Reservation Procedures Reservation policies may be adopted to suit each Bailliage's needs. It should be specified if the event is for members only or if guests are welcome. Sometimes guests are invited after a specified date if space is available. Each Bailliage will want to decide if the fee for guests will be the same or greater than the fee for members, and each Bailliage will also want to determine if moneys are to be collected in advance in order to guarantee a reservation or if merely expressing an intent to attend will hold a place, with money collection requested at a later time. "Your check is your reservation," is strongly advocated. In case of last minute cancellations, moneys are usually NOT refunded, unless the reservation can be filled with someone else, because in most cases, the Bailliage must pay the host establishment for a guaranteed number of attendees whether or not they actually attend. It is vital to place the responsibility of the Reservation Chair in the hands of a diplomatic, highly organized person. This is a delicate and very important job. The position of Reservation Chair is a job for a person who has the patience of a saint, the mind of an accountant, the sensitivity of a diplomat, and the insight of a psychiatrist. Not only does this person need to keep accurate records but often he or she must handle people who are insistent and occasionally very vocally annoyed when they can't have their way. The Reservation Chair can keep the peace or exacerbate the war. | back to top |