[Nfbmo] OMG! You're not serious

Tue Mar 29 06:52:11 UTC 2011

Bryan,
you bring up a point I’ve have wanted to address because I think a lot of 
folks are curious as to why we are repeating the hotels from seven years 
earlier in Springfield, St. Joseph and Kansas City. So, I really want to 
share how this happens as I know it is kind of boring always ending up at 
the same places and I try not to do so. My first consideration is to attempt 
at least a three star hotel realizing that sometimes two star is the best we 
can do. Secondly the hotels have to have enough meeting space. My two 
favorite chains are Drury Inn and Stony Creek but neither of these have 
on-site restaurant and most Drury Inns do not have meeting space.
In Springfield we had four bids but the Clarion was $10.00 a night lower 
than it’s nearest rival. There was one hotel with a walking trail,nature 
area, and an ice bar that sounded really cool but I couldn’t get them to 
budge on meals that started at $35.00 for dinner. The University Plaza, a 
really nice place, gave a bid of $99.00 I talked them down to the low 80’s.
In St. Joe there are not many hotels with meeting facilities. We got bids 
from three. The Stony Creek Inn came very close to our room rates and 
catering but they wanted $2000.00 a day to rent meeting and banquet rooms 
with no outside food. They explained that they make their money off of 
brides and grooms as they do 150 weddings a year there.The only other choice 
was the Holiday Inn but they wouldn’t budge under $84.00 a night We actually 
were within days of moving this year’s convention to Jefferson City when the 
Ramada finally met my demand to lower the cost of meeting rooms.
For Kansas City the Holiday Inn Cocoa Key (formerly the Adams Mark) simply 
blew the rest of the competition out of the water. Even though banquet is 
going up next year it is still much cheaper than other bids I received. In 
fact, I was concerned that there was something wrong with the hotel if they 
were offering such low rates. So, my family stayed there last Summer to take 
in a Royals game and found the facilities in good repair. Other bids ranged 
from $89 to $149.00 a night. The Crown Center Hotel sent me a very nice 
letter apoligizing for not being able to even come close to our rates and 
they hoped we had a great convention anyway.
Thanks for bringing up something many people have been curious about. It is 
kind of depressing to spend day after day trying to coax several hotels and 
have them bid against each other and after all is said and done wind up at 
the same place. The bright spot in it is normally I have knocked our costs 
down by over 25% of where their initial bid was.
We will shall see if Jefferson City or Columbia afford us any new 
opportunities
Take care
Gene

From: Bryan Schulz
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 12:39 AM
To: NFB of Missouri Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] OMG! You're not serious

hi,

I don't have any anger towards Gene as i have learned the process at least
five years ago and know how to get information.
I think the weekend went well other than the facility issues and someone not
confirming/understanding a comment from friday night.
Just because we attended a certain hotel about seven years ago, that doesn't
mean that has to be the first choice the next time around.

Bryan Schulz

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Horchem Gary" <horchemg at gary-springfield-mo.net>
To: <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 12:12 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] OMG! You're not serious

> Eggs and some sort of liquid refreshment are a must if the budget allows
> in K.C. You can blame everything on Gene you should direct oy anger
> towards the caters next will be better nicer hotel and an on site
> catering staff. P.S. How much would the hotel charge us to include a can
> of NOS at the prayer breakfast just kidding only crazy people like me
> drink that stuff.
>
>>>> "Gene Coulter" 03/28/11 11:51 PM >>>
> The meals are no secret but often the menu is not set until very close
> to
> the event as there can be a lot of haggling over menus as there was this
>
> year. Also, I don’t post the menu to the list as the hotels generally
> have
> to change something up to the day of the meal and I don’t want to hear
> complaints about the change. this year, for example, half of the people
> at
> lunch were supposed to get apple cobble and half were to get cherry. The
>
> caterer had to substute Peach for the apple. I genrally try to keep the
> food
> simple and stay away from certain foods due to allergy and religious
> concerns like pork products, strawberries, and peanut based items.
> Now can someone please tell me if there was really no fruit Sunday
> morning
> at the Prayer Breakfast, Please? Or, did Debbie overlook it? I doubt she
> did
> but unless several folks confirm it I can’t complain again to the Ramada
> and
> their caterer.
> Thanks
> Gene
>
> From: Bryan Schulz
> Sent: Monday, March 28, 2011 11:29 PM
> To: NFB of Missouri Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] OMG! You're not serious
>
> hi,
>
> if that was the plan, sounds like continental to me.
> why do we have to be a dentist to get meal details every year?
>
> Bryan Schulz
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Gene Coulter"
> To: "NFB of Missouri Mailing List"
> Sent: Monday, March 28, 2011 11:22 PM
> Subject: [Nfbmo] OMG! You're not serious
>
>
>> Hey guys,
>> are you serious there wasn’t meat at the prayer breakfast!?????
>> The menu was supposed to consist of
>> breakfast rolls and muffins
>> assorted danishes
>> bagels and cream cheese
>> whole and cut fruit
>> juice
>> coffee
>> So what was missing?
>> Gene
>>
>> From: Debbie Wunder
>> Sent: Monday, March 28, 2011 10:51 PM
>> To: NFB of Missouri Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] Feedback wanted but not about the Meat
>>
>> Gene, maybe some fruit could be added. It was a difficult breakfast
> for
>> diabetics.You did a good job as coordinator, now go to bed!
>> Deb
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Gene Coulter"
>> To: "NFB of Missouri Mailing List"
>> Sent: Monday, March 28, 2011 10:47 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] Feedback wanted but not about the Meat
>>
>>
>>> Thanks Susan,
>>> From now on there will be eggs at the prayer breakfast at the very
> least.
>>> I
>>> can’t guarantee meat due to the obscene banquet prices of all hotels.
>
>>> This
>>> year’s menu is the exception that proves the rule.
>>> As far as the content of the event that is up to those putting the
> event
>>> on
>>> I rent the hall so to speak and let the event happen.
>>> Thanks for the imput very much
>>> Gene
>>>
>>> From: Susan Ford
>>> Sent: Monday, March 28, 2011 10:08 PM
>>> To: NFB of Missouri Mailing List
>>> Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] Feedback wanted but not about the Meat
>>>
>>> Gene:
>>>
>>> If we are going to have a prayer breakfast, I think it should be a
>>> worship
>>> service, not an NFB speech. If we are going to have a Continental
>>> breakfast, it should be advertised as such. If people came thinking
> it
>>> would be a nutritious meal, they must have been sorely disappointed.
>>>
>>> If people continue to pre-register at the rate they did this year,
> maybe
>>> we
>>> don't need as many hours of registration. If there is enough
> manpower,
>>> it
>>> might be helpful if you had one line to just pick up their packets,
> and a
>>> second line for anyone who wants to purchase anything, even if they
> got
>>> registration and some of the other things with pre-registration. That
>
>>> would
>>> mean those who must only
> pick up materials would not distu>>
>>> I have thought about the lunch, and I am wondering if we could have a
>
>>> couple
>>> of smaller ones, amking it possible to have meetings during the time.
>
>>> The
>>> grief seminar could have been done at such a time. So could the
> family
>>> responsibilities panel, but I'll bet there are many more people who
>>> should
>>> have heard that discussion than those who listened or took part.
> Maybe
>>> the
>>> student group could meeting that way too. That would then make less
>>> crowding of evening meetings on Friday night. Resolutions, ways and
>>> means,
>>> and membership are more important than they appear to be at our
>>> convention.
>>>
>>> Just some thoughts.
>>>
>>> Susan Ford
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Gene Coulter"
>>> To: "NFB MO List"
>>> Sent: Monday, March 28, 2011 6:39 PM
>>> Subject: [Nfbmo] Feedback wanted but not about the Meat
>>>
>>>
>>>> *(Gary please send to leaders list)*
>>>> Hello everyone,
>>>> I hope all of you are recouperating from our 49th annual state
>>>> convention.
>>>> I really appreciate the effort all the chapters and members made in
>>>> helping
>>>> St. Joe put on the convention. It really felt like family. Of
> course, a
>>>> great big thanks to the small but mighty St. Joseph chapter which
>>>> already
>>>> seems to be making a comeback; way to go.
>>>> I would like some feedback from a convention coordinators
> perspective on
>>>> the
>>>> convention. But, please don’t bother telling me how horrible the
> meat
>>>> was
>>>> as
>>>> I already have been told that and wish it had not happened.
>>>> Here are some questions helpful folks might answer.
>>>> Registration was open from 5:00 to 8:00 on Friday evening. Was that
>>>> long
>>>> enough or too long? Should we have done different hours?
>>>> Registration hours were reduced on Saturday as it ran from 8:00 to
> 9:30
>>>> instead of until 10:00. Did this cause problems for anyone? And,
> would
>>>> folks
>>>> have a problem if it it ended at 9:00 instead?
>>>> The planned lunch seems to be getting more popular. Should we have a
>
>>>> program
>>>> or leave it as it is giving you an opportunity to get lunch quickly
> so
>>>> you
>>>> have a chance to do other things before session starts back up? I
> ask
>>>> because if we don’t have a program there is no point in a head
> table.
>>>> How did those of you attending the prayer breakfast ffeel about it
> being
>>>> a
>>>> buffet? Should other meals like either lunch or banquet be buffets?
> The
>>>> reason I ask is that we can always get buffets cheaper but it would
>>>> require
>>>> some volunteers from our group even if we persuade the hotels to man
>
>>>> extra
>>>> people there.
>>>> Would you all rather that I try for the weekend of March 21-23 or
> April
>>>> 5-7
>>>> for the 2013 convention? March 30 is Easter. Whichever weekend is
> chosen
>>>> by
>>>> us the other weekend would be the alternate to get best rates.
>>>> Some states are automatically packaging banquet and registration
>>>> together.
>>>> Instead of charging $30 for banquet and $12.00 for registration we
> would
>>>> just charge $42.00 for the set. There are pros and cons to this
> idea.
>>>> A couple of people have suggested paying more for banquet if you
> wait
>>>> until
>>>> you get to convention. Anyone like this idea? I have reservations
> but
>>>> said
>>>> I
>>>> would bring it up. What do you think?
>>>> Finally, any other thoughts on convention logistics. This is not
> making
>>>> any
>>>> changes but merely asking questions as any major changes would come
>>>> before
>>>> the board of directors as I only have the power to implement what
> our
>>>> President, board and members decide. Just thought that convention is
>
>>>> fresh
>>>> on everyone’s mind that it would be a good opportunity to brain
> storm.
>>>> Gene Coulter, Convention Coordinator
>>>> Still tired
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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