From: Diva Las Vegas organizers (dlvorg@geekbabe.com)
Date: Sun Nov 15 2009 - 07:59:34 CST
In this mailing:
Org List
Calling the question
HRC clarification
Cost concerns
Working schedule
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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Calling the question:
Although we are not in any way in a time crunch, we need to
move toward a vote on the open motion, and give Suzane an
answer, yes or no, regarding her offer and proposal.
. . . . .
It appears to me that most concerns regarding Suzane's
proposal and the Hard Rock venue, such as music level,
mainstream/safety balance, parking, etc. have been
well covered.
We do still have one sticking point here ...
What I would like to see as a goal of the Monday evening
Welcome celebration is:
Absolute maximum turnout leading to absolute maximum
enjoyment by the greatest number of attendees.
If Suzane's Hard Rock proposal will meet this goal, then
I am for it. If it will not, I am opposed to it.
I sincerely believe that Suzane's proposal, as stated in
the currently-open motion will meet this goal.
However, I also sincerely believe that if any kind of
condition of entry or barrier to entry exists, it will
fail to attract absolute maximum turnout, and thus fail
to meet this goal.
In other words, I don't think it's our best option for a
Welcome Celebration if we insist on a cover or minimum.
If the group here is uncomfortable with Suzane's offer,
and insists on a cover or minimum, I think we need to
go with something else, such as something similar to
the Blue Ox Welcome Celebrations we had in 2008 and
in 2009.
The concerns raised in this mailing have to do with the
financial aspects of the activity.
It's my impression that Suzane made this very generous
offer so that this activity could happen without the
need for roadblocks, such as prepayent or any barrier
to entry.
If Suzane is comfortable with it (and if her other
voluntary underwriters are comfortable with it), then
I am comfortable with it.
. . . . .
Anyway, we need to move toward a vote. Let's consider
this to be last call for discussion and debate.
If no new talking points are introduced by Tuesday
morning, 48 hours from now, we'll send out a final
summary of any additional discussion, and call for
votes at that time.
Thanks, everybody.
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HRC clarification:
Kimberly Komplin writes:
>I'm still confused about something with regards to the
>$1000.00 up front room charge at the Hard Rock.
>A while back I visited with a private room coordinator
>at Maggiano's inquiring as to the use of one of their
>private rooms for a nice dress up affair for our local
>group. She informed me that they had two smaller rooms
>that required a minimum fee of $1000.00 for the use of
>the room and a larger room that required a fee of
>$2000.00 for the use of that room. All bar purchases
>and food purchases made went towards the use of the
>room and only if the purchases did not meet the
>required minimums for the use of the room(s) then
>the difference would have to be paid.
>Would this be a similar arrangement with the Hard Rock
>or is the room fee there in addition to purchases that
>are acrewed while using the room.
This is all in the context of Suzane's specific
proposal and offer for the use of the third floor
facility for our Welcome Celebration.
The way I understand it, and Suzane, please correct me
if I am wrong, is that the $1000 is an "open up and buy
out" charge for the special-events-only third floor.
A fee of this type is stated to cover the expenses such
as staffing, utilities, security, etc., which would be
over and above the cost to maintain the facility in an
un-used quiescent state.
Yes, some venues work things differently. Some venues
have no "room charge", and they cover these things with
the revenue from the increased business.
Others require a deposit, to cover their risk. Places
like Carluccio's and Trevi require this. Some of them
refund (Carluccio's) or release the "hold" (Trevi) when
they see bodies enter and start ordering.
Still others, like Maggiano's, apply the deposit to
sales.
So, why are there so many variations to the theme? Why,
in particular, does Hard Rock do it the way they do?
Because they can! :)
It all comes down to one of the first principles of
economics, the law of supply and demand. Willing buyer
and willing seller meet at the price point.
Hard Rock Strip is a very popular high-demand, very
upscale facility in a prime location. This is just the
facility that the A-list celebutantes and rock stars
consider when they plan an oh-so-exclusive tete-a-tete
in Las Vegas.
>If the room fee is in addition to, I would question
>the use of that room as to being the best option for
>our group.
This concern has been echoed along two lines:
1. The difficulty and impracticality of recovering all or
part of this fee from attendees, via such methods as a
prepayment, cover charge, minimum charge, etc.
2. The fairness of one person covering the venue fee.
Yes, this may seem unfair, and a disproportionate burden
on one person, but this may be the only way this can
happen.
Let's review the $$$$ portion of Suzane's offer and
proposal:
s>... If that is the hang up I
s>will front the money and If during the event some attendees
s>"Want to Voluntary" make a contribution to cover that cost
s>great if NOT I will cover the complete amount and "Maybe"
s>it can be the start of a special "entertainment" venue.
Yes, the kilobuck is the hang-up, and Suzanne has made a
very generous offer to make that hang-up go away. :)
In addition, with absolutely no prodding, three others,
myself included, have offered to contribute $100 each in
order to make this happen. This says to me that enough
volunteers want to see this happen that other volunteer
underwriters will step forward should we vote to accept
this offer.
So, why does Suzane want to do this, and why would we,
the DLV organizers want to let her do this?
Because it's SOMETHING SPECIAL!
It's a very classy facility. The venue, in and of itself,
has the ability to draw out more of our attendees. It's
a huge step upward from an opening mixer at a Blue Ox
type of place.
Now, as was brought up in discussion, this one-time venue
fee is a "worst case" and is prior to active negotiation.
Should we vote to accept this offer, Suzane and her
assistants may, if they wish to, enter into gentle or
even "hardball" negotiation to try to reduce this, apply
some or part to sales, or to even do something like "bury"
it in bar sales. That will be for Suzane and assistants
to consider, should we vote to accept this offer.
There are also some creative options, should Suzane and
her assistants choose to use them, such as JoAnn's
idea of a two-drink ticket, or a drink and dessert ticket,
into which a portion of the venue charge appears. I think
something like this would recover more than a simple jar
at the door or an appeal for $$$$ only.
There's also a possibility of cross-subsidizing this with
funds from another activity.
But anyway, these are details of the activity, and should
we vote to accept the offer, Suzane and those who may
volunteer to either assist or a$$i$t can explore any of
these or other options.
With the others who have stepped forward to underwrite
this thing, and the possibilities of recovering from
some kind of creative option, I think the risk of one
person (Suzane) taking the complete $1000 bath is
quite small.
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Cost concerns:
JoAnn writes:
>>However, with the current open and seconded motion, it
>>cannot be "required", it must be optional, as the motion
>>explicitly states that there will be no barrier to entry.
>*Is there a way to amend the motion?
Yes, of course there is. If the person who raised the
motion wishes to do so, yes, it can be amended.
However, the person who raised the motion (me) chooses
to respectfully decline to make such an amendment. :)
I do not believe it would be in the best interest of the
DLV program as a whole to impose a cover, minimum, or
required purchase for this activity.
>The embedded cost portion for the cover might not have
>been thought of at the time of the motion. *
Yes, it was thought of and considered prior to introducing
the motion. I believed, and still believe, that it is in
the best interest of DLV as a whole to do absolutely all
we can to avoid such a required charge.
We really need to resolve the current motion, one way
or another. Should it fail, you or anyone can then
re-introduce it after amendments of your choosing.
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Working schedule:
Diva Las Vegas 2010 schedule
Tentative and subject to change
All times Pacific Daylight Time
Sunday, April 18:
10:00am: Religious services (Metropolitan Community Church) - sv
2:00pm: Studio Lites Open House (Studio Lites) - mv
7:00pm: Dinner options (Various)
9:00pm: After-dinner common gathering (TBA) - mv
Monday, April 19:
10:30am: Makeover Tips with Stacey (Bare Escentuals) - mv
1:00pm: Lunch With Ginger (TBA) - ms
3:00pm: Beginner Open House (See notes) - sv
6:00pm: Happy Hour (TBA) - mv
7:00pm: Dinner (TBA) - mv
8:00pm: Welcome Meet and Greet (TBA) - mv
Tuesday, April 20:
8:00am: Diva Las Vegas Invitational Golf (Desert Rose) - ms
10:30am: Makeover Tips with Stacey (Bare Escentuals) - mv
1:00pm: Lunch With Mary Beth (TBA) - ms
3:00pm: Beginner Open House (See notes) - sv
7:00pm: Murder Mystery Interactive Theater (tba) - sv
7:00pm: Eating Out Night (Various)
7:00pm: Milano's option (Milano's) - mv
7:00pm: Joe's option (Joe's Crab and Steak) - ms
8:30pm: Mainstream-Alternative Night (Various)
8:30pm: Big Show (TBA) - ms
8:30pm: Affordable Show (TBA) - ms
8:30pm: Pub Crawl (TBA) - sv
Wednesday, April 21:
1:00pm: Lunch With Ginger (TBA) - ms
3:00pm: Beginner Open House (See notes) - sv
6:00pm: Quiet Evening At Home HH and Dinner (See notes) - sv
6:00pm: Happy Hour (Trevi) - ms
7:00pm: Dinner (Trevi) - ms
8:00pm: Pajama Party (See notes) - sv
9:30pm: Limousine Tour (TBA) - ms
Thursday, April 22:
2:00am: Charles Bar (Bellagio) - ms
11:00am: Glamour Boutique Open House (Glamour Boutique) - sv
1:00pm: Lunch With Ginger (TBA) - ms
5:00pm: Night Of The Soiled Doves (CR) - mv
6:00pm: Local Happy Hour (TBA) - ms
7:00pm: Local Dinner (TBA) - ms
Friday, April 23:
9:00am: Pistol/rifle shooting (TBA) - ms
1:00pm: Lunch With Ginger (TBA) - ms
6:00pm: Happy Hour (TBA) - ms
7:00pm: Final Dinner (TBA) - ms
9:00pm: After-dinner options (Various)
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Administrivia:
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One address for all items regarding this list, additions, removals,
changes, submissions, questions, etc.:
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Diva Las Vegas 2010
Dates to be announced
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