Daytona 2009

[carol]

I had thought for dinner payments - to have it sent to my paypal...but I forgot that paypal charges for transactions so I don't think that will work. I can't charge people more than the actual cost for dinner and I cannot make up the difference in paypal charges myself. So I am back to square one for the best way to receive prepayment to confirm our dinner reservations. Any ideas??

Doesn't pay pal only charge if you have an account that accepts credit cards? Could we set up a "personal" account that doesn't accept credit cards?

OK, here's another idea and it's just a thought that popped in my head so I haven't thought about it from every angle yet....

Maybe instead of auctioning snakes, I'll put a nice pair up for a raffle. $15 a "ticket" and each "ticket" also buys you a dinner. The extra $1.05 will cover pay pal fees and the few cents extra will be well worth a chance to get some nice critters. There will probably be some people who will want more raffle tickets than dinners, and some people buying a raffle ticket that won't be going to Daytona. That could help pay for some extra meals.
One way we can do this is for each "ticket" someone buys, I will make a post in a thread dedicated to the purpose. We can put the post number and name on raffle tickets and do the drawing at the dinner.
Maybe we can combine other donated animals for one big prize or have multiple drawings.
We can make it so people don't have to be present to win... I will have to ship my prize after the fact anyway.
Ideas? Thoughts?

Another EASY idea is, Katie I don't think anyone has a right to complain about you charging a little extra to cover pay pal fees, heck I don't even see a problem with you taking a little fee on for yourself, you've worked hard to help us all out. You're also saving a lot of us a lot of money on hotel funds!

 

[RobbiesCornField]

Ok - I just started two new threads. One specifically for anyone still needing help with a hotel room and one to hopefully start confirming people for dinner.

I think this should still be our "discussion" thread though since we have so much info here.

I had thought for dinner payments - to have it sent to my paypal...but I forgot that paypal charges for transactions so I don't think that will work. I can't charge people more than the actual cost for dinner and I cannot make up the difference in paypal charges myself. So I am back to square one for the best way to receive prepayment to confirm our dinner reservations. Any ideas??

Doesn't pay pal only charge if you have an account that accepts credit cards? Could we set up a "personal" account that doesn't accept credit cards?

OK, here's another idea and it's just a thought that popped in my head so I haven't thought about it from every angle yet....

Maybe instead of auctioning snakes, I'll put a nice pair up for a raffle. $15 a "ticket" and each "ticket" also buys you a dinner. The extra $1.05 will cover pay pal fees and the few cents extra will be well worth a chance to get some nice critters. There will probably be some people who will want more raffle tickets than dinners, and some people buying a raffle ticket that won't be going to Daytona. That could help pay for some extra meals.
One way we can do this is for each "ticket" someone buys, I will make a post in a thread dedicated to the purpose. We can put the post number and name on raffle tickets and do the drawing at the dinner.
Maybe we can combine other donated animals for one big prize or have multiple drawings.
We can make it so people don't have to be present to win... I will have to ship my prize after the fact anyway.
Ideas? Thoughts?

Another EASY idea is, Katie I don't think anyone has a right to complain about you charging a little extra to cover pay pal fees, heck I don't even see a problem with you taking a little fee on for yourself, you've worked hard to help us all out. You're also saving a lot of us a lot of money on hotel funds!

Well, I was going to say just do money orders and what-not, but Carol's got a great idea, too!
The only issue would be what if someone coming to the dinner isn't looking for a live prize? I still like the idea with the ticket buckets. Maybe we could get someone to donate a few supplies and have a nice little supply basket (water bowls, hides, gift card, something like that), and then people could choose between the two. :shrugs:

 

[kathylove]

I'll donate a couple of posters or books, or something similar. Then nobody has to take a live prize if they don't want it.

As far as PayPal, some retailers just increase the cost of whatever it is by 3%. Then they give a 3% discount if you pay by cash, money order, check, etc. That seems very reasonable to me. That stays within credit card / PayPal rules, and covers costs as well. Since you are not making a profit on this, nobody should complain. If somebody is such a sourpuss that they DO complain, then do we really want their company on Sat. night, lol? I will be working from early in the morning on Sat until 5 p.m., and want to spend the evening with FUN people, not somebody who would complain that you won't spend your own money to entertain THEM!!

 

[LBoz]

I agree...after all the work that Katie has done, complaining about pennies would be ridiculous. I don't think we have anyone like that in our group, though. Everyone seems genuinely excited to meet and break bread with each other.

 

[ArpeggioAngel]

Carol - with paypal - after you have received "x" amount of dollars they consider you a business and charge for every transaction received after that point. I guess I have received enough to hit that mark.

I understand what you guys are saying about the work I am doing here and that people should understand that it is paypal fees and not me....but in my head, it still just doesn't sit right to charge people extra to cover paypal fees. Maybe it is just me. The dinner is $13.95 per adult PLUS TAX (I am waiting on the exact cost including tax), plus paypal fees of approximately 3%.

I also don't expect, nor want, any kind of compensation for what I am doing to make this the best GTG ever. I am doing it because as much as I enjoy the show itself, over the years, it is the GTG that I most look forward to now. I love being able to hang out with some of my favorite people - especially since with some of them it is only once a year.

I guess I could set a deadline for like three weeks in advance of the show and request that anyone attending send me a check or money order for the amount for their party. I had liked the idea of paypal, because I could run it a little closer to the show for any stragglers.

Kathy - thank you for volunteering to donate some non-animal prizes.
Jeff Mohr, Chris Olson, Susan and Bayou have all volunteered to donate some animals. Tim is also donating the blizzard male he bought from me. Joe and I will both also probably have some animals to donate and I think we might be able to scrounge up some hides or something non-animal as well.

I like the idea of having multiple raffle drawings to give more people more chances to win. Maybe also have a limit so if they buy multiple tickets they can only win one time. I have also thought about starting the raffle early on the site here so people that aren't attending Daytona could buy tickets and still be eligible to win. They would just be responsible for any shipping costs of any prizes that they won. I imagine we would get more participants and any money raised online could either help cover dinner (would have to be advised as such) or be included for donation to whatever herp society/charity we decide on. I don't think we have decided on one yet - right? I guess if we did it online we could advertise it that any money raised would go to help offset the costs of the dinner and any left over would be donated to the charity?

Carol - I still like your original idea of an auction with money raised going towards GTG costs as well. I think we could run the raffle separately with the donations being offered by everyone else.

And on the raffle conversation - anyone know where we can buy the tickets to use?

 

[RobbiesCornField]

And on the raffle conversation - anyone know where we can buy the tickets to use?

Right here.

 

[carol]

Cool. I better get it started soon, time is sneaking up on us!

Oriental trading Co has raffle tickets and wrist bands and stuff.... LINK

Then again, you might just find them at Staples.

I agree with Lori and Kathy, no complainers! Becareful accepting checks though, I'd hate to see you get burned on a bouncy one.

 

[carol]

OK so I'm not done...

A first class stamp is what? 44 cents? 3% of $15 is .45 cents. Let's say the check and the envelope are a penny... Not to mention people who will end up getting MO's (gas, time, etc).

It's not saving anyone money to go checks and MO and seems like it would be more work on you and ticket buyers, not to mention the risk you put yourself at with bad checks. (Yes I'm on a bank hating soap box right now)

 

[carol]

Right here.

Ahh... the young and the swift. Or is it the young and the "doesn't babble on forever and just gets the link"?

 

[RobbiesCornField]

Ahh... the young and the swift.

Ahh... a crack coming from the cracked! :laugh:
You know you lurve me.

 

[ArpeggioAngel]

OK so I'm not done...

A first class stamp is what? 44 cents? 3% of $15 is .45 cents. Let's say the check and the envelope are a penny... Not to mention people who will end up getting MO's (gas, time, etc).

It's not saving anyone money to go checks and MO and seems like it would be more work on you and ticket buyers, not to mention the risk you put yourself at with bad checks. (Yes I'm on a bank hating soap box right now)

That is a good point...I didn't think about that aspect of it. Let me see when I get to work if I have a reply yet from the hotel what the total cost of dinner is with tax.

 

[carol]

:laugh:
You know you lurve me.

I do! :cheers:

 

[Nanci]

Maybe instead of auctioning snakes, I'll put a nice pair up for a raffle. $15 a "ticket" and each "ticket" also buys you a dinner. The extra $1.05 will cover pay pal fees and the few cents extra will be well worth a chance to get some nice critters. There will probably be some people who will want more raffle tickets than dinners, and some people buying a raffle ticket that won't be going to Daytona. That could help pay for some extra meals.

That's a really good idea!!! I want it to be that!!

 

[kathylove]

"A first class stamp is what? 44 cents? 3% of $15 is .45 cents. Let's say the check and the envelope are a penny... Not to mention people who will end up getting MO's (gas, time, etc)..."

Great point! So why not give people the choice of either sending a check / MO OR paying an extra $.45 (or whatever it comes out to) for the speed and convenience of PayPal? They can make their own choice. That is, UNLESS one or the other is better for you. Since you are doing all of the work, you should try to make it as convenient as possible for yourself.

About rubber checks - all checks should require a 2 or 3 week clearance time before the dinner so you are not left holding a bad check. If people want to wait until later, they should send a MO or use PP, if you decide to go that route.

 

[El Jefe]

Pay extra and don't argue about pennies. If you argue, you will be locked out of party. Simple. And I don't have any problem with Katie making a few extra bucks...she deserves it for all the time she's put in.

I will donate live, not alive but animal related (hatchling rack maybe?), and coupons/gift certificates if needed. I will even donate non-animal related stuff if that is necessary. I do woodworking and could donate something like that.

I think it would be fun to have before the dinner auctions/raffles (i.e. on cornsnakes.com a few weeks before) and then maybe a few auctions (silent or live)/raffles/door prizes, etc at the actual dinner/meeting. That way people here who can't go to Daytona get a chance to have fun and people going get an extra chance to have fun.

 

[ArpeggioAngel]

Pay extra and don't argue about pennies. If you argue, you will be locked out of party. Simple. And I don't have any problem with Katie making a few extra bucks...she deserves it for all the time she's put in.

I will donate live, not alive but animal related (hatchling rack maybe?), and coupons/gift certificates if needed. I will even donate non-animal related stuff if that is necessary. I do woodworking and could donate something like that.

I think it would be fun to have before the dinner auctions/raffles (i.e. on cornsnakes.com a few weeks before) and then maybe a few auctions (silent or live)/raffles/door prizes, etc at the actual dinner/meeting. That way people here who can't go to Daytona get a chance to have fun and people going get an extra chance to have fun.

Thanks Jeff!
Ok - I think once I receive confirmation on how much dinner with tax is - that I will post it in the dinner thread and give people the option.
If they want to send a check - that is fine - I just need to receive it at least three weeks prior to the dinner. If they prefer to use paypal - that is fine too and I will adjust the cost to include the paypal fees.


In regards to the auctions/raffles - do you think they should be for separate prizes then? I think Carol is already planning on one (auction or raffle) to raise funds for dinner. I was thinking we would get a list of prizes available and then put the raffle up here - and that those who could not attend could buy tickets that I would add to the hopper for them at the show. Then if they won - they would only have to pay shipping for whatever it was they won. Do you think that is too much hassle? Should we have a separate raffle online ahead of the show so that the person who donated the prize(s) wouldn't have to lug them to Daytona and then back again if it was someone online that won?

 

[ArpeggioAngel]

Spoke to the hotel a little while ago...

The meeting room only holds up to about 30 people comfortably with tables and chairs. However, the breakfast area (right past the lobby - big open air area) can hold about 75 people comfortably with tables and chairs. I don't think we will go over 75 people - so right now I am planning to have dinner there as I am pretty sure we will be over 30 people. It will be marked off as a private party for us. We can also use this area for the rest of the GTG (talks, raffles etc)

We do still have use of the meeting room as well. Not sure what anyone thinks of this - or if anyone even really has anything they could do - but she suggested they could set up tables for us for displays/brochures or anything else we wanted in there. They normally charge $10 a table for something like that - but for us - we can charge the $10 ourselves and use it for extra dinners or towards the donation to our charity of choice.


One other option - and I am waiting for more info...
Kinda might throw a wrench in the whole plan - or could possibly make a better choice...
She also works part time at Daytona Lagoon which is the water park right next to the Ocean Center. Apparently they have a room there upstairs that is large enough to accomodate up to 175people comfortably and they do also serve food. I asked if she could get some details on it for me (costs, food selection etc) to see how it compares to what we are working with right now at the hotel. If we could get the room free and only pay for food (same as at the hotel) - do you think it would be a better option? Maybe encourage more people to attend since it is right across the street from the show?

 

[El Jefe]

In regards to the auctions/raffles - do you think they should be for separate prizes then? I think Carol is already planning on one (auction or raffle) to raise funds for dinner. I was thinking we would get a list of prizes available and then put the raffle up here - and that those who could not attend could buy tickets that I would add to the hopper for them at the show. Then if they won - they would only have to pay shipping for whatever it was they won. Do you think that is too much hassle? Should we have a separate raffle online ahead of the show so that the person who donated the prize(s) wouldn't have to lug them to Daytona and then back again if it was someone online that won?

That sounds fine...but I may not have everything place before the show. So I may have a few late donations for dinner people only.

One other option - and I am waiting for more info...
Kinda might throw a wrench in the whole plan - or could possibly make a better choice...
She also works part time at Daytona Lagoon which is the water park right next to the Ocean Center. Apparently they have a room there upstairs that is large enough to accomodate up to 175people comfortably and they do also serve food. I asked if she could get some details on it for me (costs, food selection etc) to see how it compares to what we are working with right now at the hotel. If we could get the room free and only pay for food (same as at the hotel) - do you think it would be a better option? Maybe encourage more people to attend since it is right across the street from the show?

Buying drinks (non-kid kind) can get expensive if there is a bar and we are not allowed to bring our own. As far as I know, the hotel place will let us bring our own drinks, right?

Also, with the other place being closer to the show that is a definite positive...but the hotel room is closer to the hotel and it seems a lot of people are already going to be there. I haven't made a reservation one way or the other but I'm leaning to go closer to the shin-dig!

 

[kathylove]

Since a lot of us will be staying at the hotel, I would personally prefer to just be able to walk over to dinner, stay as late as it takes, and walk back to the room. No driving or parking needed! Also, that would expose others to the hotel so that even more might stay there next year.

HOWEVER - if the food selection and price at the other place is so much better that more people would join in, then that might sway me to the place near the show.

 

[carol]

In regards to the auctions/raffles - do you think they should be for separate prizes then? I think Carol is already planning on one (auction or raffle) to raise funds for dinner. I was thinking we would get a list of prizes available and then put the raffle up here - and that those who could not attend could buy tickets that I would add to the hopper for them at the show. Then if they won - they would only have to pay shipping for whatever it was they won. Do you think that is too much hassle? Should we have a separate raffle online ahead of the show so that the person who donated the prize(s) wouldn't have to lug them to Daytona and then back again if it was someone online that won?

I know my prize will be shipped after the fact, and I'll cover shipping.

Kinda might throw a wrench in the whole plan - or could possibly make a better choice...
She also works part time at Daytona Lagoon which is the water park right next to the Ocean Center. Apparently they have a room there upstairs that is large enough to accomodate up to 175people comfortably and they do also serve food. I asked if she could get some details on it for me (costs, food selection etc) to see how it compares to what we are working with right now at the hotel. If we could get the room free and only pay for food (same as at the hotel) - do you think it would be a better option? Maybe encourage more people to attend since it is right across the street from the show?

I'm with Kathy and Jeff. It's nice to be at the hotel. I'm also glad to see I'm not the only one who likes "non kid" drinks and the bring your own was a nice factor. However, neither are so near and dear to me to make a fuss.