Subject:
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Re: BrickFest registration fees (was: LEGO Adult Fan Convention at Legoland California?)
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.events, lugnet.events.brickfest
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Date:
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Tue, 12 Sep 2006 20:48:33 GMT
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Viewed:
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6628 times
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In lugnet.events, Marc Nelson Jr. wrote:
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In lugnet.events, Kelly McKiernan wrote:
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In lugnet.events, Todd Thuma wrote:
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After lamblasting Anthony for his estimate of time, I would like to support
him a little on his arguement here. I think it is a little disengenous for
an organizer not to be upfront with where the money will go if there is a
profit left over.
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Why? Still not following the logic. As an attendee, I paid my money and
received value, and my hobby is being furthered by positive public
attention. As a volunteer, I get warm fuzzies and the adoration of my peers
for participating in such a cool event. What else is there? I’m not trying
to be obtuse, but I still haven’t really seen any reason for financial
disclosure more compelling than, “Because I want to know” or (worse)
“Because I’m entitled to know.”
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You don’t think there’s anything wrong with acting like a nonprofit but
operating as a private, for-profit enterprise? The IRS would like to have a
stern talk with you.
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You bet they would. But BF has always been a privately held company, as far as I
know, and never a non-profit. Being a non-profit requires specific paperwork
(like what LEGOFan filed). So unless BF filed as non-profit, that’s not an
issue.
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If it’s a business, then you’re right, we aren’t entitled to see the books -
but we are entitled to know upfront that we are giving our time and money to a
business.
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Oh, I hadn’t realized that there was a misconception about BrickFest being
non-profit. Is that widespread? The solution for that’s pretty simple, more
education. I know the info’s on the footer of BrickFest.com, and has been since
I started doing the web site in late 2003.
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Intentions notwithstanding, as long as the event was perceived by those
attending (volunteers and regular attendees and public) as a success, the
perception of any leftover funds being used for good vs. evil is moot. This
is based on a purely theoretical level, one that I think is being mixed with
a more pragmatic concern, which is, Will the event continue? And will it be
better next year for last year’s success?
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As a customer, I’m allowed to ask why a product costs as much as it does.
Businesses have no obligation to provide me with that information, but they
often do. Businesses will often make an effort to explain price increases by
citing increased supply costs or taxes, in an effort to let the consumer know
they aren’t just being gouged. And even privately held businesses (like TLG)
annonuce profits and losses - partly to reassure customers.
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Sure, and I know Joe is working on providing some of that information for ‘06.
Personally, I like seeing it too. But the core of my point is that I don’t
necessarily deserve to see it.
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If the organizer wants it to be a successful event, they’re likely to be
responsible with resources to ensure future successes.
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Very true. But what if they don’t want to run BF anymore? What if they need
money for hospital bills? What if they default on their mortgage or aren’t
paying their child support or their taxes? Neither the bank nor the taxman is
going to be swayed by “But, but... that money is for a LEGO convention!”
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Then, if they have that money available, and it’s legally theirs, I don’t see
why they wouldn’t use it. Legally, morally... it’s theirs. As a LEGO fan, I
would sure like to see it put back to use for community events, but since it’s
somebody else’s money, I really don’t have a say. And stuff happens.
To clarify, the funds I’m talking about are what’s available after the event
and all bills are paid. If someone were to accept registration money and then
not use it to pay event bills, that’s something else altogether, but I don’t
think we’re talking about that.
Kelly
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