tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Mon Aug 09 10:55:55 2004

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Re: Do you want to go to the qep'a'?

Lawrence M. Schoen ([email protected]) [KLI Member] [Hol ghojwI']

This saddens me. I have never turned anyone away from the qep'a', 
nor was it my intention to create that impression this year. In 
fact, it was at the qep'a' that I first learned of Eric's posts 
to the list. 

Clearly there has been a break down in communication. Here's how 
it looked from my end:

7/5 - Email from Ronda:
Eric and I would like to attend the qepa' [sic] this year. What 
is the cut off date for registration?

7/5 - My email reply to Ronda AND Eric:
The cut-off date WAS July 1st, but if you can move swiftly (i.e., 
use the KLI's Merchant page to pay for your registration in the 
next 24 hours) I can still accommodate you both. But I need know 
NOW, as various orders related to the qep'a' go in first thing 
Tuesday morning.

7/7 - Another email to Ronda and Eric:
Well folks? What's the wrod? I'd love to have you both at the 
qep'a', but I need an answer from you now (and if the answer is 
"yes" then I need money now).

Because I didn't hear back from you, I've gone out on a limb. I 
included you both in the head count for t-shirts. So, I hope that 
even if you decide not to attend, you'll still send in supporting 
memberships. No pressure, I'm sure I'll find happy homes for them 
if you don't go with either option.

But please, let me know, one way or the other, and soon.

7/7 - A followup note to Ronda:
Both of the email addresses I had for Eric bounced. Please pass 
along that last message.


Having done all that I could from this end, I put the matter out 
of my mind. I never received any replies. A few days before the 
qep'a' (I honestly don't recall the exact date, though doubtless 
my phone records would reveal it) I attempted to phone Eric and 
learn his plans. I didn't speak with him, but I left a message.

So, given all of this, and the lack of any reply to me, I'm quite 
surprised and a bit upset to find Eric's posts here. 

Let me repeat: No one is ever turned away at the qep'a', and 
indeed it's not uncommon for people to show up at the last minute 
for a day or the whole event. When they do so, they generally 
miss out on the "goodies" that are provided to "registered" 
members because of the requirement of placing orders weeks and 
weeks in advance to having items (e.g., the annual qep'a' 
t-shirts) printed up. Similarly, restaurants need an accurate 
head count several days in advance. Often the price we pay per 
head at the banquet is a function of how many people we expect to 
bring, and that number is needed a month in advance. Further, 
having everyone registered a month in advance provides the 
working capital to make the purchases of supplies and other 
materials for the qep'a'.

This is also why the deadline for registration is published in 
HolQeD, giving people at least three months (though usually six 
months) advance warning. But even so, in the worst case scenario 
of people who didn't think they could attend until some last 
minute circumstance permitted them to, they'd be welcome. They 
might not get a t-shirt or any other qep'a' speciality items. 
They might not be able to attend the banquet (though only under 
the most extreme circumstances would we be unable to accomodate 
the addition of another person), but they'd get every other 
aspect of the qep'a'.

So, that's the "inner workings" of qep'a' registration. 

Reading over my reply to Ronda's initial query, I don't see it as 
being particularly harsh (though I confess, the tone may come 
across that way). If this caused Ronda and Eric to believe they 
were not welcome, I am truly sorry, and I can only ask them to 
reflect upon our previous interactions. If they attempted to 
reach me by email, I hope my copies of my posts to them above 
make it clear that I never received them, as should my phone call 
to Eric. 

All in all, this looks like one of those situations where things 
just fell apart. I have no clear idea of why.

Lawrence

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