I have had some involvement with the location and dates for the next convention. As many (Archie, Sheldon, Mark, Bob...) have noted, there is a bit more to the selection process than just opening it up to what everyone wants. The places considered have to meet a certain criteria including cost (for rooms, for covention floor space, for meeting rooms, for catering / banquet facilities, etc...), the type of facilities available, accessibility, security, conditions of the hotel & facilities, and on & on & on. Okay, now that we know the costs & the type of facilities & maybe the site seems like a great place for the next convention, but do THEY want US ??? More places than you can imagine say "Not interested". We aint a big fish...

You mention on-line voting when deciding on a place to have the convention...I have the membership roster and I will tell you that a great share of our members have not provided the club with an e-mail address, whether by choice or lack of desire to have an e-mail account or they joined long ago and haven't updated their profile to include an e-mail address -- what about their votes? Are they not as important?

In my PERSONAL opinion, having the membership vote on possible sites would prolong the selection process. Negotiations have to be swift and decisive, not "Well, can we get back to you in a coupla weeks with an answer to cloth or paper napkins??". And who would run this vote and cerify the outcome? Rick, there is a lot more to this selection process than I imagined. You and all the members will be informed as soon as the contract(s) has been signed by both parties...oh, yeah, and let's not forget the necessity for the club's volunteer legal counsel to review the contract(s) and the negotiations involved with any modifications to the contract(s).

In closing, I'd like to personally (not as a BoD member) note that I feel that several of your comments are off-base -- from "drinking the Kool Aid when they tell you it's time", to "I have no say", and finally "At least I know now not to ask questions". I don't believe that many truly appreciate the effort and time spent by the club's volunteers putting together this event...I know that I certainly have come to greater appreciate what goes into it and the effort taken to keep it cost-effective for the club& its members. You do have a say and it comes with your vote for BoD members and maybe someday, YOU'LL be dispensing the Kool Aid . And finally, keep asking questions...I enjoy your wit & humor & thoughts. But what you do have to realize is that many of the decisions made have to be made by those that the club's members have elected to do so.

I don't have a lot of answers, but I did want to share my insight & exposure in this matter.

Steve B