Re: Next convention

["Karen Randall" <krandall@world.std.com>]

If I was being a little overly touchy, I apologize.  I'm pretty tired. :-/

I was the one who brought the offer of hosting the AGA convention in the
Boston AREA to the table. And when I did, I explained to each person I
discussed it with that it needed to be outside of the city, and why.  I
guess that's why I had a hard time understanding where any misunderstanding
could arise.  I never said that the Boston area wasn't workable, and I never
even heard about a possibility of another venue until the very end of the
last day of the convention.

I meant what I said, though, when I said that if the Houston people really
mean it, by all means let them do it.  And I'm not saying that in a "sour
grapes" way... I really have way too much on my plate to want to take on the
convention.  I was just going to do it anyway, because it is important to me
that it be continued.

BUT, and this is a big but...  Who is going to find out whether these people
are serious, and whether they actually have the resources and committment to
get the job done?  Was it an offer made in the heat of the moment that they
are going to re-think in the weeks (and months) to come?  I know it's a
"business", but it's a small non-essential service business at the beginning
of tough economic times.  Will they still be there in a year?  Will those
guys be scattered to new jobs and new responsibilities?  (remember how
enthusiastic Art Giacosa was?)  Can a committment be obtained from them in
the next few weeks? Who is in a position to make those deteriminations?  Not
me.

I'm not saying that Boston wouldn't do it another year, but I can't
guarantee it.  I discussed it with them only in regards to 2002.

As far as saying I'm not going down early to another city, it wasn't not
said in anger, just in determination.  While Charlene certainly did the
lion's share of the pre-event work in the months and weeks leading up to the
convention, I think she would have been buried without me being there to
help her the last 3 days, and we BOTH still would have been buried without
the help of Steve, Michael and Eric from SF, and Erik and Kathy on Friday.

We need AGA management-type people to be there helping and fighting fires
the last couple of days.  I'm just telling you right now, to make it
perfectly clear.  It's NOT going to be me next year if it's not in my home
area.  Now, maybe there's a big enough group in Houston to get the job done,
but I don't know.  Do you?  Who does?

As I said in my other post, I see no problem with people making suggestions.
I was just making my own suggestion that the people who run the convention
be allowed to make the final decisions.  Likewise, on the subject of
changing the name, hopefully the others will chime in as well.  My personal
view is that we have a good thing going.  It is ours, and we should build on
it.  Others in the group may agree more with you.

Karen

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