"News from Fall In" Topic

Just been here a couple of hours but reading the tea leaves is already generating some interesting information.

The negative buzz about BCC Historigins continues unabated. Several veterans of the "Education Day" fiasco confirm that East ate $10,000 for the privledge. Speaking of eating, several sources also confirmed that the infamous 25th anniversary cake cost $5,000.

The biggest news is the confirmation that East has entered into agreements with several hotels around the BCC guarenteeing them a specific number of room nights. If those nights are not met East is on the hook for the cost of the rooms…the total estimated exposure East is assuming is approximately $160,000. Not surprisingly the hotel the furthest away from the venue has the biggest block of rooms…go figure.

I've heard at least two people suggest that some on the BoD are doing the math and determining if it would cost less to just pull the plug now and eat the cost.

Witnesses from the Education day run through also are concerned that the relatively simple logistics of trying to accommodate GM's running about 30 games resulted in vehicles spilling out onto the public street and attracting the attention of Baltimore Police…just imagine ten times that amount and the logistical nightmare that has been predicted is a certainty.

More as it becomes available.

db

Anyone who authorized a 5000 dollar anniversary cake should have had Salma Hayek bursting out of it, wearing nothing by the icing and screaming out loud…EAT ME I'M TASTY!

Wow…If what you said is 100% true, then the budget for this is going to be very interesting…if it's ever shown…

Where are the Baltimore H'con supporters now? James Mattes, calling James Mattes… oh wait, nevermind. :-P

As I said, and all I am going to say. I'll give it the benefit of the doubt and go, so I am guess I am supporting the con…besides..we're planning on taking the train, (my ladys never been), and spending a few extra days in the area, so she can see DC, and some stuff she's never been able to see before…

Forest, as I have told many here on TMP I am no longer assocated with HMGS. Keep my name out of it.
VR
James Mattes

And women get a bad rap for gossip….

At those prices the BOD must have !!!

"Forest, as I have told many here on TMP I am no longer assocated with HMGS. Keep my name out of it. "

Perhaps you are not involved any longer but you were a fervent supporter of this debacle. Funny how the worse this gets the scarcer the militant move people get.

Move Historicon Now!

The negligent and irresponsible way this was handled boggles the mind. It is almost impossible to imagine that the cake, the $10k waste day, and mostly the almost entirely un-thought through move to baltimore were all undertakings of officials charged with responsibly running the society.

This is a Historicon BCC thread; why isn't it titled as such so interested parties are sure to notice?

$10k for GED… Like I said elsewhere, HMGS could run a free con for GW conversion purposes…

Where's the Fall-In PEL ?

>James Mattes, calling James Mattes…
>oh wait, nevermind

Sigh. Despite my objections to the BCC move, I was hoping to hear something positive about Fall In…

About the cake. It tasted good. I wonder if the cost attributed is just the cake or the entire 25th anniversary party. Anyway, I think that money was well spent as it was membership collected money going right back into our own tummies, so a greater ROI than other ventures. YMMV.

$5,000 USD is expensive even for wedding cake standards. Now, normally I'd call BS, but with all the numbers I've seen thrown about lately, you never know. I thought ours was expensive at $800, and that was done by a top NYC baker and sculpted with flowers.

$160,000? Is that for two years? I thought it was on the hook for $45K per year, at most?

Steve

"…at least two people suggest that some on the BoD are doing the math and determining if it would cost less to just pull the plug now and eat the cost…"

What would this mean for the 2010 Historicon show? Cancelled? Moved? or what?

$5,000 USD is expensive even for wedding cake standards. Now, normally I'd call BS, but with all the numbers I've seen thrown about lately, you never know.

Being local my wife checked with Charm City for my 50th, Duff's cakes started at $1,500 USD 3 years ago.

I'm surprised they got it for $5,000; and I suspect the GW cake was probably closer to $7500-10000.

The parking and hotels have been my concern since the beginning.

If Historicon 2010 is cancelled and we aren't given enough time to close our reservations without penality I might like to start a class action to re-coop booking losses.

OK you lawyers is this possible?

Update…I was mistaken about the $160,000 exposure for rooms…that was just for one hotel…the total is about $500,000. If this isn't bad enough apparently East is guarenteeing about $5,000 in food/beverage reciepts at one hotel. Now explain just how either the hotel or East will keep track of that? The other dirty secret is that if you have a AAA discount you can get about $20 USD off the room rate. Unfortunately unless you mention East when you book with your AAA discount East won't get credit for the room.

As far as Fall In goes, for the first time in my experience here there is another group having meetings/seminars for most of today in the newer part of the hotel. The impact of this is that not all the gaming space will be available until sometime later today and I've heard grumbling from several people who came in yesterday and had throught they were staying in the newer part of the hotel…wrong. Because of the bookings for the other group those people were given rooms in the old portion of the facility.

More to come.

db

"Update…I was mistaken about the $160,000 exposure for rooms…that was just for one hotel…the total is about $500,000."

If accurate, I would call that a disaster waiting to happen.

Steve

YouTube link

I've been a drunken sailor---but I've never squandered $160,000 let alone $500,000.

Sure would like someone from HMGS-East to take a look and set the record straight here. I know everybodies all busy with Fall In an junk.

Well, keep in mind that the great and good chapter officials are all putting in 28- to 32-hour days volunteering, and don't have time for this. But if they did, they'd probably suggest something along the lines of:

MIA: Is that a fact?

VINCENT: No it's not, it's just what I heard.

MIA: Who told you this?

VINCENT: They.

MIA: They talk a lot, don't they?

VINCENT: They certainly do.

…

MIA: …when you scamps get together, you're worse than a sewing circle.

Damnit……

I knew it was them!

It's ALWAYS them!

More news from Fall In.

I'm not there, but one of my friends there called with status on items he offered to pick up for me. He mentioned an announcement made about some important BoD changes and also that he was able to get the following:
picture

Cool figures, yes?

Those are REALLY nice!

If it weren't for the great products out there, we wouldn't have a reason for conventions – it's all their fault!

Damnit……..

Nic and Eureka again!

Clearly I'm going to need to get into a different hobby if I'm to have any chance of getting my second child thru college.

OFM at his desk?

Steve

Good one Steve. It's an easy conversion to remove the Clavichord and replace it with a desk and computer.

Add a stein full of Yeungling and I'd say Steve and Goldwyrm are spot on.

The stein would be a must. We've provided some great ideas for the OFM. My Bach will probably end up as part of the officer's nightclub in the army camp of one of my imagi-nations. I need a singing temptress in a tricorn leaning against the clavichord.

But I'm off on my weekend travels now, so apologies for going off topic.

Back to pitchforks and torches. <shakes fist> :)

picture

That is a perfect image of Goldwyrm: a man out standing in his field.

Allen

I'm about to start my 6pm game but wanted to provide the latest…Pete Panzeri is no longer President, either deposed or resigned. At the same time a BoD member announced that East was getting lawyered up and challenging some of the contracts signed by former President Panzeri, but of course could not give details due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.

If I were a betting man, which I try not to be, I'd say its 50/50 that Historicon '10 in cancelled.

db

Yiles! Live Action "Junta".

Allen

Well, isn't this an interesting situation.

This has the potential to be the biggest fiasco in American Wargaming history, and that's saying alot!

OFM at his desk?

Steve

Goldwyrm 06 Nov 2009 12:22 p.m. PST
Good one Steve. It's an easy conversion to remove the Clavichord and replace it with a desk and computer.

Maybe I better get two… If there are any left by the time I get there!

Actually, my plans are for "Freddy Dergrosse and his All Star Band". Appearing at Pirate Saloon Brawls, The Band at Bennington, Sedan Chair Races, and other 18th C Redneck events.
The Saxons have saxophonists, I hear.
I will have to figure out how to paint them with shades.

There has been an explosion of 18th C musicians as of late. Previously we were confined to drummers, jaegers with hunting horns and kettle drummers.

Well if half this crap is true, it is the end of East. Well on the bright side they are building a casino down the road from me. Rather waste my money gambling then in Lancaster.

kyoteblue, this is for you:

YouTube link

Allen

It was curious to see the other group here but it did not impact the gaming. With all the mix u about gaming assignments everything has seemed smooth.
The buzz about H-Con is getting louder by the minute. I wasn't upset about the move but I certainly do not want to see HMGS implode. If half of therumors are true then it is a sad day.

All of this chatter is based on nothing more than gossip and yet most of you are set to tar and feather HMGS-East BoD. Lets get some verifiable facts on the contracts signed, money promised etc…Then you can tar and feather them..

10:15 pm Latest from the front…Historicon 2010 may, repeat may, end up at King of Prussia rather than BCC. The irony is that we looked at the KoP site 10 years ago.

db

King of Prussia? I like that commute. Only 100 miles.

Steve

Guys, don't worry. I'm sure there is plenty of Fed 'Bail Out Money' still available. Isn't Hcon contracted for BCC in 2011 as well?
East could be the next AIG.

chuck

Agreed Vic (and… Dude!); rumors and more rumors. I'm no great fan of the move to Baltimore, but I plan to go and to run several games there as always, and unless it's a disater of the first magnitude, which I highly doubt, will plan to attend the following year as well – any new site is *bound* to take a while to optimize.

A healthy skepticism is all fine and well, but I just don't get this almost gleeful pouncing on every tidbit of rumor. The BoD is made up of gamers just like the rest of us, who volunteer a lot of time on our behalf. Wouldn't it be novel if we gave them our support for their efforts rather than our derision?

And we say in my profession that getting us Doctors to co-operate is like herding cats…

Peter Anderson

Last attempt… I think there's another bug cropping up…

I've heard this from a couple sources now and the word used in the other source was "fired". The meeting in the morning should be interesting… Can someone put it on a webcam? :)

I've never been a supporter of BCC, but this is worse than any nightmare I ever had about it… It's a flippin' shame…

KoP would keep me from going for sure… I guess this is looking more and more like what Origins wanted afterall… Maybe we can tag on with GW for their Gamesday in August? Oh boy!

Geez. I hope Fall-In is still standing when I get down there tomorrow.

Did the Air Force do the traditional bombing of the Presidential Palace? Did the Minister of the Interior catch the General of the First Brigade at his Mistress's?

I'm attending Fall-In and spent most of this afternoon ducking the rumors that were flying. Although I was never a fan of the move to Baltimore, I think we should resist jumping to conclusions until the facts, not rumors, are available. In conclusion, I must say that the rumors I've heard this afternoon were disturbing, but still nothing more than rumors.

And where was the Minister of Internal Security?

Allen

I was outside the vendor hall this morning when a member of HMGS made an announcement. Sorry I don't remember names.
He stated that he was the new director of convention. That
there was a delay in opening the hall because of a special meeting with the vendors. He also stated that 2 members of the BOD, including the President had been replaced. He gave the names but the new names didn't mean anything to me.
Talking with a vendor afterward, he confirmed the changes and also said they HMGSE was trying to make changes for Baltimore.

YouTube link

YouTube link