Dear UnBlog Family,
We have been working very hard to secure a venue and lock down a date for this UnBlog reunion. I still don’t have a date, so please don’t buy plane tickets yet or quit your job or something dramatic. I’m so sorry for not being definite about this.
One of the problems we have encountered is finding a space for 300-500 people that doesn’t cost too much. I don’t want to charge for the event. We could use the UVU ballroom if we were willing to charge about $5 per person. Let me know what you think.
I’m praying hard about this and will let you know ASAP. In the meantime, wait just a little longer before making plans and buying tickets. I won’t have a date until we secure the place and can work into their schedule.
Blessings,
Brother John
UnBlogmysoul 
Will pay whatever. Just let us know.
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I would be happy to pay what is necessary and I’m sure most others would be happy to pay also. Also, if there are some who don’t want to pay, I would be happy to assist them.
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Brother John,
I really like Jennifer’s idea as well. Is it possible to set an online donation for the event? I am sure we could have the necessary amount for you to proceed with securing a venu and locking down a date. With the date confirmed, we can then buy plane tickets. 🙂
Thank you so much for working hard to make it possible!
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Thank you Mila,
We are moving forward with plans. Please read my reply to Jennifer for some information. I believe we are going to have a preregistration function on the temporary website for the event. I will let you know as soon as I can.
Brother John
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It sounds like we’re okay with a charge.
Brother John,
Where would you like us to send the money? Do you have a P.O.Box or something set up on the web already? I quickly glanced into donating through Paypal: there are no set up charges but they do charge a small percentage per transaction plus .30 cents. In other words if we the customer donate $10 the amount deposited into the UnBlog account would be about 9.40 cents. That is, if I understood the tutorial correctly. However, we do not need to rely on my ignorance because we likely have someone within the UnBlog family who knows how to set something like this up who would be willing to tackle the project. The other option I noticed is to set up a donation account through a bank–I do not have a clue what they may or may not charge per transaction/account/goal.
The concern with not having a way to cap the donations, for you, Brother John would be obtaining more funds than necessary to secure the venue. With that comes an insurmountable challenge that of returning any excess funds collected which are in transit and/or deposited before the UnBlog family is aware the goal has been met.
So, I would like to present that any extra funds collected be donated (anonymously of course) for a cause, for example: those striving to secure the funds needed to travel to the temple in order to be sealed. I cannot recall where my neighbor’s daughter’s mission was (she came home last month) but there are families that have been struggling for years to save the necessary funds to attend the temple and be sealed.
I understand that most of us have a cause that could follow “for example:” therefore, I propose that we all trust Brother John’s inspiration as to the receiver/program/organization/ of any extra funds which may be collected.
Jennifer
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Dear Jennifer,
I love that you care enough to propose this method, but the Lord has provided. I got a call just today from a UnBlog brother who offered to fund the event and manage the financial end of things. He will let us collect whatever donations people want to give and then absorb the difference. He is an answer to many prayers. I have been looking for a free venue, but when it occurred to me yesterday that we would have to rent a venue, this wonderful man and his wife contacted me.
Tuesday we are going into Orem to tour the venue and decide which rooms and facilities we need and what it will cost each person who attends.
Thank you all for your concerns and support. I will have more information next week.
Brother John
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All these ideas sound great. Prepaid is the best for all involved. Just try to keep in mind those of us traveling from far away the more time to plan is better, that is traditionally, as we all know the Lord can make a way where there once wasn’t.
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I really like Jennifers idea of having it paid for in advance – that way you won’t be left holding the bag when people start backing out of coming. I am so looking forward to coming and being with such spiritual giants.
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John, it’s going to cost me hundreds to get there, or over a thousand if I bring my family. Any reasonable cost for the location is the least of my concerns.
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We probably all know some place that would work in a pinch but the parking is the factor that is not easy to accommodate for 500 people with cars. The UVU option sounds like it covers the issues. Bet many of us in the Utah County area might have extra rooms if housing is an issue. I do.
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At some point it may help to set up a “rooms available” bulletin board. I also think a “car pool” board would be helpful. We’ll see once we get a date locked down.
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Ahhhhh – we shan’t count the cost to be in Zion (filled with those of one-heart and one-mind) for just a short while. Please let us know how we can help others to be there also (and there was no poor among them).
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I would have no problem paying the $5 plus extra to help out. I am just excited this is going to happen.
Bryand
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Brother John,
$5, $10, whatever…it’s all good as far as I’m concerned. You are a gem for setting this up. I just hope you have it at a time when I can be there. I start back to work the last week of Aug. and can’t go anywhere for about 2 months because of the heavy workload at the beginning of each school year.
Rusty
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I am more to willing to pay for this event.
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Bob
$5 is fine with me
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5 bucks is great, lets do it. I am coming from W Col, I will come whenever its held.
Brian Bowler
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Our family will be more than willing to pay that small amount to attend the reunion!
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I am very excited about this and like the others, would be happy to pitch in to help pay for those who can’t. Thank you, thank you, thank you Brother John, for all you have done for us.
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$5 is such a small amount to pay. Most would be willing to pay more to help secure an appropriate space.
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I think $5 is a reasonable amount to pay for the event.
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I am more than willing to pay $5 or $10 for this event. I’m just hoping it’s going to be August 17-18 since we’ll be in the area for BYU Education Week anyway.
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$5 is good enough for me.
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I’d be happy to pay to help make it possible for an unblog family reunion because that is a reality to find a good facility with PA systems, etc. I am so looking forward to the get-together. I don’t know what the policy is for requesting and obtaining permission to use a stake house in the area.
Thank you for all your efforts to bring us together.
Cheryl Dilworth
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This seems very reasonable. Good luck!
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Brother John,
This is an idea I share with you. If you determine the idea is what you’d like to present please do so with your own words or as something another suggested.
I am not sure how it works, but there is a way for people to donate towards a set monetary goal for a cause/program/organization/event on the Internet. I would venture to guess that many of the UnBlog family would be more than willing to donate towards this goal thus securing the funds for a venue to hold the reunion. When done this way, it should be anonymous, it allows those who have to donate thus eliminating the turmoil/embarrassment/disappointment of those to whom an extra charge would or could hinder their ability to attend a “family” reunion. Isn’t that what family is all about taking care of each other sharing what talents and gifts EACH member has both spiritually and financially?
I know personally in our family (I am the only member) my siblings and I have collectively paid for plane tickets for another sibling and her family in order to have them present for our family reunion. That is what families do–within and without the gospel.
Jennifer
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Dear Bro. John,
I believe $5 would be just fine. It would be worth every penny to be able to meet with everyone and have the spiritual feast I believe it will be.
Craig Mills
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John,
thanks for all the effort! I really hope you choose a date earlier in Aug so I can come. I think most people can swing $5 if that is what is needed to secure a place.
Kelle
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I am willing to pay $5. Thanks for your work on putting this together 🙂
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Brother John, we don’t mind paying at all. Thank you for organizing this event!
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I’m willing to spend up to $25 for my seat to be there with all of you.
Thank you for all the energy you are putting into getting this great event in motion. I am sooooo excited! and so happy to be a part!
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Brother John,
Such a small charge is perfectly acceptable to me for such an exciting get together.
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$5 is a small price to pay to be with family and friends. I’m anxious for a date so I can make plans with work.
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Any charge would be fine with me. It needs to be a facility that fits the occasion. And this is an important occasion. Thanks for putting this together.
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Call it a pot luck “Fireside” and maybe we could use the Cultural Hall. 🙂
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John, speaking for myself, I don’t mind paying $5 and would be happy to throw in an extra for someone who can’t pay.
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My wife and I would be happy to tickets.
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sorry…. buy tickets.
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