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 21:35:10 GMT
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Viewed:
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6826 times
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In lugnet.events, Kelly McKiernan wrote:
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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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It started out as an event run by a
local LUG. I’m not sure when or how the transition happened. The fact that BF
was a business has been out there for a while - if you were looking for it. But
BF has never felt like a business, what with the calls for volunteers, donations
of time and prizes, etc.
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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.
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You don’t see that as a weakness? That one bad apple or even an innocent
personal problem could potentially wipe out a community event? LUGNET is a
perfect example of this - everything depended on just two people, and problems
have resulted from that fact.
I want BF to continue. I just think that’s more likely to happen if it’s run by
the community through a nonprofit organization than if all the burden rests on
one or a few people’s shoulders. Even a business with many investors would be
preferable to a one-man show, although it would be less likely to benefit from
the goodwill (and tax advantages) that accrue to a nonprofit.
Marc Nelson Jr.
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