On 12/30/00 at 2:01 PM +0000, Laurie Ann Silberman wrote:
> Cindy's expresses the general idea of my response to Ed's posting. I tried
> to send it privately, but it got bounced. So I will copy and paste the gist
> of it here.
>
> Ed and all the other great AZIPA Organizers. I feel the need to add my two
> cents re: your plan to charge fees.
>
> <two cents>
>
> I do not disagree with you decision. But I do not enjoy the meetings since
> they have been at Club Rio and only have been product showcases. I miss the
> old meetings. If you need money to rent spaces to have the old style
> informational meetings I would gladly pay.
>
> I cannot see myself paying to go to the Club Rio style meetings, since their
> sole purpose seems to be to sell me something, & I never pay for that ;->.
>
> In fact I generally avoid it whenever possible. Just call my Miss Opt Out.
>
> </two cents>
>
> Laurie Ann Silberman
> L_A_Silb@hotmail.com
Laurie-
Thank you for your feedback and for first trying to send it privately.
Hotmail is blocked by many ISP's as it is a harbor for spammers. If you
ever get a bounce back from an email sent to me or to AZIPA, please instead
send it to my AOL account <mailto:EdNusbaum@aol.com>. Thank you.
As I already said three hours before you sent your email:
----- BEGIN FORWARDED TEXT -----
To: AZIPA Discussion List <azipa@egroups.com>
From: Ed Nusbaum <ed@azipa.org>
Date: Sat, 30 Dec 2000 03:56:37 -0700
Subject: Re: [azipa] AZIPA Fees (completely optional and voluntary!)
Cindy-
On 12/30/00 at 3:07 AM -0700, Cindy Fox wrote:
> What is the money required for? What will it pay for?
>
> As far as I am aware, Club Rio does not charge.
Yes, you are correct that Club Rio does not charge AZIPA, but rather they
make their money via sales to AZIPA attendees.
But AZIPA is severely limited to be totally dependent upon Club Rio for
meeting space.
Other spaces of similar or greater size and amenities (convenient and
easily accessible location, ample free parking, size and layout of
facility, food, and full beverage service) that are also no cost is
something that has been sought for nearly a year now to no avail (although
ASU is still a possibility, but it also brings new complications and
limitations)
Translation: Except for relying on the good graces of Club Rio, there is no
backup or alternate unless AZIPA finds a way to be prepared to pay for
meeting space in the future...
But, by collecting voluntary fees and voluntary support now, we can
prudently plan and be prepared for future eventualities.
Furthermore, the Club Rio location does not have a good sound system for
spoken presentations (it is instead optimized for booming dance music),
which is one of the reasons why we have gone to a Showcase format there
instead of our traditional mix of different meeting formats. And,
experience (at the Bash at Ash and The Web Theatre) has repeatedly shown
that in order to have a spoken presentation with such a large group, a
separate area/room (for people who instead wish to talk and network with
one another instead of listening to the speaker) must be available as well
- otherwise we end up with half the room trying to listen to the speaker
over the noise of the other half of the room who is trying to talk with one
another - with the only result that each side gets mad at the other. The
layout of Club Rio does not permit such a separation, which is yet another
reason why we have gone to a Showcase format there instead of our
traditional mix of different meeting formats.
So, without revenue to pay for better meeting space, we are stuck at the
Club Rio location (or another even less desirable location with even more
complications) and are totally at the mercy of Club Rio and are also stuck
doing Showcases.
As said in the email which announced the change to a voluntary fee system:
With the mission of being the catalyst to bring the
Arizona internet community closer together so as to help
enable it to do great things, we have always tried to keep
the threshold for participation as low as possible.
Thus, for well over two years now, AZIPA has never charged
fees or dues of any kind.
But, this has obviously also limited what we can do as
a group and as a community.
Thus, while keeping the option of no fees for
participation as a very integral part of AZIPA (so that
no one is ever barred due to financial reasons), we
will start requesting completely optional and voluntary
fees for participation in AZIPA activities.
Thus, once again, it remains completely and totally free to you unless you
care to be bothered to chip in and help enable the group to once again do
those things which you complain that we are no longer doing.
Amazing that when a group such as AZIPA, which has created such great value
for the community, yet which has been totally free for everyone for over
two years now (thanks to consistently being able to find new creative ways
to be able to remain that way) is no longer able to fully sustain that
model, and thus asks you for your completely optional and voluntary help,
you instead complain.
Thank you very much for your support.
Best,
-Ed
[...]
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==AZIPA=============================================================
Arizona Internet Professionals Association http://www.azipa.org
Next AZIPA monthly meeting is 5:30pm on Monday, January 22nd, 2001
Please be sure to RSVP! http://www.acteva.com/go/azipa
Other upcoming events:
Tempe Tech Oasis Techie Tuesday - 6:00pm, Tuesday 1/9/01
Beeloe's Cafe & Bar, 501 S. Mill Ave Tempe (SE corner of 5th)
Strategic Research Institute Web Launch BootCamp - 1/30-2/2/01
http://www.srinstitute.com/cx326
=============================================================AZIPA==
