No more district assemblies in Tri-Cities. News article

by Indian Larry 26 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  Indian Larry

  For years the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses has held a regional convention in the Tri-Cities, attracting about 16,000 of the faithful who spend an estimated $8.6 million while in town.

  But they won't be coming in 2014.

  "What they told me is the decision has been made nationally to downsize the number of conventions from 400 to 100. They're simply consolidating," said Kris Watkins, president and CEO of the Tri-Cities Visitor & Convention Bureau in Kennewick.

  Read more here: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2013/08/01/2500842/jehovahs-witnesses-convention.html#storylink=cpy
• 

  cedars

  Very interesting.

  Cedars
• 

  Oubliette

  Is this in Washington, USA? Kennewick, Pasco & Richland?

  It'd help if you supplied context for those of us that don't know where the "Tri-cities" is located.

  Thanks!
• 

  sir82

  What they told me is the decision has been made nationally to downsize the number of conventions from 400 to 100. They're simply consolidating

  If true, that's pretty big news.

  Sounds like the long-rumored transition to holding DCs in assembly halls instead of rented arenas might be about to become reality.

  I'd the guess the "100" would be in the remotest areas where assembly halls are not so common, such as the US west & plains states.

  Again, if true, I wonder if they'd also do the other rumored change, switch to 2-day DCs? Friday attendance continues to be pitiful, only about 60-70% of the peak the other 2 days.

  Read more here: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2013/08/01/2500842/jehovahs-witnesses-convention.html#storylink=cpy
• 

  Separation of Powers

  Consolidating 400 to 100 seems like a logistical nightmare! Assuming that 5000 people attend each assembly, that would total about 2 million people for the 400 assemblies, oh excuse me, conventions. If those 2 million people were "consolidated" to 100 conventions, that would require a venue that could accommodate 20 thousand people! That, my friends, is a huge crowd, reminiscent of the pre-78 conventions. What a nightmare! If this is true, then the conventions are not bringing in the contributions to justify the effort. The current convention strategy is smaller, less active venues, where 4-7 thousand can attend. They are typically held in summer months when business conventions are in "sleep mode" and when the only real competition for space is boat shows, tattoo expos, gun shows or home and garden events. Therefore, the venues can be acquired for less than top dollar. I am expecting that the district convention arrangement will be phased out. Yes, it will be done in the spirit of simplification. It is too time consuming for the teaching committee and the return on the investment is simply not there. With the new and improved website, any new publications will be presented, or better still, at the circuit assembly where trucking and delivery concerns, venue, and accessible debit or credit card machines are available. SOP
• 

  sir82

  I am expecting that the district convention arrangement will be phased out.

  They'd never "phase out" DCs - they are the biggest moneymakers the WTS has left. I'd peg the income for each one to be an average of $100,000 or more, at least in the US (obviously, some far more & some far less, depending on the area).

  What would make sense would be to increase their "profit margin".

  Instead of paying thousands of dollars per venue in rental fees, why not hold most DCs in already-paid-for assembly halls? $0 in rental expenses would increase net income substantially.

  The reason most people contribute is to "pay" for the new literature releases anyway - so overall gross income from the 1 million + US JWs would likely be about the same.

  Time for another speculation special: I speculate that besides using it as an opportunity to present a "New New World Translation", the October Annual Meeting (that all active JWs are invited to, to see streamed into assembly halls) will also be used to announce next year's "simplified" DC arrangement.
• 

  Indian Larry

  Oubilette - Check the link. It is a newspaper. I believe it is in Washington
• 

  Oubliette

  Larry, I did. It was unclear. So you don't know either. Ok.
• 

  Gopher

  The original post mentioned the city of Kennewick, which indeed is in the Tri-Cities area of Pasco, Richland and Kennewick in Washington state. (My mom spent many of her young years in Pasco.)
• 

  mindnumbed

  Odd, they say that they expect them to return in 2015.

  "Watkins expects the district convention to return to the Tri-Cities in 2015."

  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2013/08/01/2500842/jehovahs-witnesses-convention.html#storylink=cpy