Trade Show "Donation"

["guest@endurance.net" <guest@endurance.net>]

Karen Nelson knelson@thegrid.net
I found the news in the mid-year minutes about the "mandatory Donation" for getting into the trade show and I was distressed.  I have often taken non-AERC members to the show to introduce them to the sport without being too heavy handed.  The term "Mandatory Dotation" sounds like a self-cancelling term to me.  Since when is a "Donation" mandatory/  Sort of like being "required" to Volunteer for something.  I hate the term"It's only" __________ amount of money, also.  I feel that in light of the fact that the AERC is well in the black-$76,000 for 10 months of time, that it is an insult to charge us a Mandatory Donation to get into the trade show.  I feel the Trails Fund is important.  I feel all trail preservation is important.  I am the one who thought up the idea of getting donations for the Tevis Trail preservation at the rate of $1.00 per foot, which would bring $528,000 when the entire 100 miles is sold.  Putting a Donation Cup at the door to trigger a response is OK with me, but if it's going to be mandatory, then I for one WILL NOT begoing to Reno this year and if that happens, I am glad that I didn't have reservations there yet to stay overnight, as I was planning.  I have been incensed that the single membership took the big jump it did from $45 to $65.  I don't feel that it is parity compared to a Family of 2 getting membership for $75, and additional family members only being $10.  The ratio doesn't sit well with me.  Depending on other posts on this subject, I will make my decision whether to go to the trade show or not.  I feel that the vendors are being held over a barrel, and that this will decrease their foot traffic.


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