[MR] suggestion for helping daytrip fees

[Karen Summerfelt-Hume]

This is an interesting discussion subject and one that I, as a long time
autocrat, have wrestled with for years.  However, It is frequently the cost
of getting to an event rather than the actual site fee that determines
whether or not I can afford to go to an event.  Keeping the event fees at a
reasonable level will help those who must travel longer distances to reach
an event but it doesn't guarantee that it will make the overall cost
affordable.  With fuel running between $2.50 and $3.00 a gallon and the
potential for a motel cost as well, I look very closely at events over a 5
hour drive away from home. Even with the current increases in some event
fees the event cost is still well under the cost of many non-SCA
activities.  It's just more expensive to get to some of the SCA events so
those on limited incomes tend to play closer to home where they can afford
to attend the events.

Chagan

On Mon, Jun 21, 2010 at 6:37 PM, Becky McEllistrem <bmcellis at yahoo.com>wrote:

>
> >
>  I understand all about expenses. needs and site variation but maybe we
> should make a concerted effort to start dumping the expensive sites and go
> to those sites where our fees can be reasonable.
> >
>
> If you look at the event listings for the past two months you see a huge
> range in day trip fees going anywhere from $5.00 to $12.00 per person for
> off-board day trip fees.  If I'm bringing all the equipment, setting it up
> then why are we paying more than $10.00?  I understand movies are $11.00 but
> most of my friends don't go to those three times a month either.  In fact
> most of my friends use Hulu.com which is free or Netflix which is
> $10.00/month, or play Facebook games.
>
> We do want event attendance to continue to be strong as an organization. At
> a time when our economy is crazy and probably will be for a while, it seems
> equally crazy to stick with those sites that don't work with us on costs,
> etc.  Might as well go back to totally primitive sites if that helps or at
> least just stick with those sites that are willing to work with us.  We have
> created our own showers and traveled in with our own kitchens many times in
> the past and done very well.
>
>  Anything more than $8.00 for a tenting off board day trip in this economy
> seems a little steep to me.  I'm single with minimal expenses. I can afford
> it.  For most of my friends that guarantees only one event/month if that
> much.
>
> Maybe until the economy is better we should trend back towards the
> primitive site.
>
>
> Rebecca
>
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