Please Say It Isn't So

[Brandy Gregory]

I have heard that Irene the Book Lady will soon no longer be a presence at the Tuesday Market. Please tell me this is not so.

[Phyllis McNaughton]

Patrick, Although  I agree in theory with your Hit, Run and Delete comment, Hope Morgan and her husband Paul are the Artistic Directors of BCP and as such, she should be held to a higher standard in terms of her comments on issues related to BCP and the Boquete community which BCP serves..  It is sad that someone who represents BCP by virtue of her position feels it is perfectly fine to post such negative, sarcastic, and sometimes downright mean comments on a public forum.

[Patrick]

There are Low Class/No Class people always making disparaging remarks about nice people's character. Hit, Run, Delete.

Now, for BCP to acquire a few more shekels  how about the BCP raffling off two seats to their next play at the TMM instead of getting rid of one of the nicest people in Boquete who works for free to help the community.

Patrick

[Phyllis McNaughton]

Can I repost Hope's response because

I think it is just classic?

Reply by Hope Morgan 19 minutes ago

I've got an idea, make it free to all and hope that the lights and internet and water come on by themselves and be sure to bring your own toilet paper..oh wait no water! Now that's good business.

[Bonnie Williams]

There is a difference in sales by charities and sales by private vendors; namely, money derived from sales by charitable entities goes for charitable purposes. In that sense, all vendors are not "equal."

And every dollar a charity pays to BCP for space rental is one less dollar going to charity.

The building of shelves for Irene's books benefits BCP as much or more than it benefits Irene in that it frees up space--space which then can be rented to other vendors.

I recognize the right of BCP to charge whom and what they wish. But they need to get their thinking straight about the above issues. Above all, I believe, BCP should consider how it is perceived by the community in relation to these decisions because, without community admiration and support, it stands little chance of being what it wants to become.

[Hope Morgan]

Brandy, I know how passionate you are about Irene. I was at the meeting. I suggest going directly to the BCP president in the future. I know he was under the impression that Irene was fine with some slow changes. Changes that were already under way by the previous administration. But it sounds like her conversations with you may have gone differently. I am not aware of one person on the council who does not care deeply about her future. Trying to set an equal policy for all non profits is complicated.

[The Zapadora]

From my conversations with Irene, she does feel that she is being forced out. The solution is simple, reverse this silly unthought-out decision, leave this popular ,hardworking rep of the Handicap fundacion alone and call a meeting of the vendors ( with the BCP President, who can be brought into the loop a bit more) and figure out a solution to raise the extra few shekels that BCP feels it would raise by auctioning off her space. Please...how hard is it?

 

 

[Dennis Nutting]

Not sure why you think the BCP President isn't in the loop -- He's responded to this or the other thread regarding this mess. Raise a few extra shekels???? Well many of the other vendors are already grumbling about paying increased fees as it is. 

The BCP rents out their facilities to others for $1.00 a person when they hold a meeting there; yet is soaking the vendors for much more. When I first arrived here the Meeting portion used to be free and then they started charging -- for a while Las Ruinas was providing a $1.00 off coupon to be used in their restaurant to off set the dollar everyone had to pay, but that didn't last long. 

Again -- if you're so concerned about this then the only real solution is for the vendors (all of them) to organize, select one or two representatives and start dealing from a hand of strength rather than the one of weakness they have been. If the BCP doesn't want to come to a mutually agreeable deal then the vendors cease using the BCP and find another venue for their market. 

You're right it is simple -- but bitching and moaning on this board isn't the answer. 

[Jim Tosch]

Okay, don't shoot me . 100 donate $100. Creative people work free first month. Mikes, Sugar and Spice and Big Daddy's rotate food.
"Stockholders" choose board who chooses masochist for CEO. Open three days a week. Performances in Spanish and English. $20 to$25 per person. I'll donate and might even go if I don't have to wear slacks.

[Jim Tosch]

The restaurant idea is just one way to get around possible lack of kitchen facilities by having them cater. The one thought that I dwell on is this all seemed originally to center around educating expats about issues in Boquete. Now it seems like there are three distinct components. Entertainment, education and a market. A question is "Do they function well together or would they be better as distinct efforts" I personally think a really big market on Saturday or Sunday might be a great addition for Boquete. Tuesday morning seems like a difficult time for a market unless it is only for a particular group of people. Education seems more suited for a civic club. The idea of a dinner theatre is pretty iffy but with a lot of enthusiastic participants who knows. The current mayor at one time wanted to move city gov to Alto Boquete and make the current bldg something commercial. Who knows now. The polyclinica is moving out. What will Romero's do. Could that whole area be a college or a big market. Lots of questions, opportunities and challenges.

[Jim Tosch]

Bonnie, since I wasn't clear before, I started my first business her twelve years ago and it is still operating with a different owner. I was a business consultant for decades and I know what I don't know, and it's a lot.