[Sca-cooks] What would you do?

[Terry Decker]

I think that ethically and legally, the smaller group should pay the cook's
bill even if they take a loss.  The structure is that of a verbal contract
and verbal subcontract with the middleman largely responsible for completing
both ends of the deal.  If the parties can't negotiate an agreement, there
is always small claims court (and a wonderful opportunity for 15 minutes of
fame on afternoon court TV).

More practically, whoever budgeted the feast should have foreseen this
possibility and budgeted for the worst case (highest prices and smaller than
expected turn out).  It is always better to turn profit or break even than
to take a loss.  If the cook was not responsible for the menu and the
budgeting, then the loss definitely should not come out of the cook's
pocket.

Menu and budget should be in writing and authorized for reimbursement before
any purchasing starts.  The treasurer of the small group should have payed
the cook on presentation of the reciepts.  The treasurer of the large group
should have paid the treasurer of the small group on presentation of the
reciepts and statement of account.  If the small group could not handle the
situation financially, then they should not have been involved.

Bear



>I am not a member of the local group where the event happened, so I am not
>sure what happened to delay paying the cook. It was the event of a larger
>group who would pay back the smaller group after the feast for the smaller
>group fronting the money. The larger group was also up front about the fact
>that they would a) only allow the cook to be paid after the reservations
>were paid for and b) only pay for the original budgeted amount per person
no
>matter what (and not including any food for servers or kitchen help unless
>they paid for feast). Due to the last moment payment by the local group,
and
>the other policies, the cook did not receive enough money to pay for the
>food in the original posted menu due at least in part to being unable to
>bargin shop.
>
>Cecily