So, What Do They Dump Next?

by metatron 38 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  metatron

  Well, they dumped food service at assemblies, US subscriptions to the Watchtower, reduced hard bound book

  distribution and downsized about a thousand Bethelites ( over time). Supposedly, dumping subscriptions brought

  them into economic balance - but it's been awhile since that was done.

  So, what do they dump next?

  My guess would be that some district assemblies are getting to be a burden. At least with circuit assemblies, the

  building may be paid for, so upfront costs might be lower than a district assembly. Witness the jealous commands

  not to leave and get fast food - that might reduce $ in the contribution boxes and encourage Civic Centers to demand

  running food service at assemblies. A few letters to the right city officials might generate havoc.

  Secondly, the Awake magazine needs to be examined to determine what level of profit it makes for this 'non-profit'

  organization. It's purpose in the grand scheme ( or scam) of things is suspect: if you want to hook people in with

  a presentation of "Truth-Lite" ( witness the watered down weasel-words about birthdays), there may be trouble

  if the whole cult becomes superficial in its thinking, anyway. Such a change would make it even more worthy

  of being used for puppy training, wrapping fish, lining bird cages, or starting wood stove fires.

  metatron
• 

  dorothy

  Anything that isn't turning enough of a profit is out, just like any business. Assemblies will never be out, too much cash flow.
• 

  TallTexan

  Interesting question. They have to be careful downsizing Bethelites because of the free labor. And Dorothy's right about the cash flow from assemblies. If they have to pay for the facilities, then it puts more of a 'guilt trip' on the attendees (do they still use the stupid word 'delegates') to donate even more money to 'defray the expenses'. Interesting thought about the Awake!, though. My guess is that as things get tighter, they'll just up the cost of the literature to the publisher.....
• 

  Yerusalyim

  As I understand it, the Subscriptions were dropped to avoid taxes. Food Service dropped because it didn't make a profit. The print facility moved because it will be cheaper up north, and it makes some of the most valuable property in Brooklyn open to rent/sale at a LARGE profit. Bethlites were downsized because with technology they can do more with less...they're saving about $100,000 just on the Bethelite allowance...then add the food not prepared, the electricity not used, the cleaning not being done, etc and they probably save $5 million or more a year by this move. So, what's next? Farming out the bethelites in the infirmary to a congregation?
• 

  metatron

  If you read between the lines about assemblies, I think you can see concern brewing about costs , sagging attendance,

  and collective behavior of Witnesses. The district assemblies are an anachronism, a throwback to the Rutherford days when they

  actually put some effort into them. In recent years, it's mostly just another service meeting in more uncomfortable seats, with

  cut 'n paste counsel and rerun dramas.

  As for literature costs, passing on the costs is difficult if people just don't contribute. Their current solution has simply been

  to print and distribute less.

  metatron
• 

  dorothy

  I guess it is possible that assemble profits are dragging. At the last 2 assemblies I've been to they've made special announcements, both exactly the same "A special thank you to the person who made an individual contibution of $500." Message to the rest of us: "Dig deep, you're not giving nearly enough. Be as faithful as these ones."
• 

  truthseeker1

  If they cut anything, its the conventions. They could probably cut a 3 day convention to 2 2days assemblies. They'd probably get higher attendance, and more money. Hell, they could probably make 5 2days, and the flock will still go.
• 

  Scully

  Over the last 20 years or so, District Conventions have been scaled down significantly. The first DC I went to in the early 70s was a five-day event. That was the norm back then. By the 80s, the norm became four days, with five days being allotted for International Conventions? held every 5 years. Then in the 90s we saw the DCs reduced to three-day events.

  I don't believe for a second that these decisions had anything to do with anything OTHER THAN maximizing the profit margin for the WTS. The way to sell it to the Brothers? is to let them think that the WTS is Simplifying? - making the conventions more compact, less draining on them financially and physically. All of a sudden the Brothers? are grateful for the Privilege?: they only have to pay for 2 nights of hotel accommodation --> "hey, let's put the money we're saving into the Contribution Box?!" They don't have to pay for food if they bring their own lunches --> "hey, let's put the money we've saved into the Contribution Box?!"

  So the WTS spends less money on the venues they rent because they are renting for shorter periods of time, especially now that they are using venues in smaller areas that they can swindle around more easily, plus they have a psychological advantage with the old-timers remembering the days of 5, 6, 7 and 8 day conventions who are more than happy to say how much things have improved over the years and how Jehovah's Blessing? is obviously on His People?, and how they have more to put in the collection plates Contribution Boxes? with the Simplified Arrangement?.

  Very very clever, isn't it??

  I can see a shift to having shorter conventions and more conventions in Assembly Halls. The "worldly" venues are going to see the JW conventions as money pits and are going to start asking for things that they'd normally want from these events: concession sales and parking revenue. So the WTS is going to have to retreat to their own large Assembly Halls for these functions, which they already do in many areas.

  Love, Scully
• 

  undercover

  So the WTS spends less money on the venues they rent because they are renting for shorter periods of time, especially now that they are using venues in smaller areas that they can swindle around more easily, plus they have a psychological advantage with the old-timers remembering the days of 5, 6, 7 and 8 day conventions who are more than happy to say how much things have improved over the years and how Jehovah's Blessing? is obviously on His People?, and how they have more to put in the collection plates Contribution Boxes? with the Simplified Arrangement?.

  Have you noticed how they parade the contribution box attendents in front of everybody during the closing song of each session? They line up at an entrance to the arena floor and then during the song they walk out for all to see and place them every so many feet apart. Meanwhile, the dubs are singing and watching, remembering that they need to drop something in the box. For a church that prides itself on not "passing the plate" this little display sure does show what's important.
• 

  iiz2cool

  Have you noticed how they parade the contribution box attendents in front of everybody during the closing song of each session?

  Yep. Why on earth would they pass around little collection plates when the boxes they use can hold so much more?

  Walter