[Communications] [Resources] Suggested wording for Swap Table for your consideration

[Mamie Gray]

Tomorrow, 02/20/20, at 11a.m., is OK. Mamie

On Wed, Feb 19, 2020 at 1:04 PM Angela Taylor <taylor3433 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I am available to talk tomorrow at 11 but not available on Friday.  Also I
> am very open to getting the NEW ideal figured out.
>
> On Wednesday, February 19, 2020, 12:48:44 PM CST, kuumba treahm <
> kuumbatreahm at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Hello Everyone,
>
> It is clear that each one of us wants to make the Conference the best it
> can be. Let’s look for a solution here. Moving forward, everyone should
> feel good about what we are doing. We all make up CCGA, and everyone’s
> voice is important.
>
> As the Conference Chairperson, I would like to find a solution before we
> meet next Tuesday.  We have a lot to accomplish over the next few weeks and
> need to keep moving forward. I would like to propose a conference call for
> anyone who wants to participate. Is anyone available tomorrow, 11:00am or
> Friday, 12:30pm?
>
> Please respond!!
>
> Gina Jamison
> 2020 Conference Chair
>
>
>
> On Wed, Feb 19, 2020 at 12:01 Amy Olson<akeo at me.com> wrote:
>
> I think we have to try to stay focused on a solution and what it is we
> want to provide at the conference. Having tickets or not is a logistical
> question.
>
> Nobody said that gardeners are thieves and unruly, and I am so sorry if
> what I typed below inspired that thinking. I was not behind the scenes at
> past door prize tables, so I can’t speak to what Ellen meant by it bringing
> out ’the worst’ in people. I don’t think she meant gardeners, but was
> referring to the whole thing - planning it, procuring prizes, staffing it,
> and distributing prizes to attendees equitably. At the meeting we had at
> Whitney Young when she talked about it, my understanding was the biggest
> reason is that it was not sustainable. That decision has been made, and we
> have to move forward.
>
>
> On Feb 19, 2020, at 8:32 AM, Mamie Gray <mamiegray2012 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Even though some of you appear to be hell bent on shelving the use of
> tickets, the bottom line is that CCGA has no obligation to explain their
> decisions to me. Yet I have heard any number of reasons including that
> (some?) gardeners are thieves and unruly. This particular reason is beyond
> the pale. I am finding it harder and harder to understand the true/real
> reason. Although sustainability  comes close as more than reasonable, why
> is it necessary to exclude the use of tickets?  Mamie
>
> On Wed, Feb 19, 2020 at 12:03 AM Mamie Gray <mamiegray2012 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> BTW was there any negative comments in the surveys regarding door prizes?
> Mamie
>
> On Tue, Feb 18, 2020 at 11:28 PM Mamie Gray <mamiegray2012 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Hello Amy! As I indicated at a Resources meeting in January, the following
> were considerEd key to the conference: workshops, catering, door prizes,
> and networking. Simply organizing the “exchange” should not undermine or
> distract from the goal for sustainability. Because I have not participated
> in any of the previous door prizes, I am not aware that it brought out the
> worse in attendees. I only saw many people looking quite happy. So, other
> than the concern expressed about the children, I am really surprise to hear
> of any Black Friday-type of behavior. It is truly news to me. I see no need
> to spend money or ask businesses for donations if you are getting
> good feedback back from gardeners willing to bring an item or two (clean
> out my garage?). What exactly is problem other than the claim that some
> people were obnoxious. Maybe a selection of simple, humble ware will
> encourage them to be more civil and sustainable. Mamie
>
> On Tue, Feb 18, 2020 at 10:57 PM Amy Olson <akeo at me.com> wrote:
>
> Hi Mamie,
>
> I’m sorry this conversation became so difficult at the meeting. Speaking
> for myself, thanks for your email. It helps me understand a little better
> your perspective.
>
> When you say you’ve received emails about the past door prize events being
> fun - are you referring to emails from conference attendees?
> Did they also say that they enjoyed other aspects of the conference, or
> just the door prizes?
>
> Because from ‘behind the scenes,’ people from the resources team, like Pat
> and Ellen, described how this idea of ‘prizes’ really brought out the worst
> in people.
> Negotiating the purchase of the tools, soliciting donations, then
> monitoring attendees so people would not steal stuff.. this is what Pat and
> Ellen have described.
> CCGA should not feel obligated to provide door prizes for conference
> attendees for eternity.
>
> So, I think that is why Angela and Cordia proposed the idea of a swap. A
> swap is about gardeners bringing things that they no longer use, or extra
> plants, etc. and exchanging them for something else. Or not! Perhaps they
> just want to donate something. It’s about giving and receiving. Not just
> taking. Cordia and Angela - please share your thoughts!
>
> The energy behind this idea was not to ‘get out of’ doing any of the work
> involved in a door prize/raffle. It’s to foster a more sustainable
> conference. To eliminate the need to solicit donations from companies for
> more ‘stuff.’ The Resources team already gives so much away on behalf of
> CCGA. They are giving tools away on March 7, in fact.
>
> My own opinion is that we don’t need to give door prizes away at the
> conference. I don’t think the majority of the attendees come to the
> conference to get a door prize. I think they attend for the workshops and
> also to meet with other gardeners. Ok, maybe they also love the seed table.
> But it was never all about the swag, that was just extra.
>
> Putting my own opinion aside, I want what’s best for the conference, and
> what’s best for CCGA. We can figure this out:
>
>    - If we want to continue with giving away door prizes, we can conduct
>    that as the Resources Team did, and allocate money to purchase new things,
>    and ask for donations from companies.
>    - If we want to host a swap on behalf of the gardeners who attend, we
>    will not promote it as any sort of ‘door prize’ event at all. It would be a
>    sharing event. We have to think of it as the opposite of a door prize.
>    Think of reuse, sustainability, giving, repurposing…reducing stuff.
>
>
> Hope this helps in some way,
> Amy
>
>
> On Feb 18, 2020, at 10:13 PM, Mamie Gray <mamiegray2012 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hello! I do not think that an honor code/system is appropriate for donated
> garden prizes. Yes, placing all items on a table would require minimum
> effort. I was under the impression that garden-type, related prizes would
> substitute for door prizes as done in the past. The emails that I have
> received on this subject are about how much “fun” it is to participate in
> the door prize event. If CCGA just don’t want to do the work required for a
> drawing, I will volunteer. Please advise. Mamie
>
> On Tue, Feb 18, 2020 at 9:49 AM Lorraine Kells via Resources <
> resources at chicagocommunitygardens.org> wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I'm submitting wording for FB and the website about the swap table, and
> would like to present this at the meeting tonight.  We can add info at ccga
> for questions, comments.
>
> As Julie suggested no tickets are necessary, just a volunteer or two at
> the table which would best be among the vendor/exhibitor tables.
>
>
> *CCGA steps into the ‘sharing economy’ with a Garden Goods Swap*
>
>
> Consumption trends are changing, and "gift exchange" – sharing items – is
> a way to live more economically. We think gardeners are experts at thrift
> exchange rather than trashing what they may no longer use.  We know that in
> nature there is no concept of waste, simply something in the wrong place.
>
>
> Bring your gently used, clean, garden related item – whether a pair of
> gloves, a hand tool, a rake or shovel, gardening book or unused journal, a
> small plaque, a potted herb, a clay pot – anything you’d like to swap at
> our conference. We’ll have a table set up for this garden goods swap.
> Anyone who brings something can take something in exchange.  Swap as often
> as you see something put on the table, but always leave something.   It's
> best to bring an item that can be carried easily, no lawnmowers or compost
> bins at the table.  When you choose an item it must be taken from
> the table, our volunteers cannot hold items for you.
>
> All items left at the end of the conference will be given to a  charitable
> donation organizatio. Anything that is recyclable will be recycled.
>
>
>
> --
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>
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>
>
>
>
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