District Convention Growth Rate

by TheListener 13 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  willyloman

  I have a hard time believing that it would be more profitable to hold more conventions. Logic dictates that they would make more profit by cramming as many people into one venue as possible. With less venues they get the same attendance and contributions, but have to pay less for rentals.

  What I learned working in convention administration:

  The dubs are not big givers, but they are good sheep - they will give you whatever you ask for. So, if the expenses are $10,000 for a congo, all you have to do is announce early in the convention that you've only collected $3,000 so far and there is a "deficit" of $7,000 and you will get at least that much more before it's over. The key to understanding this is that the $10,000 in "expenses" is really about $5,000 in actual expenses for the convention, with the rest in the form of pre-agreed donations to the Society (usually in the ($2-3,000 range, always based on what they sent last time), payments for Circuit and District Overseer car insurance, repair bills, apartment expenses related to those living quarters attached to various Kingdom Halls, and a host of other expenditures that are presented to the elders at their convention business meeting (and nobody ever votes "no").

  So, yeah, the more venues there are, the greater the opportunity to guilt the friends into making up the prearranged "deficit." These guys are no fools when it comes to making money for Mother.
• 

  Mulan

  I can attest to this. In the Pacific Northwest, all coventions prior to 2006 were held in the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, WA. This year they are holding conventions in the Tacoma Dome and also in the Portland, OR Memorial Coliseum. No increase in that area, I can guarantee it. Just more locations. Of course I'm sure it's going to be great for people living in the Portland area, not having to drive up to Tacoma and pay for rooming.

  That's right, and they had 3 of them, with 13,000-14,000 in attendance each with over 100 being baptized at each one. The past few years they've downsized them to about 10,000 people and about 30 baptized. Not sure if there are still 3 conventions, but you would think they would start wondering.
• 

  looking_glass

  I think it is like the one poster who said that in his area it was growing but that was because the area had gone from 0 to 60 in less then 5 years. So in areas where there is a decrease, is there an increase somewhere else.

  In my mom's congo the English speaking halls are getting smaller but the Spanish speaking ones are growing by leaps and bounds. However, with the crack down in illegal immigrants, it makes one wonder if they are going to hit the KHs first in order to shake out the people who don't have residency cards.

  But that also always made me wonder ... if JWs are so "we obey the law" why would they allow people that they know for a fact are illegal residents to go to the hall, get baptized and go out in service. It is my understanding the only thing they cannot do is hold a position (ie. MS or Elder) in the congo. Sorry, I strayed there a little.
• 

  jgnat

  A new Kingdom Hall was built in my neighbourhood, but my neighbourhood is booming in a booming city in a booming province. Our population growth is five times the national average.

  http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060402/alberta050402/

  P.S. They've recently roped off the upper section of our convention facility, presumably to comply with fire regulations. We were a little squishy but we all fit on the main floor. I think the space now fits about 8,000.