[denny]

By the way my previous comments seem to have disappeared from the forum.  Disappointed to be frank.

Your comments were not removed by any of us.  They're right here...http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=17834.msg225382#msg225382

[mabrungard]

Can the Governing Board members report when the NHC 1st round judging site and date listing will be published? At present, we only know 12 locations and sometime late March, early April.

[hopfenundmalz]

Can the Governing Board members report when the NHC 1st round judging site and date listing will be published? At present, we only know 12 locations and sometime late March, early April.

6 sites are up on the BJCP competition schedule.

[brewmichigan]

I understand why they did this but it sucks that on the year it's in my back yard, there's a chance I won't be able to go. It's just getting too popular but I hope the increased prices and extra barriers, which are no problem for the majority of us, keep out the person who just wants to get drunk and allows the people who really want to go the ability to go.

[AmandaK]

I understand why they did this but it sucks that on the year it's in my back yard, there's a chance I won't be able to go. It's just getting too popular but I hope the increased prices and extra barriers, which are no problem for the majority of us, keep out the person who just wants to get drunk and allows the people who really want to go the ability to go.

Every year there are several people who cannot go at the last minute. They post their tickets here. Since you won't have to buy a plane ticket or drive across the country on a whim, I bet you could be first in line for the unused ticket.

[AmandaK]

Can the Governing Board members report when the NHC 1st round judging site and date listing will be published? At present, we only know 12 locations and sometime late March, early April.

6 sites are up on the BJCP competition schedule.

KC - March 28/29
Philly - March 28/29
San Diego - 4/4
Seattle - 4/4
St. Paul - 4/11
Denver? - 4/11

I would guess that the remaining sites have not nailed down something with the AHA yet.

[morticaixavier]

I understand why they did this but it sucks that on the year it's in my back yard, there's a chance I won't be able to go. It's just getting too popular but I hope the increased prices and extra barriers, which are no problem for the majority of us, keep out the person who just wants to get drunk and allows the people who really want to go the ability to go.

Every year there are several people who cannot go at the last minute. They post their tickets here. Since you won't have to buy a plane ticket or drive across the country on a whim, I bet you could be first in line for the unused ticket.

also, I think there is a fair chance that the Lottery for the Conference will never even happen. The conference didn't sell out that quickly last year, it was the Contest that was the real PITA. I'm sure the lottery will come into play for the contest but I'm not convinced it will even be an issue for the conference.

[hopfenundmalz]

I understand why they did this but it sucks that on the year it's in my back yard, there's a chance I won't be able to go. It's just getting too popular but I hope the increased prices and extra barriers, which are no problem for the majority of us, keep out the person who just wants to get drunk and allows the people who really want to go the ability to go.

Every year there are several people who cannot go at the last minute. They post their tickets here. Since you won't have to buy a plane ticket or drive across the country on a whim, I bet you could be first in line for the unused ticket.

also, I think there is a fair chance that the Lottery for the Conference will never even happen. The conference didn't sell out that quickly last year, it was the Contest that was the real PITA. I'm sure the lottery will come into play for the contest but I'm not convinced it will even be an issue for the conference.

The AHA will have a data point on what the demand is. Compared to Philly bigger conference at 4000 attendees, fewer people in a days drive, maybe not as easy by air travel. Will it fill up and have a lottery? The data will come in and we will know.

[phoneman65]

I read someone saying that if you and your spouse were members that you could both register. I called the AHA and asked about this and was told that they will only take one registration per member. Meaning that if you register and put your spouse (also a member) as a guest, then you are each registered once. In other words you can't each register and put each other as guests. That would be two per.

[Jimmy K]

I read someone saying that if you and your spouse were members that you could both register. I called the AHA and asked about this and was told that they will only take one registration per member. Meaning that if you register and put your spouse (also a member) as a guest, then you are each registered once. In other words you can't each register and put each other as guests. That would be two per.

That makes sense that they'd keep you from gaming the system.

[mabrungard]

That makes sense that they'd keep you from gaming the system.

It actually doesn't make sense. How is a member going to bring a spouse or friend that is interested in homebrewing? And how is AHA going to handle the fact that when a member gets through the lottery and their partner doesn't, that means that a whole flock of members are not going to follow through and register. This truly is the dumbest thing I've heard.

How is the system gamed by having the opportunity to obtain two spots?

[Jimmy K]

That makes sense that they'd keep you from gaming the system.

It actually doesn't make sense. How is a member going to bring a spouse or friend that is interested in homebrewing? And how is AHA going to handle the fact that when a member gets through the lottery and their partner doesn't, that means that a whole flock of members are not going to follow through and register. This truly is the dumbest thing I've heard.

How is the system gamed by having the opportunity to obtain two spots?

What phoneman wrote is that you can register your spouse as a guest, but your spouse can't also register with you as a guest. That would give you each two slots in the lottery. I did not talk to AHA myself, but the post makes it sound like you can still register yourself and a guest together.

I agree it would be very stupid if that isn't true.

- Sent by my R2 unit

[bonjour]

The opportunity is to procure 2 seats with your registration, yourself, plus an AHA member guest.
Almost the same as last year.  The new part is that your guest must be an AHA member.

Last year all registrations required a name, the same this year.  This year all names require a unique AHA member number.  (same change as above)

What you cannot do is to register for yourself and a guest, and have your "guest" register for her/himself and you.


Does that make sense to you?

[theDarkSide]

If someone registers their spouse as a guest, can they later cancel that for a refund.  I could see the AHA getting a lot of family memberships this year if it could double their chances of going.

[bonjour]

If someone registers their spouse as a guest, can they later cancel that for a refund.  I could see the AHA getting a lot of family memberships this year if it could double their chances of going.

I don't see the point.
You register with your AHA Family Membership wife, By far the highest likelihood is that you get your tickets (plural) after the registration period.  Your probability is neither up nor down.  You both most-likely get in.  Your guest will not get in without you.

Last year in Philly everyone who was initially refused (there was another convention there when we started) was offered a registration along with everyone on the standby list and everyone that wanted a registration was allowed to purchase one.  (we were able to offer a Friday/Saturday package that was added when we found out the other convention was leaving.)

Cancellations:  If for a legitimate reason, I know the AHA staff will work with you, but we really want to cut down on any cancellations that are from gaming the system to increase chances.  These prevent staff from working the normal workload of the AHA and in the long run hurt all of us by costing resources.