2010 Fall TS! v8.qxp: 2005 Spring Texas Sings! FINAL 9/30/10 12:47 PM Page 9
be no charge for family member badges. Having the charge is not conducive to family support especially at the summer conventions and limits exposure to the exhibitors. Family members are also likely to be future music educators. Just a few short years ago there wasn’t a charge — our family took our vacation for TBA and TCDA. . . . Comment: Have family badges free. Family badges at TMEA are free. Response: Wow! As much as we do want to be supportive of families, and encourage family vacations to TCDA, we have to be reasonable. By the way, with just a quick look around, I can only find registration forms from as far back as Fall 2010
1987. The guest fee was $5 then and has been until it was increased to $10 last year. And, about comparing us to TMEA, well that’s just not reasonable. A few statistics will help explain it. TCDA is small; TMEA is huge. You can think of getting income from and spreading expenses over almost 2,000 people or 24,000 and understand the difference. We use about 2,200 room-nights in area hotels. They use over 18,000. Although we’re good friends, work very closely together, and share information and ideas, the comparison with TMEA just doesn’t compute. Now, what does your family member receive for $10? Well, admission to the exhibits; admission to TEXAS√SINGS!
workshops and sessions (just can’t pick up music packets); admission to the BBQ for $15 (same as all TCDA members); childcare — free childcare. This expense item costs us about $2,500 each year. I realize every guest doesn’t need childcare, but your $10 fee is helping us make this free service available. I hope this doesn’t sound like an argument. I hope it explains that we need that revenue to continue to make meetings like Convention 2010 a reality! Comment: Coffee and water not out very long in the mornings. Response: Drat! Another service vs cost comment! Coffee/tea service costs 9