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Permalink Reply by Deferio on July 28, 2010 at 2:46pm

In my mind...
Coffee Fest is a business first...and it's business is mainly to help our business to be showcased.

The SCAA however is firstly an association made up of businesses that has become more of a business in and of itself. That, it seems, is not necessarily the priority for an organization who's main point is the fruition of all member businesses. The point that Jay brings up about the apparent lopsided locations on the west coast or even PNW would be all well and good for Coffee Fest because they ARE a business. But for the SCAA it seems that it guides the assoc. further from being helpful or beneficial to its membership and closer to being helpful and beneficial to itself.
Taking the opportunity to have a TRUE balance of locations means thinking first of the membership and second of the viability. It may mean blazing a trail in a location that helps coffee in host area but makes it necessary to eat the cost of a less "successful" show. Just like the initial leg work in the business of opening a coffee bar...the sacrifice of having a less than ideal but more accessible show may not show itself to be profitable right off the bat but the principle of the thing will lead to a more sustainable membership and a more loyal one.
I do not have intimate knowledge of the assoc. or of what an immense task the running of it must be. Nothing but respect to Peter and every other hard working leader there.
Just sharing some thoughts.
Blessings.
-Chris

Jared Rutledge said:

now this thread is just encouraging me to avoid both shows. it doesn't seem like anyone has their facts straight, and there isn't much transparency.
if i ran my business like this thread, i'd be bankrupt.

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Permalink Reply by Rich Westerfield on July 28, 2010 at 3:26pm

Deferio said:

Nothing but respect to Peter and every other hard working leader there.
Just sharing some thoughts. Blessings. -Chris

Shouldn't be necessary, but just to be perfectly clear, Peter G. was not in any of the conversations/emails/post exchanges I had with the SCAA regarding Pittsburgh. That all pre-dated his involvement with the BoD. Peter's never been anything but straight with me personally and I continue to hold him the highest regard.

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Permalink Reply by Stickman on July 28, 2010 at 6:31pm

I think Deferio makes an awesome point about the SCAA being obliged to serve its membership where its membership lives...And I think it needs to be more than just SBWs.

But IF, for argument's sake, both events are dedicated to the PNW then how about approaching Portland or Vancouver? I'm sure both those cities offer similar amenities for similar costs and I'm also sure both cities would LOVE to highlight their particular brands of the coffee industry. And I seriously doubt that attendance would suffer for either event. To wit: a show in Portland would probably attract more borderline attendees who would pay for a flight and hotel to somewhere similar to but distinct from Seattle. Many could argue that Vancouver and Portland have as strong or even stronger Coffee Pedigrees than Seattle.

Yeah, just thought I'd muddy the water. Here's to excellent organization wherever the events end up.

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