The St. Louis Regional has come to a crossroads. We no longer have a hotel/convention site to host our Regional show. The unfortunate move toward this conclusion has been encroaching upon us for some years. For whatever reasons, our group has had diminishing numbers of room nights for many years. This translates into not having enough room nights to have the hotel sites. The show does have a regular 200 plus list of tableholders. This does not generate enough income to secure the meeting space of a minimum of 16,000 sq ft. There are only a few places in the metro St. Louis area that can accommodate our group and only a couple that considered our members room nights at their hotel enough business to provide a meeting room. The main reason hotels have wanted our business is we maintained over 250 to 350 room nights from the members staying at the host hotel in our better years. Simply put – ROOM NIGHTS BUY THE HOTEL! The last few years have been hitting around 150 room nights. I have not been able to find a site which would be large enough for a show of at least 150 tables. This will be a topic for discussion at this meeting.
I am making the recommendation that we have three local meetings a year. Meetings have been poorly attended and the cost of meeting space has climbed. We have always voted on an agreeable place as central to all as possible. I would also suggest that each member pay a fee to join each meeting and that tableholders continue to pay additionally. If we want quality meetings without being forced to have a certain number of meals or room nights in lieu of cash then we must provide the cash to pay for a meeting space and it has to come from somewhere. I would also recommend that members must serve on a committee that would be responsible for activities and events for our club members. There should be an event for each meeting and, like other chapters, an ongoing and outside project which also provides a cohesive and common interest to members. In the past it has not been mandatory for members to serve in some form or another. It is obvious that people with a vested interest in their club have been the most reliable and continually make contributions to the meetings and the club. The days of most people just showing up and milling around to make a trade or a buy then take off have provided for very boring and not too well attended meetings. The practice of having an educational element and/or workshop with EVERY meeting is imperative to keeping a healthy balance and activity level. This was the practice years ago. All of these topics and more will be open for discussion at this meeting.
Now that a new year is here, that means that dues and again due. Thanks to all of you who have already paid. Dues are still only $10 a year. If you are unable to make it to a meeting, mail your check to;
Valerie Phillips (this is a NEW address)
3412 Capri Way
St. Charles, MO 63304
Those members that prefer to receive their meeting notice via email, please let Valerie know the address and the notices will be sent via email instead of snail mail. She can be reached at vkpajp@msn.com or on her cell at 314-623-6277. And if your email address changes (or your snail mail address), please let her know that too so she can correct her records.
Sincerely,
David M. Warner
David Warner, President, FNAWCC, National Director 636-227-4817
Jeff Smith, Secretary 314-432-6001
Donald K. Anderson, 1st VP 314-727-7100
Les McAlister - Treasurer