Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 21:21:49 -0500 (EST)
From: "Keith F. Lynch" <kfl at KeithLynch.net>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: I have reservations
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

Walter Miles <walter at nova.org> wrote:

> Against my much better judgement, I have reserved a room for both
> nights of Capclave.

I don't know whether to feel guilty for offering to let any of several
out-of-town fen crash at my place during Capclave, or not.  Since none
of them have taken me up on it, I guess it's moot.

> It strikes me, that before I could urge other WSFAns to use me as
> their exemplar, that I should like to see published the conditions
> governing the room block guarantee (deadlines, numbers, and
> penalties).  We should understand precisely the catastrophe we
> are trying to avert.

Me too.  Does the club lose *more* than $94 per room night not booked?
If so, the club can save money (i.e. lose less money) by booking rooms
itself, and letting them stand empty.  If *not*, then a WSFAn can
benefit the club more by donating $94 to the club than by booking a
room night.

Of course the latter assumes there are no non-financial penalties,
such as next year's hotel canceling on us.

I'm also curious just how much we still have to worry about money.  We
just held a con where we charged over 800 people at least $100 each,
not counting revenue from dealers.  Since that con filled its room
block, we presumably got the function space for free.  And the banquet
cost members extra, so that didn't come out of the $80,000+.  Nor did
the books (other than the memory book and pocket program), as those
were given away by the publishers.  What does that leave as expenses?
Con suite food, the awards themselves, and what else?  It seems to me
we get to keep most of the more than $80k.  Right?

Is it time to replace the austerity committee with a prosperity
committee?
--
Keith F. Lynch - kfl at keithlynch.net - http://keithlynch.net/
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