NQC 2010

[smokymtnsanta]

We did enjoy our stay at Quality Inn. Very spacious. Only thing if using points you cannot change from paying to using points until within 30 days of your stay. If you book earlier and then change to points the room changes and as to whether they would have a suite or not is a tossup. We were surprised to get what we did and for the points. We would stay there again.

[Ruth Voorhees]

If I come next year I think I will take the bus again. I was able to do what I wanted & only called a cab 2 times to get to Freedom Hall when I wanted to be there. Cab charge was $18.50 a trip which I did not think was bad.

[KathyVanHorn]

Ruth, what hotel did the group stay in? I'm sure someone in our group could take you back to your hotel. Lynn was going to take me to mine Friday night.

[Ruth Voorhees]

Frog I was accross the river in Indiana. They said it was about 10 miles to Freedom Hall. I only rode the cab to the hall on Friday & Saturday. Was able to take the bus back every time. It was a Holiday Inn. My room was nice with a king size bed. No fridge but I could get all of the ice I needed so I was fine with my ice chest to keep my insulin cold.

[DeeAnnBailey]

Currently we have 5 reservations for next year with the Cheapest being Sleep Inn and the most expensive being Springhill Suites. I wanted a reservation at Quality Inn but while the first night was cheap, it almost doubled in price on Monday. Springhill is almost withing walking distance of the Expo center and has a breakfast and is a suite. In all probability we will end up there or Sleep Inn (the cheapest) that is also VERY close. But I have reservations and I have time to decide.

[RobertYork]

What are your thoughts on keeping the Forums booth for the 2010 Convention?

I know it's early but payment is due in March which is only five months away. We need to know who is willing to make a financial commintment toward having the booth. I know that we will not be staying Saturday night next year so we will need someone that is willing to take care of closing the booth on Saturday night if we decided to have it.

[Donna Lou]

If we're going to use the quilt, we'll need somebody (or two somebodies) that are willing to commit to TRANSPORTING, setting up on Sunday or Monday, taking down on Saturday night and TRANSPORTING the quilts and the poles. They will not fit in a small car! I'm pretty sure that I won't be going next year.

[DeeAnnBailey]

If we're going to use the quilt, we'll need somebody (or two somebodies) that are willing to commit to TRANSPORTING, setting up on Sunday or Monday, taking down on Saturday night and TRANSPORTING the quilts and the poles. They will not fit in a small car! I'm pretty sure that I won't be going next year.

We will be there on Monday & we will be staying for Saturday next year and Robert I'd be glad to make a contribution toward the booth. I am so hoping 2010 is much more stable and if so, we have a pathfinder and we probably won't need near as much room for Erin's things next year.

[Lynn Pollard]

I'll be there all week too. I think between those of who are still there we will be able to get it broken down and cleaned up pretty fast. We did this year.

[Dinana]

I'm thinking very strongly of only going Wed. thru Sat. next year. I'm wondering if the booth was really worth the expense. Bobby, can you tell us what the expenses were this year? I spent about $120 on the carpet and padding, but the carpet was really dirty so I didn't bring it home (David Mitchell from Enlisted took care of it!) plus the fact that I really wouldn't have had a good place to store it. I still have the padding that could be re-used and even though I thought I got a good deal on the carpet, we could probably get something even cheaper. We haven't picked up very many new members during the past few weeks, so if that was our main reason for the booth, we also need to think about it some more.

[Donna Lou]

I'm thinking very strongly of only going Wed. thru Sat. next year. I'm wondering if the booth was really worth the expense. Bobby, can you tell us what the expenses were this year? I spent about $120 on the carpet and padding, but the carpet was really dirty so I didn't bring it home (David Mitchell from Enlisted took care of it!) plus the fact that I really wouldn't have had a good place to store it. I still have the padding that could be re-used and even though I thought I got a good deal on the carpet, we could probably get something even cheaper. We haven't picked up very many new members during the past few weeks, so if that was our main reason for the booth, we also need to think about it some more.

By the time the quilts were finished, I had about $200 invested. The stands for both quilts were just under $100. Of course, we won't have the expense of new quilts or new stands next year, so that's good.

[smokymtnsanta]

Donna, plus over 200 hours of your time.

[Daniel J. Mount]

I'm thinking very strongly of only going Wed. thru Sat. next year. I'm wondering if the booth was really worth the expense. Bobby, can you tell us what the expenses were this year? I spent about $120 on the carpet and padding, but the carpet was really dirty so I didn't bring it home (David Mitchell from Enlisted took care of it!) plus the fact that I really wouldn't have had a good place to store it. I still have the padding that could be re-used and even though I thought I got a good deal on the carpet, we could probably get something even cheaper. We haven't picked up very many new members during the past few weeks, so if that was our main reason for the booth, we also need to think about it some more.

I wasn't expecting hundreds of members. That's why I tried to gently and subtly lower expectations beforehand. But still, it was less than I'd hoped.

[RobertYork]

It's not the number of new members we got it's the quality of the new members. Think we got some very nice new members which we probably would not have gotten if it were not for the booth. I enjoyed meeting some of the members I had not met before at the booth.
And don't forget the Forums Booth Quartet.

[DeeAnnBailey]

I agree with Robert and also we have had a lot of guests and the may join as time goes on.

I'm happy either way we decide but we won't the expenses of the stands and things of that nature. I wasn't there as much as I had hoped this year because of issues beyond my control but if we have the booth next year, I plan to make a commitment of time. But if we don't, I'm ok with that.

We will be there Mon-Sun next year. I know a couple of folks have committed on giving. Bobby if we could get a break down on the costs this year that would be great. Do they still give you a discount on the booths if you sign up before a certain date?

Let's look at the whole price booth, carpet, loveseat and see how much can be committed.

[dagogga]

Hi there, everyone!

I may be wrong, but wasn't one of the reasons for having the booth to provide a place where the quilts could be displayed? After all, it was the idea that as many people as possible, including, of course, the artists, should see it. And the booth fulfilled this function admirably. It also provided a central meeting place for forum members, which is a lovely idea.

Perhaps the forum members would be willing to contribute toward the cost of having the booth? I am willing to do so. I think it is a wonderful thing to have a central meeting point for members to meet.

I suggest we make it a matter of prayer.

All the best!

[Dinana]

Several of us have chatted and feel that nice chairs around the perimeter would be much better than the loveseat. We could seat more people in less space. We need to cut down on the clutter, too. It looked pretty messy this year. If we need storage, I think the table that Bobby had for the party would be nice to put the candy on and to display business cards. We could put a "real" tablecloth on it and use the space underneath to store the extra candy and cards.

[Daniel J. Mount]

And don't forget the Forums Booth Quartet.

Not sure you'll get an encore on that one! Especially if we're behind Brian Free again!

On the other hand, one of my goals for the year is to get voice lessons. So I'll be even louder ... umm, I mean, make that ... better next time.

[RobertYork]

The 10 X 10 Booth cost $400.00 if rented before cut off date sometime in March, If after that date $450.00.
Business Cards were $80.00 plus some paid Charlie for additional cards. We DON'T need anymore cards,
Furniture was $80.00. That is the cost that I had from the donations received. We received $575.00 in donations from 10 people. I still have $15.00 left over.

[DeeAnnBailey]

So the booth was $400.00, Dinana paid $120 for the carpet and the love seat was $80.00. $600.00 total this year less the $80 if we use nice chairs instead of the love seat. So $520.

Bobby, in addition to the amount I told you yesterday, Alicia and I will take care of the carpet either through the guy I told you about yesterday or another source. So that brings it to $400, that is if we can get the padding from Dinana and not have to get that again.

If I understood Bobby right yesterday in a PM we have about half of that already committed to. We just need to see about getting enough chairs. If Bobby isn't there all week would a simple 2x4 table with a nice cloth be sufficient? If so, we have several of those at the church and we could use one of them plus I think I have one in the basement.

If we are going to do the candy again next year, I do have a suggestion, put it out where folks can get it. I know some kids waste but I brought home every piece of candy I brought and I know others had candy left too. We still have the bowls for the candy that we can use I believe.

Anyway that's just my $0.02 worth. If folks are willing to make up the other $200 or so $$ before March, we can get the booth and have a place folks can enjoy.