[20023] in APO-L
Re: summer conventions
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Richard Quodomine)
Tue Jan 26 23:39:28 1999
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1999 23:28:40 -0500
Reply-To: ric@frontiernet.net
From: Richard Quodomine <ric@FRONTIERNET.NET>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
Dear Brothers,
Darlene Clark wrote:
> I believe that having a summer convention would be better for several reasons
> (a couple agreeing with previous e-mails)...
>
> 1. Better weather conditions (depending on where it's being held)
In the Northeast, sure. But say, 120 degree heat in Dallas in summer: that's as bad as -30 in Boston or
whereever. Pick your poison.
> 2. Cheaper airfare (to balance out the hotel expenses)
Priceline.com and other things have made low airfare plausible at any time, not so for hotels. (Though now
priceline.com does hotel reservations)
> 3. Easier for employees (of various careers) & students to take vacation time
Disagree. Most companies are on shut down Dec. 24 - Jan. 1, and many employees take that as a break as it
is. Popular time for vaction. Agree on one week during summer when everyone is off? I don't think so.
> a. Students aren't required to take summer classes EVERY year
True, but with summer schedules conflicting and often having multiple summer session classes, it doesn't
make sense to hope that if we pick a week, students won't have jobs or classes.
>
> b. Most teachers & Ed. Mjr. interns are out of school for the summer, so
> doesn't conflict so much with most of their secondary school schedules
> (unless teaching summer school)
OK, that makes about 1% of the convention, maybe ... Not to sound rude, but that really doesn't hold any
water.
>
> c. I know of several major corporations that view summer vacations to be
> more workable than toward the end of the tax year/Christmas/New Year season
And I can name you 10 that do not for every one that does. I've worked for a fortune 500 company (ITT) and
for the Governments of 2 countries (Canada and US), both prefer WInter as a time for vacation, especially in
the Northeast, where people like to go where its warm after Christmas.
>
> d. Brothers associated with the retail industry would have an easier time
> requesting vacation time during the summer than the busiest time of year
> (Holiday season is the biggest revenue for retailers!!!!!!!)
Agreed. Retail is a problem during that time, but again, the vast majority of brothers are not in retail,
and consequently, I cannot see that as the major issue arguing in favor of a move to summer.
>
> 4. Doesn't conflict with Fall-Spring school session activities in anyway
True, but neither does Dec. 27 - 30th. Could conflict with summer schedules.
>
> 5. Doesn't cause so much conflict within some homes
> a. Some families get upset if out-of-town relatives & immediate family
> travels a distance for the Christmas-to-New Years occasion & you're not
> there most of the time cuz of a fraternity National convention...what do
> you do? Upset your ENTIRE family or miss convention?
True. A Good Point. However, most families will see that if it is important to their children, it will be
importnat to them. Secondly, what week during summer would you choose? I have my family reunion during that
time, so maybe I won't go ... or for a myriad of other reasons. We all may have conflicts, teh question is
which one is least.
>
> 5. Encourages married brothers to bring their families along to see the
> importance of APO to that brother (encourages legacies!).
Don't see the argument here. I've seent eh Section 99 Kids show up, and others as well. Either time is good
for a vacation.
> 6. Great for the family vacationing
See above.
> 7. Could possibly raise the #s attending Nationals, which means...
I think it will lose #s, which is the essence of the argument stated.
> 8. Brings in more money.
See above.
Respectfully,
Richard Quodomine
