I finally made it to the big Expo and enjoyed the @#$%& out of it. Great time and good people everywhere. One question about the magazine reception though and that is about the lack of enough seating for everyone. Is this the first year this has happened? I never get a seat. Not really complaining it was a good time but maybe you could plan for enough seating for everyone if they RSVP's in advance for that reception? Just a thought.

The RodMaker Reception was never intended to be a sit-down affair. It's a casual, short reception of about an hour and half, tops. A chance to for builders to mingle and talk with each other. Early on I had requests from some of the older builders and a few that are a bit infirm if I might provide a few chairs and perhaps a table or two. This I was happy to do. Somewhere along the line, the idea got around that everybody is supposed to be afforded a table and chair. Eventually I've reached the point where we're about 200 chairs and a dozen tables ($4000 rental). I figured maybe people would sit and eat for a few minutes and then relinquish their seat and table to another builder. But isn't not happening - people get a seat and stay put for the evening. With roughly 400 people at the reception each year, it would cost me about $8000 just to seat everybody. Combined with the free food and drink, the overall cost would quickly exceed what the magazine can front each year. Remember, the reception is completely free to subscribers - it doesn't cost you anything.

I do appreciate the suggestion, but it's really high time to cut back on the tables and chairs and return it to what it was originally intended to be - an informal, social event with light refreshments served while we give away some door prizes. In order to be able to keep doing it, I need to keep the costs within reason. Hopefully you can understand.

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across the board you did a excellent job Tom as it was related to me, as I have never been there but hope to some day [ my bucket list ]

William Sidney
AK