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No Backpacks at GABF???

Question:

This was meant for the Homebrew Digest, but I thought I’d post it here also. Collective: Please pardon my rantings, but is this a copy of a FAX that I just sent off to Marsha Schirmer, the GABF head honcho (FAX: 303-494-4146).  If anyone thinks that I am out of line, please reply via private E-Mail.  It may seem petty to some folks, but I feel very strongly about it.  This is one of the high points that I look forward to from year to year.  (Yeah, I may not have a life, but I got beer!)  #%^) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Marsha Schirmer AOB Boulder, CO FAX 303-494-4146 Ms. Schirmer: As a member in good standing of the American Homebrewers Association I am compelled to contact you to express my extreme displeasure in one of your rules stated in the recent literature I received concerning the Great American Beer Festival.  The rule I am referring to is "No backpacks will be allowed into Currigan Hall".   For the past several years I have spent over $200 at each festival just for T-shirts alone.  I have collected many coasters from the various booths and literature from each brewery represented.  I have taken books in to have them autographed.  This was all accomplished through the use of my backpack. I can not picture myself trying to do this carrying around your little "see through plastic bag" and still have any hands free to sample the wares of the brewers of America!   Barry Fey has people at all entrances of his concerts to check bags, blankets, and backpacks as part of his security force.  I was told by one of your sycophants on the phone today that it would cost to much money to have that kind of security at the GABF.  Hell, the entire festival is being run by volunteers!  Get volunteer security people to check that nobody is bringing in any guns, beer, or whatever!  

     (Barry Fey is a concert promoter in Denver, Colorado, USA) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I was told by the same person that "we" decided that it would be best to implement this rule.  When she said "we" that included ME!  A paid up member!  And I don’t recall even being solicited for my input!   When she said that "we" could not afford that kind of security she didn’t realize the loss of income for the various vendors due to not being able to carry their products and be able to sample beer at the same time. As a member in good standing my position is to suspend this "anal retentive" rule, at least for the members only tasting.  Why would any members try to bring any contraband in or for that matter try to smuggle any beer out?   We’ve all got plenty of homebrew at home, and it’s probably better than anything being served!  I took second place in the "Capital District Open" in the Belgian Strong Ale category last year…  I know mine is.   I know for a fact that I won’t be doing ANY shopping in the festival this year if I’m not allowed to bring my pack in, and I will personally tell all of the vendors why, and who they can thank for it. This festival is not Atlanta, it is not an international airline, it is not the World Trade Center, it is not U. S. Marine barracks in a mideast country, and I seriously doubt if any Third World country has any interest at all in what we are doing to promote our hobby, craft, or just our taste for quality brews and the paraphanalia that goes along with it.  I don’t think that any "Red Neck" malitia members would even dream of doing any damage to what they probably hold very dear to their hearts.   YOU ARE HURTING THE VENDORS!  LOSE THIS RULE! Yours in the Brewhouse, Robert J. Waddell

Following is the reply that I got from Sheri Winter, Marketing Director, that she "cc:" to Marcia Schirmer, Festival Director.  Marsha seems to be to elite to even answer her own mail. Dear Mr. Waddell: We have received your letter and regret that the Great American Beer Festival policy with regard to backpacks is so personally upsetting for you. In an attempt to clear up your many misconceptions, let me start by explaining that the *Great American Beer Festival is NOT a part of the American Homebrewers Association*.  When it was explained to you on the phone that "we" were forced to make this policy change, the "we" refers to the Festival Director and the Festival Board of Directors, acting upon the professional advice of our paid security force and the Denver Police Department.  The Festival is NOT a membership organization. While the Festival utiizes hundreds of talented volunteers, this is a large event attended by more than 25,000 attendees and requires a paid, professional staff.  An important part of that paid staff is the professional security and police presence.  It is their job to ensure that the Festival occurs each year without incident. As colorful as your descriptions of militia and terrorists may be, the actual reason for our policy change is far less glamorous: we are simply guaranteeing the continuation of the Festival by abiding by state liquor laws.  The police department and the security agency agree that back packs represent a substantial threat to our ability to envorce those rules.  In the past there have been several documented attempts by attendees to remove beer from Currigan Hall–even during the Members-Only Tasting.  The removal of beer from the hall is a violation of the law and would result in an immediate shutdown of the Festival.  This would mean no more Festival for anyone. The vendors and attending breweries have been made aware of the policy change and have in fact supported the policy as necessary to ensure the Festival’s continued success.  I hope that you will agree that carrying a plastic bag from the merchandise booth instead of your back pack is preferable to not having a Great American Beer Festival at all.  While it is unfortunate that the actions of a few effect all attendees, that is the case with this policy as it is with so many others. In closing, your concerns have been noted but due to the reasons cited this is not an issue that we will reconsider.  If you personally find this rule intolerable we can only advise that you not attend the Festival.  We would be happy to refund your money if you have already purchased tickets. Sincerely, Sheri Winter Marketing Director cc:Marcia Schirmer, Festival Director As this is probably a volatile issue, the AOB and all, I think that any further thoughts on the matter be discussed in private E-Mail.  If I am being petty in my attitude or if you, also, are pissed about this, just drop me a line at my E-Mail address to talk it over, rather than clog up the HBD with my rantings.  Thanks. If I’m out of line I’ll appologize, if there are any folks that support my attitude I’ll post a summary.  Ms. Schirmer doesn’t have an E-Mail address, so if you want any response from her yourself you’ll have to use the FAX number. (And get a response from   her flunkie!)  This whole response seems so "smarmy".  (Look it up.)   I will respond to private E-Mail only to save space on the HBD.  You folks can discuss it there if you must. The AOB says that they want to know what their members think of their organization, so here’s your chance to be heard.  I, for one, have a totally different opinion of them today than I had last week.  Just what division of this organisation is for us and which is just for the stock- holders?  I think Shawn is doing a bang-up job with the HBD but does the organization have ulterior motives?  Hmmmm…   The Liberal view would be: If someone is breaking the law, shut down the whole Festival.  It must be societies fault.  The lawbreaker is just a victim.  Burn some incense, get them a healing stone, council them. The Conservative view would be: If someone is breaking the law, arrest that person, and prosecute him/her.  Proceed with serious beer tasting. FINI! Oh, yeah… I forgot… The AOB is in Boulder…  (Palm slapping forehead:   KLUNK…) "Savor the flavor, responsibly." __                             I *L*O*V*E* my [Pico] system.  ’Cept for that                             gonging noise it makes when my wife throws it                             off the bed at night.                             Women…                                                     –Pat Babcock             *** It’s never too late to have a happy childhood!  *** Robert J. Waddell         / perhaps shared (though not by my employer). Owner & Brewmaster: Barchenspieder Brew-Haus, Longmont, Colorado, USA —                             I *L*O*V*E* my [Pico] system.  ’Cept for that                             gonging noise it makes when my wife throws it                             off the bed at night.                             Women…                                                     –Pat Babcock             *** It’s never too late to have a happy childhood!  *** Robert J. Waddell         / perhaps shared (though not by my employer). Owner and Brewmaster of the Barchenspeider Bierhous

Response:

: This was meant for the Homebrew Digest, but I thought I’d post it here also. : ["No backpack" rule discussed] : Hmm. In my youth, I got really pissed off by officials dispensing random : rules and was very swift and vocal about it.  Age and apathy tend to make : me less reactionary.   While I think you are over-reacting on something : that (IMHO) is a bit trivial, I don’t disagree with your right to : complain. Your comments on authority reminds me of that old saying: 1. A conservative is a liberal who’s just been robbed by a street person 2. A liberal is a conservative who’s just got a speeding ticket for going    60 in a 55 MPH zone. –arne

Response:

This was meant for the Homebrew Digest, but I thought I’d post it here also. ["No backpack" rule discussed]

Hmm. In my youth, I got really pissed off by officials dispensing random rules and was very swift and vocal about it.  Age and apathy tend to make me less reactionary.   While I think you are over-reacting on something that (IMHO) is a bit trivial, I don’t disagree with your right to complain. I hope this circumstance doesn’t ruin your experience with the GABF because, once you remove the paid professional event organizers and the "security professionals" such as Andy Frain and the Denver police it is a great event.  The people who really make up the spirit of the event are those "talented volunteers" such as myself, the professional brewers who take time to speak with homebrewers, and the beer lovers who stand in line on Friday night trying to get tickets.  You can even see Charlie walking around and talking to people. Chill out, take the bus to Currigan hall, bring a canvas grocery bag like the ones you use at Alfalfa’s for your goodies, sample a lot of good (and bad) beer, get a warm happy buzz, and enjoy the festival.  If you can get over your problem and have an extra 8 hours on your hands that weekend, we’d love to have you as a brew crew volunteer. -E

Response:

This was meant for the Homebrew Digest, but I thought I’d post it here also. Collective: Please pardon my rantings, but is this a copy of a FAX that I just sent off to Marsha Schirmer, the GABF head honcho (FAX: 303-494-4146).  If anyone thinks that I am out of line, please reply via private E-Mail.  It may seem petty to some folks, but I feel very strongly about it.  This is one of the high points that I look forward to from year to year.  (Yeah, I may not have a life, but I got beer!)  #%^)

I’m going to trivialize this a bit.  You have a problem because in your experience having a backpack lets you haul more trinkets (or in a more positive light, buy more vender goodies), but in the experience of the promoters it represents a threat to the security of the event and the possibility of shutting it down. I tried, but I can’t seem to trivialize in such a way that would make me want to support your point… even though I sympathize.  I feel kinda the same way when I go places and I think "don’t point those security cameras at me… I’m one of the good guys."  The "no backpacks" rule is just one security rule they have and one that most people would not even notice because most people don’t carry them.  It’s for this reason that I suspect you won’t get the support you want. I agree with your analysis; they should deal with the individuals who caused the problems.  However, for private security measures, the measures must be effective, not perfect.  The promoters see banning backpacks as effective, but certainly not a perfect solution to an existing problem. Finally, neither you nor they are being irrational about this.  You just happen to disagree.  If the GABF people have made a mistake, they’ll find out quickly enough.  You made your point and people (like me) have heard you.   Meanwhile, relax just a little.  Life is too short to worry about whether you will haul your goods by plastic bag or by backpack. | Tim Robinson                   | Lonely Web page.  Please visit.   | | "The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by | | men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding."  L. Brandeis | commercial goods without prior request from the address or without the payment of US$50.00 per incident.  Sending commercial advertisements to the address shall be deemed acceptance of these terms.

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