Re: COMMON rates (was RE: Congrads John Earl!)

>3)  If I'm not mistaken, the conference is off season for Florida.  This
>means that there s/b room for negotiation.  While the conference itself
>probably couldn't move, the accommodations s/b a large enough carrot /
>stick.

The week we're there is still considered "in season"

<rant on>
The fact of the matter is that costs simply keep going up, and that the
attendance keeps going down. If people would just remember that COMMON is a
user group and not a capitalistic venture like other conferences, perhaps
they'd have a different perspective. Whether we are self managed or hire an
association management company, we have our monthly "nut" to cover, so
prices must be set accordingly.

Maybe it's just me, but I've seen this thread doing mostly bellyaching about
the costs. I haven't seen one point brought up about selling management on
the benefits or anybody volunteering to help revise the curriculum or get
involved in the planning. COMMON is crying for volunteers.

As the saying goes "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the
problem."

If people aren't willing to pitch in and help, then COMMON will disappear,
and with it would go the most cost effective venue for education in the
industry. Period.
<rant off>

I'm going to watch my son's ball game.