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

["Karen Randall" <krandall@rdrcpa.biz>]

>> 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'd much rather see the volunteers who work so hard have to pay less than to 
give money back to registrants who do nothing to contribute and are already 
getting a good deal for their money.


>> 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. ;-) <<

Cheryl and I don't neccesarily agree.  There is certainly no way that amount 
that Cheryl (or earlier, Cheryl and I) gets paid for TAG comes close to 
being even minimun wage for the amount of work that is needed to produce 
TAG.  Still, there is a certain amount of "reward" in the acknowlegement 
that the check represents.  I think that the same could be said for other 
jobs that need to be done for AGA.  (again, specifically the membership data 
base)

Feel free to jump in here, Cheryl <g>  (maybe she's away for the weekend... 
she's not usually shy ;-)

Karen

----- 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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