[Convention] Convention - Decision Needed on Interim Registration Period

[Samantha Zitola]

Hello everyone...

I would first like to say that I am feeling very frustrated with this whole
process.  I was under the impression that all committees had their own
autonomy and were acting on behalf of StateCom, not on behalf of AdCom.  
Each committee was accountabale to StateCom and unltimately the membership
and did not have to have all things pass AdCom first.

Our committee has had a report at all the StateCom meetings this past year
(September, November, and January) of which I can not find a copy nor the  
minutes available on the web.  At those meetings, our report was accepted 
as read.  What othe rcommitte did that?  Since almost everyone on the AdCom
is part of the StateCom you had as much a right as anyone else to raise 
concerns or questions then.  Why now?... when it is really too late!

As a committee, we have done all in our power (the 5 of us) to make this 
happen and have really worked hard putting in more than 200 hours between
us.  It seems awaful that now, just a few weeks before the convention,
there is a lot of concern and criticism around our work and efforts.
That is frustrating and very often results in what little help we have
in the GRP walking away.  There was a time in my life where I would have let
that kind of behavior get the better of me, but I have learned to stand up 
for myself and my efforts, but most people are not like that.  Time is
precious and not worth spending on work that will untimatley be almost
completely revised by others.

As to lack of turn out, that is in NO WAY our commitee's fault.  We had
all the new forms ready for the original newsletter deadline, which 
for many reasons did not got out on time.  Again, not our fault.  We had
forms available at the Harvard Presidential Debate that had the same
deadlines on them.  Since then, I have personally reminded as many people
as I know, my local, at our County Convention, our committee, the CDLC 
when I saw them at Tony's, personal  friends, and even others while 
campaigning for Rich.  I even took the initiative after the AdCom meeting
with our committee in March to email Owen about an urgent special reminder
for upcoming dealines, including the proposals, nominations, and registration.
There is only so much you can do for others before they need to take personal
resposibility and recognize deadlines for themselves!

We will have a full report availabe at the StateCom meeting on Saturday.
When do you think that would be on the agenda.  As I have stated before,
and I will restate now so that it is clear, Rich and I will be coming late.
We intend to be there around Noon, and will be bringing hard copies with
us.  We will send an email to the StateCom list by late tomorrow, in hopes
that some people might be able to read it beforehand.


Now, as to the discussion between the AdCom and ConvCom on how to proceed
and get attendance up....

It is only appropriate that this announcement come from our committee.
If we can not come to consensus on exactly how to proceed, either within
our committe or between the two committees, we will bring that as part of
our report for Saturday and let StateCom make a decision, since it is
really up to that body to approve.


>1) Food deadline extension possibility
>they indicated that we could even push it back to Wednesday, 
>April 21st (basically 10 days before the convention). 

I agree that if Devens is willing to push back the deadline, that
is great.  I had been the one working with them, and although I 
understand the intentioin to contact them was good, it was done
without my knowledge.  If I was a nasty person, that could be
perceived as going behind my back.  Perhaps, in the future, when 
others want to take such action, it would be best to contact
the lead person handling it before taking matters into their own
hands.  Again, this is not a personal attack, it is a suggestion
to help aviod unnecesary hard felings.  However, I do not feel
we should wait until the 21st.  The name tags have to be made and the
final payment, last I knew, was due on the 15th.  Do we have the 
funds available to cover the cost without receiving the check?
Is that putting too much on you Dan?


>2) Childcare

>Adcom will take responsibility for arranging professional childcare 
>for the convention. Dan has posted an email to statecom and adcom lists
>indicating that it might be a $360 expense.

I do not understand why this needs to happen.  Everyone was given 6-8
weeks, depending on if you were at Harvard and when you got your newsletter,
to register for childcare.  No one did which means there was no need.  Why
do we need to open this up again?  We are perputating the problem of lack of
personal responsibility and that deadlines don't mean a thing, this is one of
our key values.  I am  opposed to this and would have to block this decision
because of that.  


>3) Modified Interim Registration Form


>There would be a special form for it. The form would be posted on the 
>website for the period that it is valid, and it would be sent in an email
>to various lists including the announcements list.


This is great.  Do we have a volunteer to do this?


>The form would be like the long Registration Form except for the following:
>No Green Hours Discounts Offered, No Long Distance Bus Transportation 
>Offered, Use the "Full Price" sliding scale from the Late Registration form.

Great!  Again, do we have a volunteer to do this?


>4) Notification

>email form then fax the form to Dan, also mail their form and payment. 
>folks intending to register "day of" if they could email or call the
>office to let us know so we can get a better picture of the expected 
>attendance.

Great ideas!  Is this too much for you Dan?  Who will be checking the
office number?  How will the ConvCom know how we are doing number wise?


>5) The "Scrap It and Have a Minimalist Convention"
>Scenario

I think this would be a bad idea.  We have already invested money and
we need to make that investment count.  An additonal mailing is as much 
money and will take a lot of work.


>6) Going from a 2-day to a 1-day Convention at Devens
>to try to lower the cost


I would prefer not to do this.  In essence, we would have to modify the
schedule so much that it would effectively be like another all day StateCom
meeting.  Those are not interesting enough to atract the current members,
how would we atract others?  Who would contact all the people who have 
already registered?  We would have to refund food money and registration
money and cancel workshops, and caucuses.  Who would come up with the
new schedule?  Who would contact the leaders of those workshops and 
caucuses?  Our committee was not planning to meet again.  The loose ends
we had were going to be done by phone and email.


ttfn...

Samantha :)