Over the years, the Society has included half a page in their annual guidelines when planning for and attending the District convention.

In particular, they have been very insistent that only hotels on the Recommended Lodging List be used.

The language in this month's KM is even more insistent than last years.

Here is the text in full, with the original emphasis.

Make of it what you will, but I really feel that someone should investigate why every dub has to use only the hotels approved by the Society.

Kingdom Ministry - 2007 "Follow the Christ" District Convention of Jehovah's Witnesses

Steps in Making Your Hotel Reservation

1. Call hotels during regular business hours, using the telephone numbers on the Recommended Lodging List.

2. Inform the hotel that you are attending the convention of Jehovah's Witnesses.

3. Specify the dates you will check in and check out of the hotel.

4. If no more rooms are available, call another hotel on the list.

5. Do not accep a higher rate than what is shown on the list.

6. Make your reservation, and ask for a confirmation number.

7. Make your deposit by credit card, check, or money order within ten days. Never send cash. If a deposit

is made by check or money order, write the confirmation number on the front.

Guidelines to Follow: (to add: Guidelines or Orders?)

- Stay only in hotels on the Recommended Lodging List.

- Do not call hotels that are not on the list and ask if they have a rate for our convention. Call ONLY hotels on

the recommended list.

- Hotels are not to begin taking reservations for our conventions before the Service Meeting during the week of January 1, 2007.

Do not call for convention reservations prior to this time.

- Accept only the room rates shown on the list.

- Each room reserved should be in the name of the person who will accurately use it.

- Use the reservation phone numbers on the list. Do not make your hotel reservation online unless the list indicates this should be done. (this would appear to be a new guideline)

- To comply with fire regulations, do not exceed the number of adults allowed in the hotel room, as shown on the list.

- Do not inform your congregation secretary that there are no more rooms available unless you have called ALL the hotels on the list.

- Keep your first reservation. - Matt. 5:37

- If you must cancel a reservation, do so as early as possible. Be sure to receive a cancellation number.

My comments:

Once again, the Governing Body of Princes seek to control not only where, but when you can book a hotel. The tile says "Guidelines to Follow" but this should

really read "You must follow these rules."

What a convoluted way to book a hotel. And you can't even book online unless the hotel on the list says you can.

Some questions comes to mind:

What if I have reward points to redeem for a free room?

What if I can get a free room for the convention in another hotel?

What if I can't afford to pay $500 for a 3 night stay at the Marriott?

What if I can only afford to stay at the Comfort Inn or Best Western?

What if I find a room that is cheaper than the room rates shown on the Recommended Lodging List?

page 5 of the same KM

Reserving A Hotel Room

A Recommended Lodging List of available hotels will be posted on the congregation information

board at the conclusion of the Service Meeting for the week of January 1. Follow the instructions

in the box "Steps in Making Your Hotel Reservation." If no rooms are available after you have

called all the hotels on the list or if you have a problem with a particular hotel, inform your

congregation secretary. He should contact the convention Rooming Department, using the

information at the top of this list. Do not call the branch office. If the hotels listed are not accepting

additional requests, please wait for the congregation to receive a revised list for your convention

rather than calling a hotel not on the list.

My notes:

Questions that come to mind:

1 Why are the Society telling us not to use hotels on the list?

2. Does the Society get a kickback from this, i.e. free rooms for their guest speakers and Bethelites? If so, why aren't the publishers made aware of this?

3. If no hotels are available after calling ALL the hotels, why can't a publisher find a hotel of their choice?

4. What happens if I stay in a hotel not on the Recommended Lodging List? How does this affect the Society directly or indirectly?

Speculations:

I think the Society has an incentive to make all the dubs stay at their hotels. Obviously, the society will save on money wherever possible.

It would make sense that they negotiate a block of rooms in order to get free rooms for convention speakers and Bethelites. If this is the case,

they should be honest and say so.

In all the time I have booked a hotel, it took me no more than 10 minutes. Why does the Society need a whole page, inc. boxes and paragraphs

to make a reservation? Why the paranoia over staying at a hotel not on the list.

Surely the most important thing in all this, is that we actually attend ALL THREE DAYS?

km Dec 07, paragraph 3

Attend All Three Days

Jehovah provides an abundance of spiritual food for his people. (Isa. 25:6) This includes the spiritual

banquet served at our annual conventions. It has been observed that the Friday attendance is

considerably lower than that on other days. Make it your goal to enjoy all three of the

refreshing (gag!) convention days that Jehovah's organization has prepared for us!

Side note: I thought the theme of this convention was "Follow the Christ" - seem like it should read "Follow the Governing Body"

Avid,

Their extreme insistence that we follow there "guidelines" would make any thinking dub sit up and srcatch their head?

My first question is Why?

As well as being another means of control, such as making all congregations sit in a certain section and not allowing them to go out for lunch would suggest

that the days spent at this convention is anything but refreshing.

Controlled down to the last fart!!

Insane!

Hahaha!!  A scripture was actually inserted here?

BWAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Yes, keep your first reservation...

about how stupid you are for ever believing anything good about his cult.

sKally

Even before I read Odrade's post, which confirmed it, I would have guessed that the wts gets some kind of kickback from hotels on the recommended list. It's a pity the jws who are being instructed to follow this procedure don't know this, as I am sure most of them don't.

I wonder how the wts would react if their recommended hotels weren't filled, and jws made their own, probably cheaper, deals. They surely can't df someone for using an "unlisted" hotel, or can they.....?

Thus follows an imaginary conversation between a loyal dub and his bible study...........

ACT 1 SCENE 1

enjoying a coffee at Starbucks...

Bro. Blinders: So Joe, you're doing pretty well with your studies. I can see the fine progress you've been making.

Joe: Why thank you Bro. Blinders.

Bro. Blinders: You know Joe, I can see the appreciation you have in your heart for Jehovah and his organization. Did you know that we

have a special convention in the summer?

Joe: No I didn't brother. What's discussed there?

Bro. Blinders: Well Joe, it's a three day program of Bible instruction. The theme for next year is "Follow The Christ".

Joe: That sounds awesome! I'm going to start making arrangements. Oh, you said three days, does that mean I need to take time off?

Bro. Blinders: Well, yes Joe, but make it a matter of prayer to Jehovah. Ask your employer in advance. If you really want to please

Jehovah he will help you.

Joe: Oh, ok. I'll do that. See you next week.

SCENE 2

Out on service....

Joe: Not long to go now Bro. Blinders till our convention! I'm really lookign forward to it.

Bro Blinders: That's good to hear Joe. Jehovah's smile of approval be on you!

Joe: You know something, my whole family is coming and my two daughters as well. We'll need to stay at a hotel. I have enough points

to stay at the Hilton for the entire convention stay.

Bro Blinders: Well Joe, that's good to hear! You're whole family is coming? Wow! But Joe, could I ask you something? I'd like you to read

the Kingdom Ministry for December. There's some guidelines there for booking a hotel.

Joe: Sure!

Joe reads the guidelines...

Joe: You know brother, I didn't see the Hilton on the Recommended Lodging List. Does that mean I can't stay there?

Bro Blinders: Unfortunately Joe, that's true. You see, the Society plans the convention and rooming facilities for us months in advance, so we don't have

to worry about where we'll stay or even where to go for our lunch! Now that's Jehovah's spirit in action.

Joe: Whoa there brother, you said we don't have to worry about where we go for lunch? I already planned on taking my kids out to Red Lobster, which is only

5 minutes away.

Bro Blinders: I'm sorry Joe, but in the interests of organization Jehovah knows what's best for us, even if we don't know that ourselves. The Society wants us to

associate with the friends rather than spend our lunch time away from them. That's why they encourage us to bring a light lunch.

Joe: Oh, I guess you're right Bro. Blinders. We really don't have the money to spend at a hotel, but I'll take it to Jehovah in prayer.

ACT 2: SCENE 1

At the convention.

Joe: So Bro. Blinders, why don't we sit here together? It's the front row here and we'll have the bets view of the drama?

Bro Blinders: Hey Joe, that's great that you've found seats for all of us, usually I do that! But you know something, Jehovah's organisation is very organised.

The society have encouraged each congregation to sit in their assigned seats.

Joe: Oh, but that means we'll have to sit all the way up the back.

Bro blinders: Hey, don't worry about it Joe. Remember, it's the message coming from Jehovah himself we need to listen to, not worry about where we sit!

SCENE 2

After the convention is over. Bro. Blinders walks up to Joe and his family, who are looking rather downcast.

Bro. Blinders: Hey Joe! Well, how did you enjoy the convention? Isn't it great to be among the brothers and sisters who love you?

Joe: Actually Bro. Blinders, there's something you should know.

Bro Blinders: And what would that be?

Joe: You see Bro, Blinders, I've been studying with you for six months. You told me that I would find freedom leaving my former religion. You said you were follows of Jesus.

Yet, you've told me that I can't stay at a hotel of my choice, when it would have cost me and my family nothing, you've told us we can't go out for lunch and stretch our legs and

you've told us we can't sit anywhere else but the approved seating for our congregation. I saw some friends over the other side of the hall who I knew, but I couldn't sit next to them.

You told me about the wonderful fellowship that we can get from the friends, but to tell you truthfully, no one has come up to ask and said anything. But what really bothers me, is

that the title of this program is called "Follow The Christ", yet I didn't hear anything about Jesus himself or how we should look to him for salvation. So brother Blinders, I don't think

I will be attending meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses anymore and I wish to discontinue my study with you.

Failure to follow the wt guidelines on hotel rooms is a sign of sprouting apostacy, at least it was for me.  The last two yrs i was in, i rented from hotels that i chose.  I was still a good dub, w no intentions of leaving, but still, that's how it was.

S

Once again, Gary has a straightforward answer.  Nothing wrong with booking a block of rooms at a discount.
There is a discount at most of these hotels, I know some of you can do better, but many cannot. 
It is the spirit that the message is delivered in- DO IT, Do not vary from our command.

CO's told elders and servants that they would need to comply or be removed from the body.  TRUE.
Gary's suggestion that it just be honestly delivered and not forced, they would get most JW's to comply.

If you are not an elder, MS, pioneer- stay where you wanted to, or get the best deal.  They are powerless
to do anything in those cases.  I have a deal next year that I may use that would make the hotel free.
The wife won't even blink at something FREE.  As far as lunch outside the site goes, there's not a
threat to remove you if you go to the restaurant.  It's hard to travel and bring your own food for three days.
Many JW's continue to see the silliness of enforcing the BRING YOUR OWN FOOD rule and go out at
lunchtime. 

I never heard of congregation arrangements for seats, but there is the rules to save them only for your
immediate family and car group.  There is some consideration in that, but if you talk on your cell phones,
and know your buddy needs seats, I don't see a problem with that.