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Sorry I couldn't make the meeting. I had a job to finish. However, if I had been there I would have made a motion that the pros and cons of the $2,000 throne idea would be made known to the list serve so that the membership would know what they would be paying for and what the rational for spending so much money would be. <div><br></div><div>I now formally make that request. I sincerely hope that other members who also think it would be wise to talk more openly about such a huge budgeted item will join my plea for a more open discussion by also asking for more information and time on this matter.</div><div><br></div><div>I also would like to make a motion that voting on this item be postponed until after this information is given and the group has had a chance to discuss it outside of the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>Why? Because this is a HUGE expense that seems to have a shaky justification, and it affects all of us, not just the few lucky people who can make every monday night meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>I did a bit of asking around and I would also like to suggest that the group should consider making the decision in stages. The first question ought to be- Do we really need new thrones? Then, if we think it would be a good idea, to decide what kind of new thrones and what amount we would want as a cap for the budget. There are lots of options for reasonable thrones, and unless someone was mentioned in the meeting, we don't even have anybody lined up with design or cost proposals. Shouldn't THAT be done between deciding we want thrones and approving money? </div><div><br></div><div>One additional comment. I do a LOT of gilding and am very knowledgeable in this.I have to give a strong caution against commissioning gilding on wood thrones. It will abrade off very soon under the typical uses the thrones would encounter, no matter how well they are stored and protected. The only two options for imitating genuine gold gilding are the use of bronze leaf (absolutely needs a sealer), or using gold colored paint. Genuine gold (which is part of the cost of this proposal if I understand correctly) would be a really costly mistake.</div><div><br></div><div>YIS,</div><div><br></div><div>RanthulfR</div><div><br><div><div>On Nov 17, 2009, at 11:23 AM, Pat West wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><br> <br><u>Thrones</u><br>The proposal to budget up to $2000.00 for new thrones is still being discussed. This was the second meeting.<br><strong>*****The vote will be taken at the next meeting.</strong><br>********<br> </blockquote></div><br><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Randy Asplund</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">www.RandyAsplund.com</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Maker of Medieval books and </div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Illustrator of Science Fiction & Fantasy</div><div>(734) 663-0954</div><div>2101 S. Circle Dr. Ann Arbor, MI 48103</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></span></span> </div><br></div></body></html>