Re: [AGA-sc] Contest Awards -- Prizes and costs to contestants

[Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>]

On Fri, 24 Nov 2006, Kathy Olson wrote:

> I was really suprised we were doing 2nd and 3rd place prizes at all.  In
> the past I think it was just a ribbon for 2nd and 3rd....there wasn't even
> a first.

First year, there were prizes for everything, though they never actually 
made it past David Youngker's house, under mysterious circumstances.

Second year (2001) there were a small subset of prizes (cannot remember 
exactly who solicited, but they are on the website -- it might have been 
Charlene who did it, and we "combined" auction/contest, but that seems 
odd).  We either did 1st place only, or no prizes at all that year.

Third year (2002) we definitely implemented the "sponge off the auction 
items" plan, again for 1st place only.

Fourth year (2003), DFWAPC was very pissed about the sponge-off plan, so 
it was replaced with hastily-constructed homegrown AGA substitutes such as 
books.  Again, 1st place only.

In 2004, Scott clearly wrote the sponge-off plan into the convention 
guidelines, but due to the increasing levels of out-of-state winners, I 
think we mostly sent AGA goods again.  This time DVDs were options as 
well.  Still 1st only.

It was LAST year when Phil solicited the donations from Seachem that 
things expanded to 2nd and 3rd place.  But because the chemicals could not 
be easily shipped overseas, we came up with monetary substitutions.  And I 
suppose because 2nd and 3rd would have received Seachem crap, equivalent 
monetary amounts were designated.  In addition, DFWAPC and AHS donated 
straight cash, which partly set the monetary values.

So this year we just went straight to cash.  But I do agree with Kathy, 
I'd rather drop the little 2nd and 3rd place prizes entirely next time, 
and either fold it into 1st ($150 for the category winner) or drop 
entirely.  They are already getting a ribbon and a contest disk.

> I would much rather see us use the money for better things.

It's pretty much set this year.  We've already advertised it.  I will 
e-mail the ones in troubled situation and offer memberships or DVDs, if 
it's OK with others.  I really had completely forgotten the history 
(above) until today.

   - Erik

-- 
Erik Olson
erik at thekrib dot com
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