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Re: Plant Auction
I REALLY like David's idea about paying a flat fee. I suggest keeping it simple
this year and charge $1 per bag for all items which are not donations. I think
we should try to earn some money to support future events in a different way
(solicit corporate donations (money, goods) or get them to sponsor specific
speaker expenses)and use the current treasury to provide "seed money" to be
hopefully replaced by future revenue/donations.
I would like to see the silent auction be fun for the participants;encourage
them to bring interesting plants, in part by providing them with the potential
for a reasonable income.
Other thoughts regarding the Silent Auction:
(1) It MUST be easy for the "Silent Auction Committee" to implement. (i.e. Mary
must agree). For example, I like Mike's idea of
>contacting all of the major US and European manufacturers to
>solicit donations of plant related equipment for a raffle or auction.
This would include the plant donations from FAN. This will be 100% profit for
AGA and potentially yield a lot of money. For simplicity, it may be easier to
have this as an extention of the silent auction.
However, we must recognize this probably requires display space, means more
work and may be difficult without help from local people in TN to receive,
sort, etc.
(2) The total number of solicted items (including those from members) must
therefore consider total time committment (on-site, and off-site before or
after), and must consider the space requirements to display plants and any
related items(if in fact, they will be on display). I generally like Karen's
idea of limiting the number of participants plants (non-commercial) to 12
items, no more than 2 the same. We must recognize, however, that if we get even
50 such particants, this means 600 items. This does not even consider
commercial donations.
I SUGGEST THAT THE AUCTION COMMITTEE CONSIDER THE LOGICS OF RECEIVING,
DISPLAYING AND DISBURSING ITEMS; THEN THEY RECOMMEND THE PARAMETERS FOR THE
NUMBER (and type) OF ITEMS -- per participant and TOTAL including donations. Of
course this can be openly discussed, but the people doing the work must prevail.
--Neil
I like Mike's idea:
Regarding manufacturer and plant nursery donations, we need to consider the
amount of extra work in handling. This can be a problem without local people in
Tenn to take charge.
For
Mike
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 27 May 2000 17:15:50 -0400
From: "David Lass"
Subject: Re: MCM - Digest V1 #310
The only thought I have for the auction is that perhaps we can make it a
"buck a bag" type of auction. Folks wanting to put stuff in the auction pay
a flat fee, maybe $1 for "common" plants and $.50 for rarer ones (the
amounts may not be right as we want to encourage folks to bring rarer stuff,
and not just come in with Java Ferns). That way we don't have to be bothered
with the "scorekeeping" of a split % auction, and yet we can hopefully bring
out a good selection of plants.
Just my thoughts on how we might handle things.
David
- ----- Original Message -----
From: MCM - Digest
To:
Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2000 6:12 AM
Subject: MCM - Digest V1 #310
>
> MCM - Digest Saturday, May 27 2000 Volume 01 : Number
310
>
>
>
> In this issue:
>
> selling plants
> Re: Silent Auction
> Re: selling plants
> Event Brochure
> Re: Event Brochure
> Leveling the Arena...
>
> To unsubscribe, send mail to majordomo@aquatic-gardeners.org with
> "unsubscribe aga-mcm-digest" in the body.
>
> Old messages are available at http://lists.thekrib.com/aga-mcm
> When asked, log in as username is "aga-mcm", and password "incorporate".
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 26 May 2000 07:18:27 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Erik Olson
> Subject: selling plants
>
> Charlene misdirected this mail to the wrong address...
> Please, everyone send your mail to aga-mcm@thekrib.com, or else it will
> not go to the list. - Erik
>
> - ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Fri, 26 May 2000 08:03:59 -0400
> From: Charlene Nash
> To: "'owner-aga-mcm-digest@thekrib.com'"
>
> Hi all- no I have not printed the huge number of brochures-I didn't
realize
> how attached to selling plants the members were. We can certainly put in
a
> split profit thing if you decide and let me know soon!! I am used to
people
> giving away plants they usually grow so fast and I thought this once, it
> would be a nice fund raiser and keep the auction quick and simple. I for
> one stated that I was not willing to set up or sit thro that kind of
auction
> at the NEC when I have seen it done so much quicker and more fun! Having
> more money in the AGA account may not be needed, but to do these types of
> events, you will need extra money to kick in sometimes (maybe this time)
as
> the registration may not always cover everything. We do have a very
> expensive Fri night and we need minimum registrants for everything we are
> doing so that is why we did it that way. We have paid hefty deposits and
> need to know numbers of registrations several weeks in advance in order to
> confirm and not lose deposits. Encourage people not to wait til the last
> minute to register. I would still like to get a few corporate sponsors to
> pay for a couple of things, so if anybody has connections to some
> organizations, and would feel comfortable asking them to sponsor, email me
> privately if you want. If doing that is ok with everyone, give me some
> business names and I will contact them. That way we can insure we don't
go
> in the hole if we are under minimums. Doing that would keep the fees lower
> each year at the conference if we keep having a conference and give
> businesses a chance to tell us what they have, etc in return for their
> support we can put their ad materials or coupons, etc in the registration
> packets or something like that. I won't be checking email Sun or Mon.
> Charlene
>
> ------------------
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>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 26 May 2000 01:59:04 -0400
> From: Karen Randall
> Subject: Re: Silent Auction
>
> At 06:33 AM 5/26/2000 -0400, Neil wrote:
>
> >In Mary's defense, I think she is correct that we did talk about
> >donations....and I did personally encourage her to choose an approach
that
> >was simple and workable for her. However, when I mentioned donations, I
> >meant outside donations (like FAN).
>
> I must have misunderstood too. I don't think I would have agreed to
asking
> hobbyists for donations without discussing it. I think I thought what you
> thought... that we were talking about commercial donations.
>
> >We can avoid these problems in the
> >future (particulary for important for the event) if we include the SC (at
> >least one person) in the decisions.
>
> Well, I've been in pretty close touch with Charlene at every step, and it
> didn't help in this case. I didn't realize that this was an issue until
> the same time you did.
>
> >If the brochures were already printed, then it might be too late or too
> >confusing to change the approach... although, like Karen said: we would
be
> >adding something. And it will certainly be easy on the web....even now.
>
> >I still think we need DAMAGE control. It is known by some AGAers that we
> >have a fat treasury and I feel VERY uncomfortable saying that we want our
> >members to donate their plants. Especially when this is a small way they
> >can offset expenses.
>
> We _don't_ really have that fat a treasury when you look at our expenses.
> Certainly we are not in any financial difficulty, but I don't think the
> amount we have on hand is excessive.
>
> >In fact, I would be happy to limit the number of
> >entries to 10 and give them 80% or even 100% on the assumption that they
> >will be bringing rare and unusual plants (as advertised). Anyone can
choose
> >to make it a donation.
>
> I think that's excessive in the other direction. Unless we want this this
> to be a one-time thing, we _do_ need money. ALL our speakers are being
> asked to pay their own way. All have said they will... this time. Our
> expenses could be much greater in the future.
>
> >I appreciate hearing Karen's rationale about the banquet. I did not think
> >about the required minimum no. of attendees. It helps to hear the
discussion!
>
> The problem is that half the time we say we are overwhelmed with E-mail
and
> issues, and the other half we want to know what's going on at every point
> along the way. Charlene has been in contact with me right along. We have
> discussed a number of issues as we've gone along. My IMPRESSION was that
> she was giving the brochure text to the MC for APPROVAL. Do we really
> _know_ that she has already had it printed? I'm not at all sure that this
> was the case.
>
> Well, I just hobbled over to the telephone, and left a message for
Charlene
> to call me. I'll let you all know whether the brochures are printed or
not
> after she calls back. In the mean time, I'm going to lie dow again. My
> head hurts.
>
> Karen
> ------------------
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> with "unsubscribe aga-mcm" in the body of the message.
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> in the same message.
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> When asked, log in as username is "aga-mcm", and password "incorporate".
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 26 May 2000 04:23:31 -0400
> From: Karen Randall
> Subject: Re: selling plants
>
> At 07:18 AM 5/26/2000 -0700, Charlene wrote:
>
> >Hi all- no I have not printed the huge number of brochures-I didn't
realize
> >how attached to selling plants the members were. We can certainly put in
a
> >split profit thing if you decide and let me know soon!! I am used to
people
> >giving away plants they usually grow so fast and I thought this once, it
> >would be a nice fund raiser and keep the auction quick and simple.
>
> I don't think that whether we do a split or not has any bearing on whether
> we do it as a silent auction. I still think a silent auction is a great
> way to do it. There will be much more time for chatting and socializing
> without missing out on bidding on a plant you wnat at the same time!
>
> Some plants _do_ grow very fast. Others much more slowly. More
> importantly, as Neil mentioned, people are paying a lot to come to the
> convention, and it is a way that they can get at least a _little_ bit back
> to offset their expenses. (or to bid on other plants in the auction!)
>
> >I for
> >one stated that I was not willing to set up or sit thro that kind of
auction
> >at the NEC when I have seen it done so much quicker and more fun! Having
> >more money in the AGA account may not be needed, but to do these types of
> >events, you will need extra money to kick in sometimes (maybe this time)
as
> >the registration may not always cover everything.
>
> I agree, and that is why I wouldn't want to see 80-100% go back to the
> vendor. But I've also seen that people are _more_ likely to bid more if
> they know they're getting something for their plants too. I think, over
> all, we'll make more money with a split than with straight donations. But
> the exact details of the auction don't need to be included in the brochure
> as long as the word "donation" is taken out. We can make up an actual
> vendor's form that can be mailed to registrants and be made available at
> the registration table.
>
> >I would still like to get a few corporate sponsors to
> >pay for a couple of things, so if anybody has connections to some
> >organizations, and would feel comfortable asking them to sponsor, email
me
> >privately if you want. If doing that is ok with everyone, give me some
> >business names and I will contact them. That way we can insure we don't
go
> >in the hole if we are under minimums.
>
> I'd be surprised if Claus wouldn't donate some Mastergrow and books.
> Contact him at clc@tropica.dk
> ------------------
> To unsubscribe from this list, e-mail majordomo@thekrib.com
> with "unsubscribe aga-mcm" in the body of the message.
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> in the same message.
> Old messages are available at http://lists.thekrib.com/aga-mcm
> When asked, log in as username is "aga-mcm", and password "incorporate".
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 26 May 2000 18:11:38 -0400
> From: Neil Frank
> Subject: Event Brochure
>
> Charlene wrote:
> >Hi all- no I have not printed the huge number of brochures.
>
> Whew... I suggest that we modify the brochure(and web page) to remove
> wording about donation/fundraiser... Just say silent auction of rare and
> unusual plants. We can separately discuss /decide on the AGA/member split
> and prepare appropriate communication to encourage people to bring good
> stuff. This way the main message can go out. I similarly suggest that any
> corporate plant farm donations should be unusual stuff. We don't need to
> waste peoples time with easy to get stuff. I have already talked to FAN
and
> will continue to do so, if desired.
>
> I am fine with the logic behind combined banquet/registration pricing.
> - --Neil
> ------------------
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>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 26 May 2000 15:15:34 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Erik Olson
> Subject: Re: Event Brochure
>
> On Fri, 26 May 2000, Neil Frank wrote:
>
> > Charlene wrote:
> > >Hi all- no I have not printed the huge number of brochures.
> >
> > Whew... I suggest that we modify the brochure(and web page) to remove
> > wording about donation/fundraiser... Just say silent auction of rare and
> > unusual plants.
>
> I changed the website two days ago. It now says "details are still being
> finalized" about the auction.
>
> - Erik
>
> - --
> Erik Olson
> erik at thekrib dot com
>
> ------------------
> To unsubscribe from this list, e-mail majordomo@thekrib.com
> with "unsubscribe aga-mcm" in the body of the message.
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> in the same message.
> Old messages are available at http://lists.thekrib.com/aga-mcm
> When asked, log in as username is "aga-mcm", and password "incorporate".
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 26 May 2000 15:56:19 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Erik Olson
> Subject: Leveling the Arena...
>
> Hi,
>
> I am going to try another experiment in the hopes of keeping everyone on
> the same page. Right now we've got two separate lists, the bounce and the
> digest version. I think originally I just created a bounce list, but then
> got complaints that there were too many messages for some. If I'd thought
> ahead, I probably would have just dropped the bounce list and made it
> digest-only like the APD, but unfortunately I kept both lists.
>
> The way it is now, some people can't respond to mail until they read their
> digest, and others end up going through several iterations of discussion
> before the digest folks get to respond. Worse, not everybody knows who's
> on which list. So I am going to try putting everyone on the digest for
> the next week or so in an effort to level this particular playfield.
> Everyone will get the digest delivered at 3 AM PST.
>
> So...Just wanted to forewarn these people (who are subscribed to the
> non-digest form of the list):
>
> erik@thekrib.com
> krandall@world.std.com
> amc2@ix.netcom.com
> krombhol@teclink.net
> davidlass@villasunscape.com
> marymccaw@mediaone.net
> MichaelAngelaH@aol.com
>
>
> that they will shortly be joining THESE people who only can read and
> respond once every day:
>
> nfrank@mindspring.com
> jdo@world.std.com
> rcashin@juno.com
> dreimer@wwdc.com
> dwalstad@bellsouth.net
> JOLeary@merrillinc.com
> ecn@tennis.org
>
>
> - --
> Erik Olson
> erik at thekrib dot com
>
> ------------------
> To unsubscribe from this list, e-mail majordomo@thekrib.com
> with "unsubscribe aga-mcm" in the body of the message.
> To subscribe to the digest version, add "subscribe aga-mcm-digest"
> in the same message.
> Old messages are available at http://lists.thekrib.com/aga-mcm
> When asked, log in as username is "aga-mcm", and password "incorporate".
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of MCM - Digest V1 #310
> ***************************
>
>
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 27 May 2000 08:17:20 -0400
From: Karen Randall
Subject: Event Brochure
At 09:20 AM 5/27/2000 -0700, Charlene wrote:
>Hope I send it right this time! Tell me the wording you want in the
>brochures-something like just "unusual and rare plants"? Just how many
>"rare plants" are there? Are we limiting the auction by saying that? Should
>we say specimen or show quality and rare and unusual? I can't think of that
>many things that people would have that are typically really rare-but I
>don't know this aquarium hobby part that well so advise me.
Well, our local club (and I believe NEC does the same thing) calls it a
"rare fish and plant" auction because you _can_ find something there that
you might not have access to elsewhere. What's rare in one part of the
country may not be somehwere else that has a local hobbyist spreading it
around. And there are always people getting started who need things that
are just plain easy.
I think I'd limit the number of lots people can bring, and also the number
of lots of one species. (or variety) For instance, maximum of 12 lots,
maximum 2 lots of the same species/variety. If people only have a limited
number of lots available, they are not likely to waste them on several bags
of duck weed or water sprite.
We might want to say something like, unsold lots must be removed from the
auction room by __ p.m. or the become property of the AGA. Then, if they
are nice plants, we can decide what we want to do with them, if they are
just plant mass, we can donate them to the Tennessee Aquarium as turtle
food.
>I am getting
>this brochure out and mail a bunch to people that I have addresses for this
>week. I leave for the Amazon June 5 and not back til the 16th
Have a great time. I'll be wishin' I was with you!
>I still want us to make some money on this event because we
>are going to have to pay speakers and expenses sometime if we keep this up.
>We can get some auction money and some corporate sponsorships to build up
>the coffers to help with the next event. This one will probably be the
>cheapest one you will ever have and we still may have to chip in from the
>treasury.
I agree.
Karen
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 28 May 2000 01:28:43 -0400
From: "Mary McCaw"
Subject: Re: Event Brochure
- ----- Original Message -----
From: Neil Frank
To:
Sent: Friday, May 26, 2000 6:11 PM
Subject: Event Brochure
I suggest that we modify the brochure(and web page) to remove wording about
donation/fundraiser... Just say silent auction of rare and unusual plants.
We can separately discuss /decide on the AGA/member split and prepare
appropriate communication to encourage people to bring good stuff. This way
the main message can go out. I similarly suggest that any corporate plant
farm donations should be unusual stuff. We don't need to waste peoples time
with easy to get stuff. I have already talked to FAN and will continue to do
so, if desired.
I agree.
Mary
>
> > ------------------
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>
------------------------------
End of MCM - Digest V1 #312
***************************