This all came about because we could not get any club willing to host conference 2004. Without a host there was no conference. Some, over the years, have suggested conferences are a waste of time and money and should be done away with. Any time this was said they were loudly shouted down and told how conference was a great chance for us to get together socially while also dealing with the necessary business of the AGM and they were not to be dismissed.
We could have said "Right, no one will host it so we will not have a conference in 2004, we will just have the AGM somewhere." Then John came up with the suggestion (at the 2002 conference) of an off-shore week long trip. At first everyone thought it too expensive and unworkable but after much discussion it was decided, BY THE MAJORITY PRESENT, that the idea had merit and John was given the mandate to proceed with looking into venues.
The plan to send out a letter in November to all turned out to be unfeasable for a number of unforseen reasons but that did not stop a lot of work being done behind the scenes scouting out venues and costs etc.
We were aware from the beginning that it would be out of reach of some but I have been amazed at the number of those who have felt it worth the effort and started saving. Most of these keen members do not have a lot of money, me included. My husband and I run our own company but have been working towards closing it for the time we are away and I am taking time off from my other job elsewhere. We will have a neighbour's boy look after our pets, as we do whenever we manage to go away.
Where has this $3,000 cost come from? I don't see it costing us that much.
As for the description of John as having 'more money than brains'. I find this most offensive and appreciate all the work he has done ON BEHALF OF THE FNZAS AT THEIR REQUEST.
Yes, going off-shore will certainly exclude some but, even if we could have found a willing host club, internal travel would exclude others. It cost me $1000 to attend North Shore's conference and that was just for a weekend!
I think Carol summed it up well.