James:

No, this is not a nastygram - I try to only impose them once - and, I
will admit, I was nasty to you. Mostly, I am frustrated - you seem to
assume the AGO can be all things to all people. I will leave it to our
fellow list members to judge.

I think what Len is saying - he has worked very hard on this convention,
preparing the movie clips, webpages, and other aspects - spending long
hours coding, pushing movie images through Adobe Premiere, PhotoShop, or
various products...

When someone makes a posting about their personal dislikes about a
convention, well, the people who have worked so hard, for so long, on
the convention cannot help but feel their work is not appreciated, and
they question why they do it. (Their efforts are usually offered
gratis.)

(I can only say the same to those who complain about the catered meals -
but that is another issue altogether.)

You have some valid points. It may not be viable for the AGO, but the
OHS offers every day as an individual event, allowing conventioneers to
finely tune their visit to the convention city.

Having done some convention planning of my own, some years back, in the
software world - the bigger the event, the less you can worry about
people who are only there for a day or two. Hotels and banquet
facilities need real attendance figures - and prices are offered
accordingly. The more people staying and eating at the same places, the
easier - and the sooner the RSVPs come in, the better.

In some respects, Len is just saying - "Why do I work so hard on this?"
Your comments don't help much.

You, as an AGO member, deserve to be heard - but...your concerns are not
the concerns of most attendees. Holding conventions in the depth of
summer means everyone will suffer from the heat, no matter what US city
is hosting - but the vast majority of AGO members have no choice - they
are actively working in Universities, Conservatories, and/or churches
from September - May, and the summer is the only time they can get away.
Scheduling substitutes is nearly impossible the rest of the year.

It is too bad that this schedule does not work for you, nor the venues
visited.

Rather than voice your disappointment - perhaps you should seek out
other options. The OHS also has summer European tours, and many other
possibilities exist - many collegiate organ departments organize tours,
both within the US and to Europe.

The AGO does its best - and, of course, politics comes into play, along
with the sometimes incorrect perceptions of what the attendees want to
hear.

Have you yet been to an AGO or OHS convention? They really are amazing -
you do not like some venues, organs, or recitals? You are not alone. But
standing back and refusing to participate - well, that does not help
anyone, nor advance future events.

With hope that you will reduce your expectations, and also take some
risks -

/Harry


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Pipe Organs and Related Topics
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of James H. H. Lampert
> Sent: Monday, June 28, 2004 6:25 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: AGO LA Daily Registration
>
>
> In response to my own display of underwhelming enthusiasm,
> Len Levasseur <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> >< * Y A W N * >
>
> Is this an invitation to start a yawning festival? Or am I
> just turning into a total bore on the subject.
>
> Assuming the latter, I'll try to restrain my lack of
> enthusiasm, and let the deceased equines rest in peace.  ;-)
>
> --
> JHHL

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