HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Dec 1, 2016 12:42:36 GMT -5
So, my spousal unit is faculty at a university here. (public) They have a 'self funded' Xmas party every year. The email just came out, anticipated cost of party is ~20-25k. Requested donations depend on rank, but START at $500 and go up to "$3000 or more". I shit you not.
Some info edited for small amounts of privacy.
The holiday party is our way of saying thank you to all those at all our sites ---- who support our patient care, education, and research activities throughout the year. We invite 330 faculty, staff with one guest each and plan that a third will not attend.
Recommended giving amounts are as follows:
_________ Members: $2,500 - $3,000 or more (smile)
______ Faculty: $2,000 or more
____________ Faculty: $1,000 or more
_________ Faculty: $ 500 or more
___________ Providers: $ 500 or more
Yes, people actually go (apparently). No it will not be us. (We'd be in the $1000 or more camp).
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swamp
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THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
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Post by swamp on Dec 1, 2016 12:44:03 GMT -5
so they use the holiday party as a fundraiser? I'm ok with that, just be honest what it is.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Dec 1, 2016 12:47:32 GMT -5
so they use the holiday party as a fundraiser? I'm ok with that, just be honest what it is. Any money left over goes to the department, but it mostly covers the cost of the party itself. Is that considered a 'fundraiser?'
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Dec 1, 2016 12:48:09 GMT -5
Cripes! I've never been to a university holiday party that costs that much! They are anticipating it costing nearly $100 per person?
The last few years, our departmental party was pot luck, where the PI and other faculty provided the base and the rest of us filled it in with other dishes/drinks. The dental school holiday party was put on by the Medical center cafeteria in the middle of the day in one of the big conference rooms. I'm not sure what it cost, but doubt it was much more than $10 per person.....
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Dec 1, 2016 12:51:24 GMT -5
That must be one hell of a holiday party. I suggest we YM-ers have a fundraiser so we can send $1k to Honey. She needs to go and take photos/video so we can see what all this money is buying.
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Dec 1, 2016 12:51:29 GMT -5
Doesn't surprise me.
It's ugly here in my department.
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swamp
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THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
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Post by swamp on Dec 1, 2016 12:52:04 GMT -5
so they use the holiday party as a fundraiser? I'm ok with that, just be honest what it is. Any money left over goes to the department, but it mostly covers the cost of the party itself. Is that considered a 'fundraiser?' depends on how much they intend to have left over...............
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Dec 1, 2016 12:53:39 GMT -5
"Hey thanks for all the hard work you do... now to say thanks properly we're going to charge you $500-$3000" It's better than hearing you are being furloughed on "State Worker Appreciation Day." I assure you there was no socialization to smooth that one over.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Dec 1, 2016 12:57:42 GMT -5
Cripes! I've never been to a university holiday party that costs that much! They are anticipating it costing nearly $100 per person? It says in the email the actual cost is $500 per person, so if you allow guests, and people not to come.... For perspective, my hospital (public) and department do not have an Xmas party. lol.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Dec 1, 2016 13:06:37 GMT -5
Cripes! I've never been to a university holiday party that costs that much! They are anticipating it costing nearly $100 per person? It says in the email the actual cost is $500 per person, so if you allow guests, and people not to come.... For perspective, my hospital (public) and department do not have an Xmas party. lol. Then the math doesn't work. $25,000/300 people is only about $83 PP. if you double this to 500 people (for the people who don't show, not everyone is going to bring someone), you are down to $50 per person. So they are suggesting that (for 500 people) that the party is going to cost $250,000? At a university? This stinks. Oh.....and BTW, our dinner for 2 at The Willows (with wine) cost about $400 for 2. What the hell are they serving?
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on Dec 1, 2016 13:11:24 GMT -5
Cripes! I've never been to a university holiday party that costs that much! They are anticipating it costing nearly $100 per person? It says in the email the actual cost is $500 per person, so if you allow guests, and people not to come.... For perspective, my hospital (public) and department do not have an Xmas party. lol. [br So, some of the staff are engaged in research. Research is often somewhat funded by donations (and grants, of course). Do they invite the donors to this party to wine and dine and loosen purse strings? Although, that COULD backfire if donors thought their money was going to the cost of extravagant holiday parties...
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Dec 1, 2016 13:17:40 GMT -5
It says in the email the actual cost is $500 per person, so if you allow guests, and people not to come.... For perspective, my hospital (public) and department do not have an Xmas party. lol. [br So, some of the staff are engaged in research. Research is often somewhat funded by donations (and grants, of course). Do they invite the donors to this party to wine and dine and loosen purse strings? Although, that COULD backfire if donors thought their money was going to the cost of extravagant holiday parties... NEVER like this in my 30 years of research. University get a HUGE amount of flak for things like this and it does come back and bite you in the butt.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Dec 1, 2016 13:23:26 GMT -5
It says in the email the actual cost is $500 per person, so if you allow guests, and people not to come.... For perspective, my hospital (public) and department do not have an Xmas party. lol. Then the math doesn't work. $25,000/300 people is only about $83 PP. if you double this to 500 people (for the people who don't show, not everyone is going to bring someone), you are down to $50 per person. So they are suggesting that (for 500 people) that the party is going to cost $250,000? At a university? This stinks. Oh.....and BTW, our dinner for 2 at The Willows (with wine) cost about $400 for 2. What the hell are they serving? I think it's because everyone is +1. and guest. Dunno what they serve. Never been.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Dec 1, 2016 13:24:06 GMT -5
[br So, some of the staff are engaged in research. Research is often somewhat funded by donations (and grants, of course). Do they invite the donors to this party to wine and dine and loosen purse strings? Although, that COULD backfire if donors thought their money was going to the cost of extravagant holiday parties... NEVER like this in my 30 years of research. University get a HUGE amount of flak for things like this and it does come back and bite you in the butt. No, this is faculty and guests only.
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hoops902
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Post by hoops902 on Dec 1, 2016 13:27:06 GMT -5
There's some fuzzy math or logic at play here. Based on their own figures, the party appears to be about $50 per person (which is a nice party, but not outrageous by any means). They must either be inviting a bunch of people that they aren't expecting to contribute, or using this as a fundraiser.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Dec 1, 2016 13:28:03 GMT -5
Can you attend if you don't contribute?
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MarleyKeezy78
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Post by MarleyKeezy78 on Dec 1, 2016 14:55:04 GMT -5
I would say "get the fuck outta here!!!", It's a work related Christmas party and they want that much, ohhhh nooooo, bye Felicia They should be giving out bonuses to the staff not groveling for money.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Dec 1, 2016 15:10:53 GMT -5
So how do they explain the funky math?
With what you have written, the party is self funded to the tune of $20-25K.
They are planning on inviting about 330 people, plus spouses.
Cost is $500 per person.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Dec 1, 2016 15:19:12 GMT -5
I honestly have no idea how the math works. People must just give $20 and go anyways.
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milee
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Post by milee on Dec 1, 2016 15:22:53 GMT -5
Sounds like the idea is for the faculty, providers and members (who are the equivalent of the management or upper level in this organization) make the donations so that they can invite the staff (the worker bees, not management) and not have the staff pay anything. That's not unheard of - I've seen some places do it that way. They're asking the people who are in leadership and are comparatively well paid to pay for the party so the staff - which includes everyone from the janitor to the lunch lady to the receptionist - doesn't have to pay anything.
I don't think the math is fuzzy, I think part of the issue is that the structure of who's being asked to pay versus the total number of people attending has not being described well. There are 330 total employees, composed of (in loose order of "rank" within the organization) staff, faculty, providers (probably docs) and members. Since everybody is allowed to bring a plus one, but 1/3 are expected not to show up, they're expecting 440 people total. But remember, of the 440, the staff aren't expected to pay. So although the party costs approx. $50 a person, that's not the amount that the email is soliciting. The email is only asking for donations from faculty, providers and members, and it sounds like based on the number of those, each employee of that type would need to pony up $500 each since they're covering not just themselves but the staff, too.
They should do a better job of explaining that.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2016 15:49:05 GMT -5
Holy crap!
Is Snoop Dogg performing at this thing while everyone dines on Foi Gras and drinks Blue Label? Gimme $500 a head for a party and we are having one heck of a shindig.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Dec 1, 2016 15:57:12 GMT -5
Sounds like the idea is for the faculty, providers and members (who are the equivalent of the management or upper level in this organization) make the donations so that they can invite the staff (the worker bees, not management) and not have the staff pay anything. That's not unheard of - I've seen some places do it that way. They're asking the people who are in leadership and are comparatively well paid to pay for the party so the staff - which includes everyone from the janitor to the lunch lady to the receptionist - doesn't have to pay anything. I don't think the math is fuzzy, I think part of the issue is that the structure of who's being asked to pay versus the total number of people attending has not being described well. There are 330 total employees, composed of (in loose order of "rank" within the organization) staff, faculty, providers (probably docs) and members. Since everybody is allowed to bring a plus one, but 1/3 are expected not to show up, they're expecting 440 people total. But remember, of the 440, the staff aren't expected to pay. So although the party costs approx. $50 a person, that's not the amount that the email is soliciting. The email is only asking for donations from faculty, providers and members, and it sounds like based on the number of those, each employee of that type would need to pony up $500 each since they're covering not just themselves but the staff, too. They should do a better job of explaining that. The email says the actual cost is $500 per person. Posted by HoneyBBQ2 hours ago
The Walk of the Penguin Mich Avatar
3 hours ago The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:
Cripes! I've never been to a university holiday party that costs that much! They are anticipating it costing nearly $100 per person?
It says in the email the actual cost is $500 per person, so if you allow guests, and people not to come....
For perspective, my hospital (public) and department do not have an Xmas party. lol.
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emma1420
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Post by emma1420 on Dec 1, 2016 16:02:02 GMT -5
We have a self-funded Xmas party each year at as well. However, we call it a potluck. I figure I contribute about $20 when all said and done.
A $500 ticket? it would need to be dipped in gold, and there better have Adele or Beyonce or someone of that caliber as the musical entertainment.
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milee
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Post by milee on Dec 1, 2016 16:02:18 GMT -5
Yes, but I think it means $500 per person receiving the email. Meaning if you are receiving this email it's because you are management/highly compensated and are one of the group that is paying for the party. If all the managers paid, then the party would cost $500 per manager. It's describing the costs divided by the people expected to pay.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Dec 1, 2016 18:10:11 GMT -5
Yes, but I think it means $500 per person receiving the email. Meaning if you are receiving this email it's because you are management/highly compensated and are one of the group that is paying for the party. If all the managers paid, then the party would cost $500 per manager. It's describing the costs divided by the people expected to pay. I think this would be fine.... but... seriously, EVERYONE is making at least 6 figures or close to it, even at the bottom.
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dannylion
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Post by dannylion on Dec 1, 2016 18:23:23 GMT -5
Will there be cake? At that price, there should be cake.
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TheHaitian
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Post by TheHaitian on Dec 1, 2016 18:27:14 GMT -5
Yes, but I think it means $500 per person receiving the email. Meaning if you are receiving this email it's because you are management/highly compensated and are one of the group that is paying for the party. If all the managers paid, then the party would cost $500 per manager. It's describing the costs divided by the people expected to pay. I think this would be fine.... but... seriously, EVERYONE is making at least 6 figures or close to it, even at the bottom. I doubt everyone at the bottom are truly making six figures : receptionists, assistants? Or is this an event only for the big wigs?!
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Dec 1, 2016 18:29:32 GMT -5
Yes, but I think it means $500 per person receiving the email. Meaning if you are receiving this email it's because you are management/highly compensated and are one of the group that is paying for the party. If all the managers paid, then the party would cost $500 per manager. It's describing the costs divided by the people expected to pay. I think this would be fine.... but... seriously, EVERYONE is making at least 6 figures or close to it, even at the bottom. So? Just because someone makes 6 figures (and you do too) doesn't mean that they find a $500 per person party acceptable. I know DH would balk at that, and so would I. What does one of these parties include? A room at a 5 * downtown Seattle hotel and tickets to the PNW Nutcracker beforehand?
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dannylion
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Post by dannylion on Dec 1, 2016 19:11:08 GMT -5
And cake. There should be cake.
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NastyWoman
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Post by NastyWoman on Dec 1, 2016 20:24:45 GMT -5
And cake. There should be cake. I like a woman who knows what she wants
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