Notes from the Co-Chairs.

The 2009 Region 6 Convention almost didn’t happen.  If it were not for members of our board and other seasoned OA members pitching in, we would not have the convention in 2009, much less in Stamford.  The same is true for 2010.  We mention this, because they’re important events to hold.  They are uplifting to many who attend.  Some members even obtain abstinence at convention.  That is our primary aim.  They cannot be held without service volunteers.

As convention co-chairs, we had the pleasure and benefit of working with an amazing group of people on this year’s convention committee, some very experienced in service, and others not so much.   We all pulled together as a team and held what we consider, to be a very successful convention.  These members worked long hours and contributed much.  We thank you all.

This is the first year we are posting evaluations online.  We view these evaluations as simply a way to measure how we’re doing in certain areas and where we can improve.  They are in no way a measurement of the successes of the convention, nor of the many wonderful people who volunteer their time to hold it. 

How is a convention successful?  It’s successful in the member who informed us on Sunday afternoon that she’d been abstinent since she arrived at convention.  It’s successful in the person who told us that this was her 20^th consecutive convention.  It’s successful in the person who struggled to make the meal work for them.  It’s successful in the person who showed courage and shared their experience, strength and hope for the first time in a workshop, and the one who did for the hundredth time.  Your voices will be heard by many who could not attend. It is successful in many ways, in many voices, and many experiences, year after year.

Best,

Danielle S. and Lee R.(Convention Co-Chairs)

Evaluations

We’d like to thank those convention attendees who submitted an evaluation form.  We appreciate your taking time to do so.  Here is a summary of your responses.  We’ve also taken time this year to address questions/concerns below.

153 Attendees Submitted an Evaluation.

Here are the Percentages scored for each of the areas.

Positives:

Rooms easy to find, schedule easy to follow

Every volunteer pleasant and helpful

Emergency basket great idea

Ask Me signs terrific

Extraordinary. Every detail thought of

Hospitality area nice—open, near activities (+)

Appreciated microwaves in HA

Appreciated water stations (+)

Hotel-Friendly, helpful staff (+)

Buffet excellent

Appreciated separate vegetarian protein

Thanks for no sugar, no cornstarch options and sauces on the side

Workshops have Wide variety (many comments on this +)

Workshops: Good topics (many comments +)

Liked format with 2 speakers

Awesome meetings

Suggestions/Concerns

Lee and I appreciate all of your suggestions and concerns.  We’ve taken time to respond to a number of them. 

Parking fee for daytrippers unclear

Agreed.  Unfortunately, the convention details came together in less than 3 weeks last year, and this detail was overlooked.  Typically, you can expect that if the convention is held at a hotel in a major city, there will typically be a parking fee associated with it.

Friday skit unrehearsed

There was just no time to rehearse Friday before the convention started, and every committee member was tasked with service Friday afternoon and evening.  So, we apologize for the goofy and unrehearsed skit.  It’s tradition that convention committees do them.  So, we felt rather than skip our commitment to the tradition, to explore yet another growth opportunity.

Speakers should be able to invite family to hear them speak without having to pay registrations for family members

Anyone attending the convention has to pay the registration fee, including board members, convention committee members, any OA member and guests.  The only exceptions made are those who are key note speakers and the raffle winners.  This is in the Region 6 Bi-Laws.   

Registration issues: Pre-registration lost check; Some confusion at check-in; Confirmation was incorrect; Bill misprinted 3 times; Told no rooms at the convention rate. Have online registration (+)

There were a number of issues with the hotel registration process with the Marriott.  These were all addressed to the best of our ability.  The matters were also discussed at length with the hotel.  As a result of these issues, we’re exploring online registration for both the convention registration itself and the hotel registration.  Stay tuned.

Hotel issues:

Wifi in room didn’t work; Had to change room twice because of problems; Not enough hooks/shelves in bathrooms; Given wrong kind of room, Plastic chairs awful, especially for heavy people

We shared your issues with the hotel. 

Meeting Issues

Too cold or hot in meeting rooms

This is unfortunately one of the challenges of any meeting or convention, whether it’s OA or some other organization.  The temperature is cool before the meeting and increases as bodies fill the room and absorb oxygen.  If the room temperature is too cool to start, we’ll hear complaints.  It’s a tough balancing act.

Some rooms too small for meetings

Some workshops are more popular than others.  Since we don’t pre-book our workshops, it’s difficult to judge the number of folks attending.  The good news is that we always run several workshops at any one time.  So if one fills, move to another. 

Upset that meetings were taped

Most of our convention workshops are taped so that those who are attending can enjoy the benefit of hearing (for a small cost) the topic again and again, or those they missed.  It also serves those who don’t attend.  If any member has an issue with their share being taped, they should consider using a fictitious name.

Poor planning to have Keynote speak at 100 lb meeting and keynote

Agreed.  It’s always been tradition that the keynote speakers be anonymous except to the convention chairs, treasurer, and keynote selection committee.  We overlooked informing the program committee and have noted it for future conventions. 

Meals

No appropriate starch at lunch (only bread)

That was overlooked.  We’ll certainly address this for next year.

If you came towards end of mealtimes, food was gone or cold

Plan better and come at the beginning of the meal when the food is hot and plentiful.    

Would like free coffee and soft drinks like other conventions

We looked into this option, but determined it to be too cost prohibitive.  The convention is a fundraiser, so we try to keep our costs as low as possible, but provide our members with the necessities.  Most hotels charge for hot beverages by the pot and typically serve them in urns. So, they have to be refilled often.  The cost of the labor for the waitperson to fill the urn is also factored into the price.  Water, however, is complimentary and plentiful.

 Would like daytrippers to be allowed to join others in dining room

We’re actually prohibited from doing this per our contract.  This is true for any hotel.  We’ve been very successful at ensuring a separate space for our daytrippers to bring in their own food at every convention.