On Mon, Mar 2, 2009 at 12:04 AM, Ravi <[address removed]> wrote:
> Without taking sides here (yeah, right! :-)
> I wish to say something here...
>
> I've been in business too long to know that....
>
> * Fee: GOOD!
> Free: BAAAD.
>
> * I went to a different meet-up group last month
> (won't say names). No RSVP fees. 30 people
> RSVP'd "YES". 8 showed up. Of those 8,
> 5 showed up almost 1 hour late. And 2 of them,
> when asked to introduce themselves, gave a 10 minute
> pitch about the product they were selling, and how
> the rest of the group should definitely ?consider
> buying their stupid product.

You obviously didn't go the free IgniteNYC event last week.
https://tinyurl.co...­ .  I have been to great free events and
great pay events.  I don't think people are complaining about it being
overpriced but people want some transparency if this is a "community"
organization.

Much Open Source Software is free as in beer if you're technical.  It
may be hard to understand but OSS is not a business model although you
can build a business around it.

Michael

>
> I agreed to speak looking at the 30. Ended up speaking
> in front of a tired, run-down group of 8. And since I was
> speaking at the event, I got kind of cornered into
> sponsoring coffee and crackers. And gave out two copies
> of my book. Not that I couldn't afford it. Hell, no. But the
> experience was so disappointing, that I came away feeling
> robbed of an entire evening.
>
> I'm not saying that if this group started charging,
> the members will suddenly turn into super-stars.
> No, but, you get the point I hope...
>
> * There ain't no free lunch. Nope, not even open-source
> software is free. It's just a different model,
> but yes, someone somewhere has to get paid
> somehow. People need to eat.
>
> I know people who hate paying for most anything.
> I guess we all want free stuff at times. But you
> ALWAYS get what you pay for, most of
> the time.
>
> * No one is holding a gun to anyone's head
> here. I don't see why this has to become a
> not-profit group just because some people
> don't want to pay?
>
> I would even say, charge MORE, keep the tire-kickers
> and freebie seekers out, make this a premium group,
> and I would love to hang out with committed,
> dedicated, passionate people who don't crib
> about $10.
>
> I want to meet and socialize with a group of
> great folks, people who can add value
> to my circle, and vice versa.
>
> The day I feel I'm not getting my money's worth,
> obviously, I will leave. But not because I want
> everything for free.
>
> My $10.
>
> - Ravi
> Entrepreneur & E-business Architect
> https://www.RavisR...­
> https://www.Digita...­
>
> Nate Westheimer wrote:
>>
>> Look what happens when you step away from the computer for a Sunday
>> afternoon!
>>
>> Let's see if I can answer some questions without getting down and dirty
>> like some folks on this thread.
>>
>> Firstly, Meetup, Inc. gains nothing from our meetup. In 2010 they will
>> start taking a payment processing charge (as Amazon.com does today) but
>> right now that amount is zero and in the future it will be very small (we're
>> talking pennies).
>>
>> As for our organization's structure, to-date it's been quite unofficial.
>> That's why I've stepped in: to make us more official, and to form a
>> legitimate non-profit. But that doesn't happen overnight! We've now formed a
>> Board, and we'll be meeting within a month or two (look at the people on the
>> Board! They're very busy people! https://nytm.org/b...­ ) to discuss formal
>> structure and non-profit formation. So, for now, the RSVP money is put in my
>> personal Amazon account and all money is deposited in a bank account Scott
>> and Dawn setup for NYTM expenses years ago.
>>
>> So, where does your $10 go?
>>
>> Until this month, nearly every single dollar went to pay for spaces (no
>> space for hundreds is free!) which always cost more than the revenue
>> generated from the RSVPs. This is why we've had sponsors in the past. In
>> addition, a very very small amount was paid out to part-time help who has
>> made sure the events run smoothly behind the scenes.
>>
>> For the record, I have taken no money to-date, and consider this pro-bono
>> community organizing. You're welcome!
>>
>> As for this month, for the first time in the NYTM's history we'll have a
>> surplus (because I found a cheaper space which can hold more people. You do
>> the math.). However, while I'd love to unilaterally lower the price, this is
>> now at the discretion of the newly formed ?Board, so I now have to take
>> direction from the Board when we first meet. Don't worry! The primary
>> purpose of the Board is to custody the NYTM's resources in the most
>> responsible manner. As you can tell, I'm also about transparency, so what's
>> decided will clearly have the best interest of the Organization and the
>> community as the priority, and I'll communicate that decision when its made.
>>
>> So that's it. If anyone has more specific questions, you can always email
>> me [address removed] <mailto:[address removed]>
>>
>> See you all through the snow!
>>
>> Nate
>>
>> On Sun, Mar 1, 2009 at 10:28 PM, Baba <[address removed]
>> <mailto:[address removed]>> wrote:
>>
>> ? ?well I surely will like answers if nobody else cares.
>> ? ?Amazes me that Nate Westheimer gets this money & he did not do
>> ? ?jack to get it. Wow I must be a sucker but Ill hope to get some
>> ? ?answers then Ill cut my losses as I see fit.
>>
>>
>> ? ?On Sun, Mar 1, 2009 at 8:33 PM, Konstantin <[address removed]
>> ? ?<mailto:[address­ removed]>> wrote:
>>
>> ? ? ? ?Maybe these questions should be raised at tomorrow's meeting?
>>
>>
>>
>> ? ? ? ?On Sun, Mar 1, 2009 at 8:02 PM, Adam Black
>> ? ? ? ?<[address removed] <mailto:[address removed]>> wrote:
>> ? ? ? ?> good points.
>> ? ? ? ?> 600 people 12 times a year *10 bucks = $72,000 .
>> ? ? ? ?> Wheres it going exactly???
>> ? ? ? ?> Not a bad revenue and suspect enough to pay for room hire
>> ? ? ? ?and then some.
>> ? ? ? ?> On Mar 1, 2009, at 7:28 PM, Baba wrote:
>> ? ? ? ?>
>> ? ? ? ?> I just signed up for the meet up tomorrow.
>> ? ? ? ?> The reciept I got for paying $10 says that the payment was
>> ? ? ? ?credited to this
>> ? ? ? ?> person:-
>> ? ? ? ?> ?"Recipient: Nathaniel Westheimer For: Payment (for 1
>> ? ? ? ?person) for NY Tech
>> ? ? ? ?> March Meetup - Unbelievably Cool Tech to Nate Westheimer"
>> ? ? ? ?>
>> ? ? ? ?> I have posed this question once before and not a single
>> ? ? ? ?person responded to
>> ? ? ? ?> the question being,
>> ? ? ? ?> ?WHAT happens to all this money being collected?
>> ? ? ? ?>
>> ? ? ? ?> If this meetup group is a For Profit Meeting run by a group
>> ? ? ? ?of folks, then
>> ? ? ? ?> we should get a receipt which states the money is going to a
>> ? ? ? ?Corporation, if
>> ? ? ? ?> it is going to a Non-Profit group then it should state that
>> ? ? ? ?on the receipt.
>> ? ? ? ?> I just don't like this lack of transparency and if I don't
>> ? ? ? ?get the answers
>> ? ? ? ?> my only choice would be to not partake in the activities. TO
>> ? ? ? ?me the idea is
>> ? ? ? ?> that a group of folks who have interest in new technologies
>> ? ? ? ?in NYC gathering
>> ? ? ? ?> together and exchanging ideas. If it is run by a bunch of
>> ? ? ? ?folks who want
>> ? ? ? ?> make money from it then so be it, I don't have to
>> ? ? ? ?participate if I so
>> ? ? ? ?> choose.
>> ? ? ? ?> Also if one is going to expense this event then a receipt
>> ? ? ? ?from an Individual
>> ? ? ? ?> is not acceptable to the Tax authrities, they would like
>> ? ? ? ?more information.
>> ? ? ? ?> One may argue that this is such a small price why make a big
>> ? ? ? ?deal of it, but
>> ? ? ? ?> it is not the amount in question it is the Principle.
>> ? ? ? ?> Hopefully one of the folks who run this event will be
>> ? ? ? ?willing to answer
>> ? ? ? ?> these questions.
>> ? ? ? ?> Definately somebody is making money and if I check last over
>> ? ? ? ?600 ?people had
>> ? ? ? ?> signed up for tomorrow so $6000 was collected, could we get
>> ? ? ? ?a breakdown of
>> ? ? ? ?> costs associated with this event and if not then let us know
>> ? ? ? ?that this
>> ? ? ? ?> meetup is run by a group that profits in hosting this event
>> ? ? ? ?and that will be
>> ? ? ? ?> the end of the discussion.
>> ? ? ? ?> Awaiting a response
>> ? ? ? ?> Sincerely
>> ? ? ? ?> A tech meetup member.
>> ? ? ? ?>
>> ? ? ? ?> On Sun, Mar 1, 2009 at 6:26 PM, Meetup <[address removed]
>> ? ? ? ?<mailto:[address­ removed]>> wrote:
>> ? ? ? ?>>
>> ? ? ? ?>> Hi Baba,
>> ? ? ? ?>>
>> ? ? ? ?>> Thanks for paying for NY Tech March Meetup - Unbelievably Cool
>> ? ? ? ?>> Tech.
>> ? ? ? ?>> https://www.meetup...­
>> ? ? ? ?>>
>> ? ? ? ?>> Below is a confirmation of your payment.
>> ? ? ? ?>>
>> ? ? ? ?>> Number purchased: 1
>> ? ? ? ?>> Price (per person): $10.00
>> ? ? ? ?>> Total paid: $10.00
>> ? ? ? ?>>
>> ? ? ? ?>> Your unique confirmation number for this Meetup is A91792.
>> ? ? ? ?>>
>> ? ? ? ?>> To view your payment information online, click here:
>> ? ? ? ?>> https://www.meetup...­
>> ? ? ? ?>>
>> ? ? ? ?>> If you have any questions, please contact your organizer, Nate
>> ? ? ? ?>> Westheimer.
>> ? ? ? ?>> https://www.meetup...­
>> ? ? ? ?>>
>> ? ? ? ?>> Best regards,
>> ? ? ? ?>> The Team at Meetup HQ
>> ? ? ? ?>>
>> ? ? ? ?>
>> ? ? ? ?>
>> ? ? ? ?>
>> ? ? ? ?> --
>> ? ? ? ?> "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools,
>> ? ? ? ?because they have
>> ? ? ? ?> to say something." Plato
>> ? ? ? ?>
>> ? ? ? ?>
>> ? ? ? ?>
>> ? ? ? ?>
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>> ? ? ? ?> To learn more about Baba, visit his/her member profile
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>> ? ? ? ?> Meetup Support: [address removed] <mailto:[address removed]>
>> ? ? ? ?> 632 Broadway, New York, NY 10012 USA
>> ? ? ? ?>
>> ? ? ? ?> Adam Black
>> ? ? ? ?> Cell USA: [masked]
>> ? ? ? ?> Fax:[masked]
>> ? ? ? ?> Email: [address removed] <mailto:[address removed]>
>> ? ? ? ?>
>> ? ? ? ?>
>> ? ? ? ?>
>> ? ? ? ?>
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>> ? ? ? ?> Meetup.
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>> ? ? ? ?click here
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>> ? ? ? ?> Meetup Support: [address removed] <mailto:[address removed]>
>> ? ? ? ?> 632 Broadway, New York, NY 10012 USA
>>
>>
>>
>> ? ? ? ?--
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>>
>>
>>
>> ? ?-- ? ?"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because
>> ? ?they have to say something." Plato
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ? ?--
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>>
>>
>> --
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>
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> Meetup.
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