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I couldn't agree more with Barb, Katherine and Janet - no matter what,
we need to give this very careful consideration. For instance, I spoke
with a member today who thought that having the expo in a very
corporate/retail-y space might very well mean a better shot at reaching
more people (especially those who might not be seeking nor be aware of
the existence of midwives, doulas and other wonderful
practitioners/service providers). On the other hand, when I mentioned it
to my husband the other night, he said, "Wow - what a different feel
from last year - are you worried it will be perceived as too
commercial?" Both perspectives are valid, no? My point is that we do
have take into account our mission, our target audience, and what we
might need to sacrifice (or compromise) in order to secure the space,
and weigh carefully our pros and cons.

So let's keep up the great discussion on this...thanks to all!