truthseeker	Dec KM indicates extreme paranoia over booking hotels NOT on the list
	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"
IP: Ar6q8I2V8hLUKdru	by truthseeker: Correct formatting by truthseeker: Correct formatting