
There have been a lot of good thoughts in this discussion. I see the point Lois made about people getting fried after 8+ days in some cases. That quite possibly outweighs the financial benefit.
Jenny's research into having regional events is the ideal scenario, in my view. I'm in the Northeast. New York City is (arguably) in driving distance for everywhere from Maine to D.C. and over to Buffalo. It's about 5-6 hours from my house, but I'm considering driving to York, PA which is 7+. New York is also a 50-minute cheap $99 flight from here...so that's probably what I would do. It depends on your tolerance for driving and the low low price of gas. Master Biviano is the driving champ with trips from Syracuse, NY to Atlanta and such which is probably 15 hours!
So you could make the regions pretty large and still have it work for many people, particularly if the location was also easy to fly into.