Personally, I'm wouldn't mind going another year or two without Amano but then I'm not that into his style. Putting my personal interests aside, my understanding is that Amano wants to come and I think people want to see him. That points me toward Amano. I agree that if we have a full marquee without Amano and at least one of them is as big a draw, then we can satisfy folks without Amano. But I don't see it happ'nin', like the sound of one hand clappin'.
We have no one on the ground in Atlanta to scout hotels. Doing Atlanta would depend on Larry being able to swing by on one of his business trips to check out hotels plus we would need to find someone on the ground to handle logistics.
I think these things could be done more easily in Dallas.
I've never been to Atlanta so for me that would be a good choice. And it would diff for the other convention folk too. Still I'm favoring Dallas because I think it would be easier to produce a convention there than other locations. Our bankbook is chubby but for other resources like planning and elbow grease, I think we're we look like we're on a Nicole Ritchie diet.
For just one example, we don't even have a convention chair yet. This isn't anyone's fault; just a the way it is right now. Being rather presumptuous, I'd list out the various specific tasks we have so far like this, might be going to far:
Treasurer -- sh
Auction -- Erik (on the tech end) we still need someone to do the vendor & donation side of things
Enrollment -- CR
Hotel Contract -- Larry (with fine print help from sh)
Assuming the above is right, then for unfilled stuff we have openings for:
Convention Chair (i.e., Executive Producer)
Speakers (casting)
Marketing, Promotions, and Advertising
Vendor --Sponsorship/VendorRoomies/Donations/Contest sponsors
Brochure & Convention Program production
Check-in & Welcome
Sales Table
Equipment Manager/local logistics/deliveries coordination with hotel
What else?
sh
* * * * * * * * *
----- Original Message ----
From: Cheryl Rogers <cheryl@dustyuniverse.com>
To: Aquatic Gardeners Association Board <aga-sc@thekrib.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2007 12:03:02 PM
Subject: Re: [AGA-sc] convention?
I don't really want Amano, because it seems like we're asking him
because we can't think of anyone else. And I think we should go to Atlanta.
But that's me.
Cheryl
S. Hieber wrote:
> Don't feel off, I think AGA is behind schedule for submitting a proposal
> for a convention in 2007 but it can still pull this off with a little
> grace from the Board on deadlines ;-)
>
>
>
> Is there a list of potential sites?
>
>
>
> I thought we had:
>
>
>
> Atlanta -- big new aquarium -- but mostly a marine deal, iirc; SeaChem
> tour possible.
>
> Dallas again -- We know the hotel and could put together a contract
> relatively quickly; there's probably some good volunteers available.
>
> Indianapolis folks have suggested their home for a convention for each
> of
the last three years -- Jonathon Dooley has some experience but I
> don't know what the follow-through would be like there.
>
>
>
> I also thought that we were asking Amano again for 2007 although I don't
> think this was ever a proper Board discussion. However, while time ticks
> a heaven around the celestial stars, it also fills up the calendars of
> the hobby stars and it might be too late for us to get Amano. I suggest
> that we decide on Amano pronto and, assuming we agree on Amano, ask
> Karen to reach out, hands across the water.
>
>
>
> I suggest that we do Dallas with Amano and maintain some contacts with
> the Indy folks for volunteers for doing Indy in 2008.
>
>
>
> I would ask (beg, implore, entice with promises of Eden) Erik to be in
> charge of the Auction -- Ain't nobody gonna do it as well
as he can. And
> if Kathy can pitch in like last year, that would be swell.
>
>
>
> Does anyone have some other suggestions for speakers? Are we going for
> the Moss guy this year? I think AGA can afford to fly Amano and the Moss
> guy. Although, 2006 (with a convention) had less net revenues than 2005
> (with the late posting of the 2004 convention revenues) we are holding
> at over $55K+. I know I haven't published the annual financial report
> and probalby won't for another month but attached is a summary of the
> numbers and a comparison to 2005.
>
>
>