The breakfast that was, then wasn’t, then was…or is it?
Earlier this summer Paul Esslinger announced the annual Mayor’s Breakfast, for years a highlight of the annual AirVenture convention and air show, would take a hiatus this year after several volunteers had backed out because of other commitments and busy schedules. As a result, the new convention center was booked for a Community Breakfast in 2010, but Frank Tower and other organizers felt it just couldn’t successfully be put together and held this year yet.
Then, in this morning’s Oshkosh Northwestern there was an article in which Esslinger said the owner of Kodiak Jack’s had stepped forward with “the intention of funding food” for the breakfast. The article included a date, time and place for the event to be held, but then went on to say that owner Lee Engleman was only 90 percent committed to funding the event and would let Esslinger know for sure tomorrow. What? So what’s the reason behind making an announcement when you don’t have anything definitive to announce?
Interestingly, the article also contained information on how to volunteer for the event and even contact information if someone wanted to help fund the breakfast!
Plenty of people are talking about this which, I suspect, is what Esslinger wanted. Kudos to Engleman for stepping up, but it would have looked less weird if nothing was announced until they knew for sure it would be held. People are also questioning the mechanics of funding this event. One Northwestern reader blogged that “if you are funding the event you are basically donating the food with know (sic) expectation of being reimbuirsed (sic). If this is the case then Mr. Esslinger should almost put out a Request for Proposal so any restaurant in Oshkosh can have the opportunity to "cater" or "fund" this event.” Another person wrote, “It is not clear how this funding is going to work. Does Mr. Engleman get all of the proceeds from the ticket sales for the breakfast and pay all the expenses? If there is anything left over, he keeps it (his "profit"), or if the sales do not cover the expenses, he makes up the difference (his "loss")? Is that the plan? What is the cost of the proposed ticket?”
Lots of questions; too few answers. One man told me this is “typical Esslinger.” Some have suggested privately that this “news item” was put out by Esslinger as a way of testing the response meter; in other words, seeing if they could generate enough interest from potential volunteers in a day or two. Still others have said they doubt this is going to actually come off. I don’t know if it will or not, but personally I hope they can pull it off because many were disappointed when it was first announced it was not happening and I’m sure plenty of convention guests would be disappointed, as well. But people will be doubly disappointed if it doesn’t happen now that Esslinger has prematurely announced it is happening.
So really, what was the real reason for making an announcement about this when Engleman wasn’t 100 percent committed? How much are the tickets going to be? Exactly how will this breakfast be funded and where are the proceeds going? What kind of accounting measures are being put in place to ensure all funds and/or in-kind donations are properly accounted for? How much is rent at the Leach Amphitheater going to cost for this event or is the city providing it at no charge? And the questions go on and on.
I’m sure many of these answers are coming soon. After all, besides saying that volunteers and donations are still needed for the event, the article said that Esslinger promised more information about it in coming weeks. Well, with the event scheduled to take place in just over three weeks, one would expect so.
Then, in this morning’s Oshkosh Northwestern there was an article in which Esslinger said the owner of Kodiak Jack’s had stepped forward with “the intention of funding food” for the breakfast. The article included a date, time and place for the event to be held, but then went on to say that owner Lee Engleman was only 90 percent committed to funding the event and would let Esslinger know for sure tomorrow. What? So what’s the reason behind making an announcement when you don’t have anything definitive to announce?
Interestingly, the article also contained information on how to volunteer for the event and even contact information if someone wanted to help fund the breakfast!
Plenty of people are talking about this which, I suspect, is what Esslinger wanted. Kudos to Engleman for stepping up, but it would have looked less weird if nothing was announced until they knew for sure it would be held. People are also questioning the mechanics of funding this event. One Northwestern reader blogged that “if you are funding the event you are basically donating the food with know (sic) expectation of being reimbuirsed (sic). If this is the case then Mr. Esslinger should almost put out a Request for Proposal so any restaurant in Oshkosh can have the opportunity to "cater" or "fund" this event.” Another person wrote, “It is not clear how this funding is going to work. Does Mr. Engleman get all of the proceeds from the ticket sales for the breakfast and pay all the expenses? If there is anything left over, he keeps it (his "profit"), or if the sales do not cover the expenses, he makes up the difference (his "loss")? Is that the plan? What is the cost of the proposed ticket?”
Lots of questions; too few answers. One man told me this is “typical Esslinger.” Some have suggested privately that this “news item” was put out by Esslinger as a way of testing the response meter; in other words, seeing if they could generate enough interest from potential volunteers in a day or two. Still others have said they doubt this is going to actually come off. I don’t know if it will or not, but personally I hope they can pull it off because many were disappointed when it was first announced it was not happening and I’m sure plenty of convention guests would be disappointed, as well. But people will be doubly disappointed if it doesn’t happen now that Esslinger has prematurely announced it is happening.
So really, what was the real reason for making an announcement about this when Engleman wasn’t 100 percent committed? How much are the tickets going to be? Exactly how will this breakfast be funded and where are the proceeds going? What kind of accounting measures are being put in place to ensure all funds and/or in-kind donations are properly accounted for? How much is rent at the Leach Amphitheater going to cost for this event or is the city providing it at no charge? And the questions go on and on.
I’m sure many of these answers are coming soon. After all, besides saying that volunteers and donations are still needed for the event, the article said that Esslinger promised more information about it in coming weeks. Well, with the event scheduled to take place in just over three weeks, one would expect so.
posted by Cheryl Hentz at 9:06 PM
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