Kat, you obviously missed the point of the entire discussion.
The point is, convention is relatively inexpensive to attend as an event. Travel/hotels/meals are expensive. The actual event is not that bad compared to venues of this type. AERC does this by guaranteeing the hotel a certain number of sleeping rooms at a certain rate. I too, have a sister who lives in Reno. I also will not be going this year due to a previous conflicting commitment. How we all chose to spend our money is up to us. I to, have to budget my rides.
In my opinion, AERC has taken quite a bit of flack from this list lately. They do a decent job of providing a competitive arena for us to participate. Are they perfect..of course not. Who is? If they make a business decision based on what makes it possible for them to put on a convention, and you don't like it, voice it to them directly. In business, I always say, if you have a complaint and don't take it to someone who can do something about it, with a suggestion for change, you are merely a whiner!
916-663-4140 home office
916-718-2427 cellular
916-848-3662 fax
> From: katswig@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [RC] Convention Rooms > Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:47:02 -0800 > > Bruce Weary said: > > > I know what you mean, Kat. I am one of those > > dummies. After I spent $30,000 on trailer and rig, > > bought four horses, a couple of saddles, land to > > keep the horses on, expensive hay and feed, > > thousands in vet bills, insurance, tires, blankets, > > tights, buckets, tack, shoeing, etc., etc., etc., I am > > already spending an inordinate amount of money > > on my hobby. They expect me to throw in an extra > > $20 a night to support this sport that gives me back > > so much more than I could ever contribute? > > I have come to the conclusion that since this argument of "endurance is > already such an expensive sport so who cares if it costs me even more" > is one that Bruce Weary trots out any time anybody makes any comment > about difficulty with added costs, that the AERC needs to stop trying to > offset its costs by collecting from the people who actually benefit from > the services provided by the added costs, and should just send all its > bills to Bruce Weary. > > He, apparently, doesn't care how much things cost him. > > kat > Orange County, Calif. > :) > > p.s. When _I_ go to convention, I stay at my sister's house (who lives > in Reno). You can rest assured that I don't book a room at the > convention hotel just so I can "support the sport." However, generally > speaking, I don't go to convention. Neither the travel costs nor the > convention fees are in my budget...despite the fact that I just spent > more than that this weekend going to Eastern Mojave. In fact, one of > the reasons convention ISN'T in the budget is that the travel costs > associated with Eastern Mojave were so high...oh yeah, and the price of > hay has skyrocketed. > > > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= > > Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. > Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp > Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp > > Ride Long and Ride Safe!! > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= >
