From: Diva Las Vegas organizers (dlvorg@geekbabe.com)
Date: Thu Sep 10 2009 - 18:38:15 CDT
In this mailing:
Org List
Dates are final
Hotel hostesses and such
My comments and concerns
Hostesses and volunteer load
Hostesses and volunteer load
Touchstone vendor locations
Administrivia
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Org List:
This is the DLV 2010 Organizational Mailing List (dlvorg@geekbabe.com)
Replies to this message will be forwarded to the DLVORG list and not
the DLV-Announce or DLV-Discuss list.
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Dates are final:
No comments on the date comments.
The dates of April 18 - 23 have now been marked on the web site
as final.
A general mailing is set to go out this weekend. This will most
likely be the last general mailing until December.
Thanks, gang. :)
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Hotel hostesses and such:
I'm re-posting Holly's (amended) motion front and center,
and asking all to please re-read it carefully and to note
exactly what it proscribes and in particular, what it does
not.
As noted below, I think there are some fairly widespread
mistaken perceptions of the duties of the proposed hotel
hostesses.
<Begin Motion>
I move that each suggested hotel for DLV 2010 have one
person designated as Hotel Hostess/Host.
The duties of the Hotel Hostess/Host shall be as follows:
Facilitate social interaction among attendees staying at
their hotel. This shall be accomplished by pre-arranging
at least one (1) daily informal meet and greet at the hotel.
The location and time of the meet shall be at the sole
discretion of the Hostess/Host and will be announced in the
final mailing to all attendees.
The Host/Hostess may choose an assistant at their discretion.
The DLV Organizers shall send each Hotel Hostess/Host a list
via email of all attendees who are staying at their hotel.
This motion shall apply to the DLV 2010 event only and not
carry forward to subsequent years.
<End Motion>
Please note that there is absolutely nothing in the motion
requiring or even mentioning such things as "watchstanding",
check-in duty, any kind of required duty hours, etc.
. . . . .
Please continue to discuss the Hotel Hostess motion. When
no new talking points are introduced for a period of 48
hours, we'll summarize and call for votes.
Also please continue to discuss JoAnn's "Touchstone" proposal
as well as any related strategic items.
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My comments and concerns:
Overall, I'm in favor of at least trying the Hotel Hostess
Program, as I think it has the potential of benefiting
those who need that "connection" the most. One emphasis
this coming year needs to be on hospitality and inclusion,
and this proposal targets just that.
I do think there need to be some understandings WRT the
Hotel Hostess Program, regarding the impact it makes on
a volunteer's resources, and on the expectations of those
staying in the hostesses' hotels. Almost every concern
about this program cites this.
My primary concern is the overall load on the volunteer
force, and this has been significantly mitigated by the
amended motion which limits the hostesses to the number
of suggested hotels.
Still, that's between 3 and 6 volunteers, that count based
on the number of suggested hotels we've had in recent
years. Taking a trip to the real world, yes, there will be
some shifting of the available volunteer capacity from the
main activities to the hotel hostess role, should this carry.
I don't think that it's intended that this happen, but that's
the way it most likely will be.
The talking points in opposition to this program almost all
bring up the volunteer load factor. There are some mistaken
perceptions, but the fact that this will take volunteer
effort is real.
IMAO, the main activities will need to be first priority!
I would go as far as to say that it should be understood
that performing in the hotel hostess role does not excuse
a volunteer from being involved in the coordination of our
regular scheduled activities. I would hope that those who
have volunteered to take on this role agree with this.
It's been a long-standing principle that those working
in support roles (systems, pin project, Secretary, Big
Sister Coordinator, etc.) are not excused from doing a
fair share of the activity coordination.
"Every Marine is a rifleman." :) Not gender-appropriate
I admit, but I think it makes the point. :)
I'm also hoping that many of the new volunteers will be
stepping up to the plate when we start actively planning
the activities. Each year we do lose 1-2 active volunteers
and this coming year I know of at least one who's been very
enthusiastic in coordinating many of he smaller things who
will not be with us. We need to take care of the workload
due to the attrition, in addition to anything added by
programs such as the hotel hostesses.
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Hostesses and volunteer load:
Jamie Renae writes:
>I just wonder how a "Hostess" would be selected, for
>individual Hotels. Being an event Hostess, I know how
>much work goes into the preparation. If I was staying
>in a Hotel, I would be very opposed to trying to organize
>anything that had to do with getting people together.
>With the large variety of participants, late night
>partiers/late sleepers, independent thinkers that want
>to do their own thing, newbies that might need a helping
>hand for most things.
Selection of the hotel hostesses will have to be volunary.
In thinking back, we already do have two volunteers for
this function.
We haven't covered the possible case where we have a hotel
with no volunteer host/hostess. That will most likely be up
to the Hostess Coordinator to resolve.
>I come to Vegas for a "Break". I feel the need to organize
>something that I enjoy doing. If I don't get any attendance,
>I would still do what I enjoy.
>I just feel that the mechanics of a Hostess/Host could easily
>overwhelm someone that has come to have a good time and get
>time with their friends.
Each hostess will need to set her own limits in this respect.
I don't think it's fair, or intended, for a hostess give up
any significant amount of personal fun time in order to
perform in this capacity.
There's also the real-world difference in load between, say,
the hostess at the Imperial Palace and the hostess at the
Alexis Park. With 20 or so staying at the IP, I can easily
envision well-attended bar sessions lasting up to an hour
or so, and the need for the IP hostess to appoint one or
more assistants. With only 2-3 or so staying at the Alexis
Park, it may be the case that all planned daily gatherings
are abandoned simply due to non-participation.
>It seems like, that if there was a group of attendees, in a
>specific hotel, they could work out something among themselves
>easily.
Yes, they >COULD< work out something among themselves, but
history has shown that in most cases they won't, and when
they do, somebody gets left out.
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Hostesses and volunteer load:
Mary Beth writes:
>>I move that each suggested hotel for DLV 2010 have one person
>>designated as Hotel Hostess/Host.
>I don't have a problem with this ONLY if the people who
>are clamoring the loudest for it are also the people who
>are going to volunteer their time to cover said shifts.
>I enjoy hosting a lunch during the week and am happy to
>help co-ordinate things like the Theater Night and the Limo
>Tour, but I have absolutely no intention of hanging around
>the hotel all day waiting for people to "check in".
Please tell me this ...
Where do you get the impression, in regards to this motion,
that there will be any requirement to "cover said shifts"
or "wait for people to check in" or anything like that? You
are not the only one bringing things like this up, so the
perception must be out there from something.
The only requirement I see is one singular touch-base type
of get-together per day.
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Touchstone vendor locations:
Kumiko writes (edited by request):
>I don't see how meeting at venues/vendors
>that support our event, and we support their
>business would dramatically or drastically
>change how DLV is currently towards the
>"C"word which is a 'convention'
>Maybe how it does needs to be explained
>in more detail.
>I think we should use local vendors and their
>place of business, if they offer themselves to us,
>or more specifically we are not forcing them to do
>this.
>Its a win-win for both sides. The vendor(s) will get
>more foot traffic, and potential sales, and we have
>nice a central meeting point for everyone, not tied to
>a specific hotel/casino parking lot. The vendor's
>facilities would help those that may want to change
>there, also for those that need last minute items,
>or need to fix something, the resources are
>right there.
>We should support and use these vendors and the
>resources they provide that are available to us in LV.
>It helps keep these business in business for us to use,
>and also the locals that live in LV.
>I remember a time, not so long ago, when there
>were NO business like them in the whole city.
>Vendors provides a central location to pay for pre-paid
>events, and resolves the problem of finding and paying
>the event organizer at events. The business is open
>on a regular schedule, and more accessible and
>may be more convenient for many. These
>businesses also can take credit cards, making it
>easier for the attendee to pay.
>Just some thoughts on this...
Thanks, KY.
I think we have a good, and appropriate, relationship with
all of our featured vendors.
I agree that utilizing the vendors' assistance more fully
will not push us in any way down a slippery slope toward
being a TG convention. I also don't believe that Joann's
proposal would lead to DLV being more commercial in nature.
A good point is the offer by Glamour Boutique to handle
payments for more of our activities. I see this as a
win-win for both DLV and the vendor. The attendee can
conveniently pay, possibly for several activities with
one check or CC transaction, and the vendor gets the
added phone/foot traffic. "Can I help you with anything
else?" "Uh, yes, what do you have in the way of ...?" :)
My feeling is that the three of our established vendors,
GB, Harmony, Studio Lites, would all JUMP at the chance
to have their facility be the touch-base point!
The down-side I see is convenience. None of the three
vendors are terribly convenient. Yes, GB and Harmony
are both walkable from the Sahara, assuming you like
to walk, but I don't think that too many would like to
do that. I believe that simply due to proximity and
convenience, hotel touch-base get-togethers would be
more attended than any at vendor locations.
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Administrivia:
This is the Diva Las Vegas 2010 organizational list.
One address for all items regarding this list, additions, removals,
changes, submissions, questions, etc.:
dlvorg@geekbabe.com <--- NOTE: all lower case
Diva Las Vegas 2010
Dates to be announced
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
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