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thefu 
Guest
Joined: November 05 2008
Location: South Jordan,UT
Status: Offline
Points: 1550
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 Posted: January 15 2009 at 3:05pm |
Here is a good discussion:
Is it better to have not sold out and accomodated all, or year after year leave people out in the cold and "selling out".
Like I said before, we should:
1. Look at the membership pattern over the last 15 months
2. Understand the natural occurance of light meetings in the summer
3. Understand that if we think that 40-60% of the meetings will be near capacity of our current digs and we want to grow the club, then we had better work at finding a new location.
4. If club growth is not desired, then keep cramming people into the same space and those that do not enjoy that environment will not continue to attend and so goes the membership growth. Maybe this is not a problem for the club if a "tight-group" is happy keeping it cozy.
5. For the banquet, if we need a more expansive and expensive location, build it into the cost...maybe do a survey a few months prior as to what is a reasonable price people would pay for the event.
Oh, and just curious, what is the person-capacity for this event...in other words, how many tickets were there to sell?
Edited by thefu - January 15 2009 at 3:10pm
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Will Spencer
Admin Group
Joined: September 04 2003
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 6799
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Posted: January 15 2009 at 3:06pm |
We actually did get a room a couple years ago at the High School there by the Rose Garden. When Julian Sprung came to speak we figured we would need a much larger room than usual. We used their little theater that would seat about 200 people. The cost of the room was VERY high compared to the Rose Garden House. I believe it was over $300 for 3 hours with a penalty for using it more than 3 hours, plus we had to put an extra $200 cleaning deposit down, that was refunded afterward when we left the place clean. (Cleaner than the rest of the school by far if anyone remembers.) We were not allowed to have any food, and certainly would not have been allowed to do anything with water. To top it off we had nowhere near the attendance we expected and could easily have done it at the Rose Garden House.
So, in the past the presidency has seriously discussed getting a bigger location and spent some time looking for places, but either the expense or the rules for the places we have found never seem to fit what we need. We would love some suggestions that we could look into though if anyone knows of a possibility.
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jpiotrowski
Guest
Joined: September 30 2004
Location: Tollgate Canyon
Status: Offline
Points: 923
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Posted: January 15 2009 at 3:07pm |
Shane,
One of the many reasons I am no longer a paid member.
Dion,
That is a joke right? Holding it at Chuck's?
Deb,
Back in the day we had non-members pay $5 at the door. I was so impressed to see some of these people that even as a member I still donated five at the door, but I could care less about the food, and won't pay $20 to see a speaker. I just thought that maybe this meeting should be an extra meeting held on a different night so that we could still have a club meeting.
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Will Spencer
Admin Group
Joined: September 04 2003
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 6799
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Posted: January 15 2009 at 3:07pm |
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Adam, did we not expand this year by 20 tickets?
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thefu
Guest
Joined: November 05 2008
Location: South Jordan,UT
Status: Offline
Points: 1550
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Posted: January 15 2009 at 3:11pm |
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how many tickets have we sold Will?
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Dion Richins
Presidency
Joined: April 03 2005
Location: Farmington
Status: Offline
Points: 11664
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Posted: January 15 2009 at 3:12pm |
 jpiotrowski wrote:
Dion,
That is a joke right? Holding it at Chuck's?
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I warned you some people wouldnt like the choice.(no matter what it was) we looked at all of these options last year.
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Adam Blundell
Presidency
Joined: June 24 2002
Location: Davis County
Status: Offline
Points: 18526
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Posted: January 15 2009 at 3:32pm |
We did increase the number of tickets this year, we sold 80 tickets.
Last year we didn't sell out until right at the end. I thought we were pushing it to sell out 80 tickets.
I do like John's idea of holding the banquet on a separate night, so it is in addition to the regular meeting and not in place of a regular meeting. Something we should consider next year. But as was said, the purpose of this was to do something Fishy and special for the spouses.
Where were all these comments last year? No one was upset for not making it last year and no one suggested we have it at a bigger location. Heck Larry's wife hated it so much she told him she's never coming to another meeting (he bought one banquet ticket this year  ).
I'm thrilled to see this much response. Maybe this is a sign of some very successful events to come for the rest of this year.
Adam
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Come to a meeting, they’re fun!
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Adam Blundell
Presidency
Joined: June 24 2002
Location: Davis County
Status: Offline
Points: 18526
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Posted: January 15 2009 at 3:42pm |
And in defence of last year's presidency- they did consider all the things you are talking about. They talked about cost, location, number of tickets, best speaker to get, best day of the week, raffle?, door prize?, meal choices.
You may not like the results, but don't assume they didn't discuss all this before.
Adam
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Come to a meeting, they’re fun!
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thefu
Guest
Joined: November 05 2008
Location: South Jordan,UT
Status: Offline
Points: 1550
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Posted: January 15 2009 at 3:56pm |
This is why I said we should study the membership curves and see how they correlate to the past regarding new membership vs. attrition. With 200+ club members, 40 pairs of tickets seems kinda low. But, I have nothing to compare that to since I have no idea what the club membership was in 12/2007.
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thefu
Guest
Joined: November 05 2008
Location: South Jordan,UT
Status: Offline
Points: 1550
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Posted: January 15 2009 at 4:00pm |
Adam Blundell wrote:
And in defence of last year's presidency- they did consider all the things you are talking about. They talked about cost, location, number of tickets, best speaker to get, best day of the week, raffle?, door prize?, meal choices.
You may not like the results, but don't assume they didn't discuss all this before.
Adam |
Since I am in the survey and feedback business, I would suggest that for these types of things, a survey of the membership with a fixed set options might be a good way to go. Then, its the membership that is decides and the presidency is not seen as working in a vacuum from the membership as a whole.
This forum is a great way to get the input (just like the post-frag-fest input) post-event. If the presidency rolls that feedback into a set few options (that make sense based on their greater knowledge of whats possible), puts it to a vote, and then we at least have a consensus to fall back on and everyone knows there faction had a fair shake.
The technology is in place here, lets use it!
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Eventine
Guest
Joined: September 25 2007
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 672
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Posted: January 15 2009 at 4:24pm |
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At this point in the year the membership isn't usually near 200 though.
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CrimsRayne's offical water mule
West Jordan
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jfinch
Guest
Joined: March 06 2003
Location: Pleasant Grove
Status: Offline
Points: 7067
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Posted: January 15 2009 at 5:12pm |
I do like John's idea of holding the banquet on a separate night, so it is in addition to the regular meeting and not in place of a regular meeting.
If you're looking for opinions, I don't like that idea. It can be hard to set aside a single night each month, setting aside two would be twice as hard.
It's sad and unfortunate that anyone gets left out. Are you sure we can't fit more tables in the building? You know, obstructed view behind the stage (erasing memories of that Dave Mathews Band concert...).
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Shane H
Presidency
Joined: March 09 2003
Location: Brigham City
Status: Offline
Points: 7921
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Posted: January 15 2009 at 5:17pm |
Jon - funny you should mention an obstructed view. We considered using room 2 (where we currently set up the buffet line) for additional tables and using a video feed from room 1 to accomodate those people. It was eventually decided that those in room 2 would feel second rate.
Again - it comes down to not be able to please all the people all the time. If we try, we'll end up pleasing none of the people all the time.
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Shane H
Presidency
Joined: March 09 2003
Location: Brigham City
Status: Offline
Points: 7921
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Posted: January 15 2009 at 5:29pm |
BTW, are you seriously suggesting opening up every decision to a vote of the club membership? How slowly the wheels would turn .... There were like 8 or 10 options for food from the caterer we chose for this event. Imagine if we polled all 100 plus members on those 10 options - consider price, consider popularity, consider messisness - I can't imagine we'd get anything done in this scenario.
Those who voted for me will have to trust that I will act in their best interests (and not in a vacuum). Running the club is already stressful enough without having to take a poll everytime we make a decision -like determining if we want paper or cloth napkins at the banquet. (BTW, I encouraged cloth - lets class it up a bit).
I tend to agree with Adam that it is encouraging to see so much response. I just hope its to provide constructive critism and not to arm chair quarterback every move the presidency makes.
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Eventine
Guest
Joined: September 25 2007
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 672
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Posted: January 15 2009 at 5:39pm |
Shane H wrote:
BTW, are you seriously suggesting opening up every decision to a vote of the club membership? How slowly the wheels would turn ....  There were like 8 or 10 options for food from the caterer we chose for this event. Imagine if we polled all 100 plus members on those 10 options - consider price, consider popularity, consider messisness - I can't imagine we'd get anything done in this scenario.
Â
Those who voted for me will have to trust that I will act in their best interests (and not in a vacuum). Running the club is already stressful enough without having to take a poll everytime we make a decision -like determining if we want paper or cloth napkins at the banquet. (BTW, I encouraged cloth - lets class it up a bit).
Â
I tend to agree with Adam that it is encouraging to see so much response. I just hope its to provide constructive critism and not to arm chair quarterback every move the presidency makes. |
Why provide napkins, just put tableclothes on every table.Â
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CrimsRayne's offical water mule
West Jordan
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Debbles
Guest
Joined: January 07 2007
Location: West Valley
Status: Offline
Points: 3614
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Posted: January 15 2009 at 5:54pm |
Hey, Where was I when napkins were being discussed? Geeze...I get left out of everything. 
On a serious note...What if we opened up that second room and video feed into that room. Only charge $10 and have it be for people that want to go but not eat dinner. then we wouldn't even need to set up tables, just chairs facing the video. Just a thought.......
Deb 
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Yes Mikey...I still have fins!!!
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dons
Guest
Joined: October 17 2008
Location: Salt Lake
Status: Offline
Points: 233
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Posted: January 15 2009 at 5:59pm |
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It's funny how many people come out now with an opinion yet don't want to serve on the presidency yet have so much to say about them and how things are done. Having served on presidencies of other clubs for different hobbies and seeing how things have to be run, there is no way membership can be polled on every single issue that the club is faced with. First off you need to remember that most of the presidency work full time jobs and have families, there just isn't time to devote all of their time to polling or for that matter worrying about those that didn't get tickets to the valentines banquet.
I didn't get tickets and yes I will miss a great club meeting but oh well maybe next time I will get the tickets quicker. I think the presidency last year did a fantastic job and the new one is doing great as well. There is no way everyone will be happy but that is just a fact that we all have to live with.
There is always things that can be improved and will most likely be changed. I won't stop supporting the club because I didn't get to go to the banquet.
Just my .02
Edited by dons - January 15 2009 at 6:01pm
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thefu
Guest
Joined: November 05 2008
Location: South Jordan,UT
Status: Offline
Points: 1550
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Posted: January 15 2009 at 6:15pm |
Shane H wrote:
BTW, are you seriously suggesting opening up every decision to a vote of the club membership? How slowly the wheels would turn .... There were like 8 or 10 options for food from the caterer we chose for this event. Imagine if we polled all 100 plus members on those 10 options - consider price, consider popularity, consider messisness - I can't imagine we'd get anything done in this scenario.
Those who voted for me will have to trust that I will act in their best interests (and not in a vacuum). Running the club is already stressful enough without having to take a poll everytime we make a decision -like determining if we want paper or cloth napkins at the banquet. (BTW, I encouraged cloth - lets class it up a bit).
I tend to agree with Adam that it is encouraging to see so much response. I just hope its to provide constructive critism and not to arm chair quarterback every move the presidency makes. |
Now you are being absurd so maybe I need to give you an example of how it would work. Post this kind of poll in the members only area 3 months (or more) before the event...and again as the event gets closer:
We are planning our next Valentines Banquet for 2/6/2010. We need to get an idea of how many people would attend such an event. The dinner will be a nice catered buffet and we will have a top line speaker in reefkeeping<link to summary of last years event>. The cost will be $30. Based on your feedback below we will determine how much space we need to obtain for the event, as well as the catering.
a. I am definitely attending the event
b. I will most likely attend the event
c. Its 50-50 whether I will go or not
d. I will not attend
From this you can establish the need using percentages for the above choices...for example 80/60/30/0 and from that you know your conservative numbers...do it again in on 11/1 and 12/1.
You don't think this would be beneficial in the planning process? And this is just one example.
The absurd part of the post is that you think its one or the other...either post a poll down to the minutea for every club decision or no poll at all. How does any leadership know what their constituents want without getting feedback...and who could say that less feedback is better. Its not about trust...you cannot read minds. And for major events such as frag-fests and banquets, getting organized feedback (survey or poll) from the club as a whole should not seem like a burden.
This is not arm-chair quarterbacking...it only seems so when those on the other side take a defensive position. I am super grateful who donate their time for efforts such as you and others on the presidency have for years. I feel I have done nothing so far but provide ideas...I don't think I have yet criticized anything done in the past - constructive or otherwise. Sorry if I have come across as somehow ungrateful. And, I realize I have no idea what it takes...
Lets look forward.
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Eventine
Guest
Joined: September 25 2007
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 672
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Posted: January 15 2009 at 6:21pm |
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I think if you asked me in November what I am doing on a weeknight if February I would tell you to ask me in February.
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CrimsRayne's offical water mule
West Jordan
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thefu
Guest
Joined: November 05 2008
Location: South Jordan,UT
Status: Offline
Points: 1550
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Posted: January 15 2009 at 6:31pm |
What about December? Do you RSVP to events/parties you are invited to?
Regardless, that could be one of the options (and calculated at 10%)...some people will know that they are going...some will not...the point is to get some idea...with enough time to know that you are on track or not so that you can make adjustments.
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Valentine's Banquet
