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I have forwarded this as requested.<br>
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<td>Shire</td>
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<td>Wed, 25 Aug 2004 10:21:23 -0500</td>
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<td>Karen A Renker <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:gemhem@hot.rr.com"><gemhem@hot.rr.com></a></td>
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<td>Robert E. O'Neil <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:roneil@hot.rr.com"><roneil@hot.rr.com></a></td>
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<div><font face="Arial" size="2"><snip></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2"></font> </div>
<div><cite><font face="Arial" size="2">Also, if you could <u>please</u>
add my comments to the list:</font></cite></div>
<div><cite> </cite></div>
<div><cite><font face="Arial" size="2">1) The planning committee had
some great ideas that were new, different, and could attract people to
our events that would cost very little (extremely reasonable), could be
created in 2 days, and could be reused and modified with little effort
so it would not become boring, and it could be used for years to come.
I'm talking about the obstacle course for fighters. That's all
a plus. The minus is that they now want to pay for it themselves and
own it themselves, so it would not be the Shire's. If it is not the
Shire's do we want it at all? What's the motivation factor in
borrowing? Building it together could foster teamwork and could be a
source of pride.</font></cite></div>
<div><cite> </cite></div>
<div><cite><font face="Arial" size="2">2) The tavern was a great
idea. It will still require lots of prep work, staffing, budgeting,
pre-cooking of foods (heating of canned foods does not sound like
something the Shire needs to get a reputation for, especially since our
homecooking skills are admired); but nothing compared to the amount of
work of a feast. People can eat it when they feel like it and not
having to wait until the feast is served, and the food will be a lot
easier to keep warm. Also, it's a little different. Pluses. The
minus, the committee now wants to privatize it. If it privately done,
the Shire has no control over it and the Shire has no way whatsoever of
making a profit via food sales, which in this case is our <u>only</u>
source of income. The Shire can not work together as a team to plan,
cook, serve, and act as host. Also, the numbers given for the Tavern
budget were astronomical. I think it can be feasibly done very well by
the Shire at a much lower cost.</font></cite></div>
<div><cite> </cite></div>
<div><cite><font face="Arial" size="2">[The planning committee was not
planning to charge a gate fee and in reality the Populace already
requested that all gross profits from the gate go towards the purchase
of a feast tent, so we were not planning any income from the gate to
begin with. I believe that historically the profits we have enjoyed
have come from the food sales. No food sales--no revenue--no
profit--no income.] </font></cite></div>
<div><cite> </cite></div>
<div><cite><font face="Arial" size="2">3) It is not the overall cost
that caused the finance committee to reject the proposal. They liked
the new and unique aspects of the design. They know that you can't
make money without spending money. Spending money was not the issue.
On the one aspect that was outrageous, they asked to have the numbers
retweaked and resubmitted. (Same thing just happened with the event
bid that we submitted for Yule Revel, so it happens.) They know that
you have to have a pretty good reason or "gimmick" to make people want
to come in the first place. It was there. The major problem with the
proposal was that it did not reflect the current desires of
the Populace. </font></cite></div>
<div><cite> </cite></div>
<div><cite><font face="Arial" size="2">4) I also felt that the
Populace was not wanted or needed for this function. It was planned as
a Tempio function in name only. The Populace was an afterthought and
would be treated like guests. I think that the Shire needs events/war
colleges/fighter practices to reflect the Shire, to be done as a group,
to build teamwork and working together, and to still be fun.
Essentially, the Shire needs ownership. If the Shire's Populace owns
it, and works hard for it, and it is deemed successful, then you
appreciate the rewards and bask in the glow and are proud of
the accomplishment. If we can't achieve satisfaction with the outcome,
either financially or emotionally, then why do it to begin with? It
would just as worthwhile to just drive down the road and attend someone
else's event. <br>
<br>
</font></cite></div>
<div><cite><font face="Arial" size="2">Karen Van De Iris, searching for
togetherness or at least teamwork in our Shire.</font></cite></div>
<br>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
<title>Ivorson Sig</title>
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<meta name="author" content="Robert E. O'Neil">
Connor Ivorson<br>
(aka Robert E. O'Neil)<br>
<h4>"Lamh Dearg Abu"</h4>
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