bgrimm, why dont you e-mail info@studentbonfire.com with the questions. We will be more than willing to answer them. It costs much more than you would think to put on this event.

Thousands more than you would think.

***** ***** *****

just pony up 5 and be happy to work on Bonfire.

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Amen! Please try to get the facts before you gripe about things. This orginization is the only way Bonfire will survive and it's only chance (however unlikely) to ever get back on campus. If it costs me five bucks to keep it going, then so be it!

hey, i'll still be there. bonfire is bigger than any of the people trying to run it. it's still crap we have to pay to work on it whether it's $1 or $100. i emailed student bonfire and will hopefully hear from the green pots, so STAFF, delete this thread if you'd like. these issues should not have been brought up on this board, true or not, and for that i apologize. but there are real issues that go beyond a $5 admittance charge.

The first really bad move Student Bonfire has made. I'm very, very disappointed.

There are hordes of freshmen who you're trying to recruit to come build THEIR Bonfire, and on top of the natural fear and other plentiful excuses they'll have for inattendance, now you're charging them.

Very disappointed.

IT IS ONLY $5!

Case A: No $5, maybe no Bonfire

Case B: $5, Bonfire

I have two ideas though. One, make different levels of people, donate $50, get a 98%er sticker for your pot. Donate $100, get a Red Ass Frick Sticker for your pot.

Second idea, sell lunches for $5.

If it adds anything to the argument, consider that the university had an annual budget of about $80,000 for Bonfire in the last few years before 1999.

That money didn't fall like manna from heaven.

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i mean, the budget of student bonfire can't be anywhere near that of the on campus fires. gas, lighting, and equipment rental.

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Mostly donated, mostly donated, and mostly donated.

You're right guys, it sucks to have to pay a membership fee to work on Bonfire. The decision was not made lightly by those who made it, however. It is a necessary evil right now that just has to be dealt with.

Aggie Student Bonfire gains legitimacy every year, but it is still not to the point of days of old and potential donors are not completely comfortable in contributing. I feel that will change in coming years, but for now it's a just a fact of ASB's life.

Given that, ASB has to have some kind of initial cash flow. Without it the leadership will be paying out of their pockets again. It would be great to assume that you could ask for the donation at the gate, and you would get a good chunk. However, as mentioned above, you will also get a large number that will assume the next guy will make up their part. I was at stack last year when they ran out of wire and asked for a few bucks from everyone there. Several gave, but most just looked around until the pot was finished being passed. Because they are Aggies, I'm giving the benefit of the doubt and assuming they just didn't bring any cash with them (why would they?) and would have gave otherwise. Point being if you rely on at-the-gate donations, you have no way of knowing what you are going to get.

The membership fee was just an attempt by the leadership to insure some start-up money in the coffer until the donations and other sources of income are realized. This current crop of Grays, Greens and Browns have been busting their hump the last year trying to gain donations and make this year operate more efficiently and effectively than past years and you should pat them on the back for it. Sure, it's not a perfectly run business, but none are. And keep in mind that these are college kids with little to no business experience. There is some, ahem, "adult" supervision being implemented to help out in this capacity, but it is not fully in place.

bgrimm, you said that you bought all the equip for FHK and that's great. I applaud you for it. If more people would chip in like that, we wouldn't even be having this discussion. Sadly, that's not the case, so here we are.

All I see on this thread are complaints and no real suggestions for an alternative. AB2, I get what you are saying, but what do you suggest? There's enough former students participating that we could each adopt X number of current students (maybe focus on freshmen) and pay their membership fees and that should eliminate your concern over them bolting over 5 bucks. What do you say? You willing to do that?

Offer up some real suggestions. Email them to ASB. Talk to a Gray or Green when you see them. Write a letter. Whatever. I'm sure they will listen to an idea that makes sense and is presented in a way other than "this is dumb, do something else."

Scott Coker '92

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now you're charging them.

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Have you ever pre-paid for something in your life? Concert tickets? Cable TV? Insurance? Tuition?

You pay now and get the benefit at a later date. Same with Bonfire. $5 now, get into Burn in 6 weeks.

If you can't pre-pay, someone will work something out with you. End of conversation.

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If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you can read this in English, thank a Soldier.

Yeah, but I don't consider cable TV a privilege, I consider it a service.

There have to be better ways of making $5 profit per person that comes out to work. I sincerely hope you find one.

That is not $5 of profit per person, I assure you.

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There's enough former students participating that we could each adopt X number of current students (maybe focus on freshmen) and pay their membership fees and that should eliminate your concern over them bolting over 5 bucks. What do you say? You willing to do that?

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That sounds like a good idea.

AB2, how about you come up with a better way to make that $5 in "profit" per person instead of complaining about it.

If you have a better way to do something, suggest it (to the leadership) otherwise dont complain.

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There have to be better ways of making $5 profit per person that comes out to work. I sincerely hope you find one.

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AB2: Let me assure you that 100% of your $5 is going to build Bonfire.

Please re-read the thread before posting again. If you really don't understand cash flow management, please consult an accounting textbook. If that fails you, please send an e-mail to info@studentbonfire.com and it will eventually get to me. I'll do my best to illustrate (again) the principles of "having money before spending money" and "borrowing from you bottom line."

bgrimm: You've got mail. I hope to get a reply from you before I leave the office.

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If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you can read this in English, thank a Soldier.

[This message has been edited by opie03 (edited 10/7/2005 8:33a).]

Bonfire on Thursday before the t.u. game = credibility from old ags that will solicit more donations.

Just MO, alot of old Ags will be in town for the game and many won't come up the weekend before for bonfire.

I know the weekend before is more convenient for the students, yada yada, but who really is gonna make donations, current students . . or old ags.

Just a suggestion.

opie, i didn't get the mail.

bgrimm05@tamu.edu

The University has a habit of planning Yell practice on the night that Bonfire traditionally burned on campus. Planning the two at the same time would be a tradition train-wreck.

Thanks for the suggestion, though. In the event that Yell Practice is moved, Bonfire has the potential to fill in the time-slot.

(Edit: Bgrimm: E-mail re-sent.)

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If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you can read this in English, thank a Soldier.

[This message has been edited by opie03 (edited 10/7/2005 1:28p).]

Then again, if yell is at 8pm, scheduling burn for 11pm or a bit later could be done.

It'd be a logistical nightmare, possibly attracting too many people in too short of a time, but it'd be possible.

I think it's important to realize here that if we get approved to be federally tax exempt, we'll also be more likely to recieve large donations.

People don't like giving if they don't get something in return - especially when you're talking about their bottom line.

And Coker, thank you.

[This message has been edited by northsidegreek06 (edited 10/7/2005 3:33p).]

not worth it...good luck to you guys, hope you make it.

[This message has been edited by AB2 (edited 10/11/2005 12:21a).]

Just an update - we had around 350 on Saturday, which is up approximately 125 from 1st cut last year.

And we have the amount that we had registered during stack last year registered with us now.

[This message has been edited by northsidegreek06 (edited 10/11/2005 12:39a).]

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Then again, if yell is at 8pm, scheduling burn for 11pm or a bit later could be done.

It'd be a logistical nightmare, possibly attracting too many people in too short of a time, but it'd be possible.

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It also makes it much less of a big deal for the stack to stand until midnight.

Not that it's mattered much in recent years