Image by bgautrey via FlickrThere is speculation that this year will be the last ConGlomeration. This is one potential outcome. Our membership has the power to change that. You can save ConGlomeration.Despite what rumors may suggest, the truth is that we changed our venue at the request of many of our members. In doing so there were several things needed in order to support the change.
First, we needed for our members to book hotel rooms under the convention block. We need at least 300 credited room nights to offset the charges for the convention space that we will use. This is the same number of room nights our members typically booked at our previous venue. Unfortunately, despite relocating to the hotel our membership requested, our membership did not book enough room nights. This means that the convention needs to spend the capital that allows us to continue in subsequent years to rent the hotel space that we are using this year.
Second, we have been losing members year after year. Some people feel that they can just show up, not pay memberships but attend room parties. The convention and the hotel bear the cost of these freeloaders, but never see any revenue from them. This damages Conglomeration -- the convention that so many people enjoy year after year -- as it draws energy and paid attendance away from our activities and prompts the hotel to raise our rental fees.
Thus, with additional charges from the hotel combined with decreasing membership, ConGlomeration cannot continue as it is. The committee has made several announcements on our website and Facebook page indicating the need for you, our membership, to support the convention.
We offer our last appeal: there are still rooms available. You can make these rumors of our demise just that -- rumors. Or these predictions will come true and this will be the last ConGlomeration.
Book your room nights. Turn out in numbers. Treat 2011 as your last chance to attend ConGlomeration -- because if you don't show up, it will be.
The power is yours. Be the hero. Save ConGlomeration.
