Barb, I think your words about taking a step back and really taking the
time to think this through, are very wise. Though there's a part of me
that would love to have our space issue taken care of soon, we should
be sure that this really is the best place for our group. Besides the
talk about whether or not we can have vendors, i want to make sure that
the space being offered is what we're imagining for our next Expo.
I've never been inside DM (which is maybe something a few of us should
do together) - so I really have no idea how the set up would work.

my thoughts for today!
katherine

-----Original Message-----
From: Barbara Du Pont <barb_dupont@yahoo.com>
To: hudvalleybirthnetwork@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 10:29:03 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: [hudvalleybirthnetwork] Re: Birth Expo space

This is one of the situations, in my opinion, that may take time to
think through and one which we need to balance the negatives vs. the
positive of using the space. While the offer of free space is great, we
need to make sure that we would not be constrained from offering
services, products, vendors, etc ... that might comply with our mission
but do not comply with DMs or that compete with DMs. In the end, this
may be the perfect space for us, I just think engaging in the thought
process and discussion (as we are doing) is a good idea.   This is my
bias with taking it slow with this situation: I once worked (seems
like ages ago but only after my firstborn!) as the ED of a nonprofit
that ran a mentor/motivation program in an underperforming Brooklyn
Highschool (this is before no child left behind too). Our goal was to
raise the kids grades and our sponsor was Duane Reade the drugstore. I
always felt a little
uncomfortable with DR sponsoring the program because I felt they just
wanted to push their own stuff. Sure enough, the school opened a DR
store selling all kinds of DR merchandise, including junk food, soda
etc ... and it just plain irked me because I never really thought they
cared too much about the results of the program.   Like I said, this
ultimately turn out to be the perfect space. Just my 2 cents!   xoxo
barb

Jennifer Dembo net> wrote: Hi
Everyone,

Happened to be dialing Sue's number earlier in the evening to talk with
her about my teaching schedule when Erica's email popped up (thank you
so much for following up and
sharing details, Erica!). As I thanked her for presenting this generous
opportunity to us, we started to chat about the vendor decision, and
she
and I both wondered about some of the same things that Deb and Kat did
(i.e. what about services like belly casting, or products that in no
way
compete with any thing D.M. sells, etc.). So she is going to talk with
the powers that be and get some clarification. If D.M. says absolutely
no vendors, we thought one solution might be to have an info table
where
people could at least advertise products or services with printed
materials (all pre-approved by the Vendor Committee, of course!)

Any other thoughts on the vendor thing? Also, if anyone who isn't
familiar with the store has a chance in the
near future to take a look
at it, please do so and weigh in on whether you think it will be a good
fit.

Thanks so much to all for such a great birthday celebration,
Jen

Barbara Du Pont

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