Hi Rob,
Thanks for the Agenda, and the good reminder that we do need to stick
to our agreement with Milano's (yes, I do feel guilty about not
ordering a pizza last month!)
Just for clarification, a large pizza is around $35, plus tip brings
the bill to around $40.25. So, members present would still be
encouraged to contribute to the Pizza Fund; otherwise the LPSF
Treasury would be in the same position as the U.S. Treasury pretty
soon!! The ideal would be for the LPSF to bring in lots and lots of
memberships to support the Pizza Fund expenditures.
Marcy
I was aware of the $40 number, which is why I proposed up to $20 being
subsidized out of the treasury. If even 4 members show up, and each
contributes $5, we should be able to afford a large pizza with that subsidy.
BTW, for a room that size for three hours, $40 is a bargain, considering
we also get food included.
I want everyone to really think hard about this and be ready to vote on
it next week -- whether for dietary restrictions, scheduling, not liking
pizza or Milano's pizza in particular, or whatever -- why do we
regularly have to order more pizza than we normally have people to eat
it? (We could, of course, order a medium pizza and some pasta or salads
instead, if it's dietary restrictions we're dealing with.) But if
you're one of the members who tends to leave as soon as business is
over, I encourage you to vote for finding a place like the SF Public
Library to have our meetings, and then we could perhaps tell visitors
that if they want to join us for a pizza social afterwards, we can walk
as a group from the meeting room to California Pizza Kitchen or
something else in that area.
But we simply can't repeat what happened last month -- taking over the
entire back room at Milano's for three hours and then not buying any
food. That's an unfair business arrangement. I'm dreading the call to
reserve the room, because it's so embarrassing that we did that to
them. To make it up, I plan to at least order sodas and breadsticks at
the start of the meeting, and I'm hoping we have enough people show up
to do two large pizzas (or equivalent in salad or pasta) plus beer this
time.
Rob
Amarcy D. Berry wrote:
Rob,
I'm assuming Marcy meant *two* large pizzas is $40 -- that would be
a lot for one pizza. We did order some food last month -- I got a
salad and one of our new arrivals got a salad. Some drinks may have
been ordered too, I don't recall. So Milano's probably got at least
$15 from us that day. If you're dreading the call to reserve the
room, I'm willing to call and do it. I don't think it's an unfair
business arrangement if we have an off month and order a bit less now
and then. It's still steady business for them at a time of day when
they probably wouldn't be getting much use out of that room
otherwise. Especially if you're still having to call to reserve the
room every month -- that means they're getting an opportunity to let
others reserve it for that time slot each month, if anybody else asks
first.
Love & Liberty,
((( starchild )))
Dear All,
During my typing this reply the electricity in our home went puff
three times; the last time causing my reply to completely disappear.
So, if you receive this e-mail 4 times, please forgive me.
I agree with Rob that we need to review our meeting options. Although
I do feel guilty about not ordering pizza at the last meeting, I
personally do not feel that great harm was done, since we were the
only ones in the back room. Were I a restaurant owner, I would much
prefer to have a couple of folks sit for free than to have my place
look like a mausoleum! Of course, the ideal would be for guests to
pay! Thus, our need to discuss our options at the next meeting.
I am not overjoyed with the Treasury committing to a fixed expense
without money coming in. However, I would agree to the necessity of
the Treasury making sure that Milano's receives some base amount each
time any of us shows up for an LPSF meeting.
Since I was never in favor of the "Free Pizza" ploy, I would also
suggest that we discontinue advertising it. In my opinion, business
meetings of any kind are sleep-inducing to the average guest. I have
always felt that the business meetings should be meant for hard core
activists willing to donate a couple of hours each month to brainstorm
and implement ideas on how to promote the LP.
Perhaps the outreach effort should be directed to inviting interested
parties to events we devise, and to communications by e-newsletter
etc. And maybe the socializing could occur mostly at the Drinking
Freely Meetup. I have no problem with the majority of the Drinking
Freely group not coming to the business meetings; the idea might be
that occasionally a Drinking Freely member would become interested
enough in the LP to evolve into a hard core activist.
Regards,
Marcy
To my friends in San Francisco,
I am still "banned" from posting to SF groups (can this be changed?) so I sent to a few key members who I know in SF... pass around the other lists if you want..
I couldn't agree with Marcy more. You should do your meetings at a residence or a free room at a library or what have you.... and maybe only do biz meetings every 6 weeks and have only the executive committee meet monthly or something like that.... then do special social events monthly plus drinking freely, advertise these things AND have the Hardcore EC members and volunteers that go to biz meetings show up to the social events and try to "recruit" helpers for volunteer activities or to become Executive Committee members in the future (or become candidates too!). That is how ALL LP local affiliates should operate, that is what is happening in Santa Clara, we have done bowling nights and dinner meet-ups and parties to recruit our EC members who meet monthly and we have a central committee business meeting every 2 or 3 months. This has led us to making friends with a Ron Paul type city council man in Sunnyvale and helped lead to elect John Inks to
Mountain View city council, the position he is being sworn into tonight. We also made contact through our meetings with another Ron Paul type guy who ran for school board and may run for Campbell school board.
After watching the movie "Milk" I know San Francisco, especially areas like the Castro, seem ripe to make political change through social events! I think you guys will see much success if your tweak your tactics (or is it strategy? I don't know let me ask John McCain LOL).
Peace,
TJ Campbell
Vice Chair Santa Clara County LP
At Large Member of the California LP Executive Committee
TJ, you were never banned or moderated from the activists list (though
we do routinely purge people from this list who we've not seen at a
business meeting in a year -- your signature gathering for Phil last
summer is why you're still on the list). When I see 30 people on this
list though average meeting attendance is under 10, I know it's time to
go in and start removing people who aren't really activists.
Anyway, one option for business meetings is the conference room in my
apartment complex:
http://www.archstoneapartments.com/NR/rdonlyres/C2095A81-7D56-4AD6-B80A-BE6CD74A4030/7481/Northern_California_Apartments_Archstone_South_Mar.jpg
Food and drinks are allowed, but no alcohol (without a licensed
bartender and insurance). So if we separate business from social, or
even if we keep the social but don't have beer, that's a free (well,
refundable deposit), non-governmental option.
Rob
Tim Campbell wrote: