Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 11:04:16 -0400
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>, WSFAlist at WSFA.org
From: "Mike B." <omni at omniphile.com>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: WSFA and hosts
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

At 08:12 AM 10/18/2005 -0400, Samuel Lubell wrote:

>So far, I've not heard any real options for an alternative meeting place.

How about a library or community center?  I've been in clubs that met in
both sorts of places.  They are either free (libraries used to let 501c3
orgs use meeting rooms free here in Maryland), or very inexpensive (the
Potomac Community Center charges less than $20 for a room for an evening).
Main issue there is the time...both of these sorts of places tend to close
up about 10pm so we might have to move the meeting back to 8pm, then
adjourn to a nearby restaurant or something for the socializing.

Some restaurants have party rooms that they will let groups use in exchange
for the business.  Pizza Hut in Frederick does this once a month for the
Mensa folks up there.

If someone else volunteers their home, that would certainly work, but given
the thundering response to the request for a location for the last Fifth
Friday Party, I'm not hopeful of this.

>Both the Gillilands and
>the Madigans, like previous hosts, are extremely generous in allowing
>us in their homes once a month, preparing the place and the food,
>and, all too often, cleaning up the mess we leave behind.  It's a lot
>of work and Alexis has been doing this for decades.

Very true, and both are deserving of much thanks, along with all the others
who have done so in the past (the Ginters, the Olivers, and I'm sure others
while I was "away" or before I joined).

I wonder if it might be a good idea to lighten the load on the hosts,
whether things move or not?  A "party committee" might share the burden of
preparation, setup and cleanup, and make life easier on the hosts (not that
they are complaining, but maybe we shouldn't wait until that happens?).
Any task split several ways is easier, and I'd be happy to volunteer to
help clean up (you *don't* want me setting up the "menu"...).  In another
group I'm in there's one person who is in charge of this, and acts to
coordinate the volunteers.  That person is NOT in charge of doing the
actual work though, so if there aren't any volunteers, there's no
food...which is fair IMO.  Anyone with special needs can volunteer and make
sure they are met.  If the hosts *like* doing some or all of the work, they
can certainly volunteer to do so anyway (Candy seems to enjoy making
cookies and I'd *never* want to discourage that! ;-).  This might also be a
way to "audition" folks for con suite manager...if they can't coordinate a
meeting's food, they probably can't do a con suite either, right?  If they
find they hate managing volunteers or dealing with food issues, they should
probably not volunteer to run a con suite either.  Comments?

-- Mike B.
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