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

I think some of us worry about the costs because a falling 20 people short instead of 20 people over could cuse us to lose as much money as we otherwise make.

We had good reasons in 2003 and 2006 to consider losses very possible -- prior history, venue, all that stuff in the archives.

In 2004, a loss was less likely and we came much closer to break-even bring in less than half what we did a in 2003 or 2006.

If we wanted to guarantee that the convention was never better than a break-even deal, that would be very simple to do, after counting everything up, all we would have to do is rebate funds to registrants in the amount of the net revenues.

I doubt that the kind of money we would pay for jobs would give us any stiking improvement in the number of hires or performance. If we're thinking about paying the kind of money that would make a diff, then hey, I'll get in that line. ;-)

----- Original Message ----
From: Karen Randall <krandall@rdrcpa.biz>
To: Aquatic Gardeners Association Board <aga-sc@thekrib.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 25, 2006 2:06:36 PM
Subject: Re: [AGA-sc] Contest Awards -- Prizes and costs to contestants

While we're on the subject, why do we worry so much about the convention breaking even, if we are always making more money than we know what to do with as an organization? Maybe we should be covering more expenses for those who work hard at the conventions, or covering more of the expenses of at least the SPEAKERS at the convention, even if it means the convention runs at a slight deficit.

Likewise, we should consider Cheryl's idea of paying some people to do some of the repetitive but essential work for AGA, such as maintaining the membership database. If we could carve out some of the discrete but time consuming tasks and assign them "job" status with a monetary value attached, it might be easier to get people to take them on and then take them seriously. If they didn't do their job, it would be much easier to cut them loose, knowing that they were a paid "service provider" who wasn't living up to the job.

Just a thought.

Karen

----- Original Message -----

From: S. Hieber

To: Aquatic Gardeners Association Board

Sent: Saturday, November 25, 2006 10:08 AM

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

Problem is, we can't seem to find better things than the Contest and TAG to spend money on; meanwhile it keeps piling up and someday, it's going to come back and bite big.

sh

----- Original Message ----
From: Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>
To: Aquatic Gardeners Association Board <aga-sc@thekrib.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 25, 2006 1:51:49 AM
Subject: Re: [AGA-sc] Contest Awards -- Prizes and costs to contestants

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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