I am member of a non-profit organization that hosts many events in the community. One a month on average. In September we host what is called The Harvest Festival Celebration. This event has drawn as many as 1,500 people to a community with a population of less than 500. Vendor booths are available to crafters and other items as well as the local churches.
The problem is this: There is one member of the committee that is also the leader of one of these churches. His church hosts a booth that includes barbequed chicken and beef. This person wants exclusive rights to all forms of barbeque and even wants to restrict the other participants from having barbeque sauce that the customer can pour on themselves.
This member has been allowed to get away with this for years. He has used the threat that if we don't give this to him he will make sure that there is no black people at the festival. He has no problem with other booth duplication.
What would you suggest?
2006-10-23 21:36:35 · 9 answers · asked by scootersgram 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Other - Arts & Humanities
Thank you to everyone. The purpose of posting this question was to obtain the views of uninvolved people to present at the next meeting. My solution to the problem by the way is that I believe that we should allow him exclusive rights to ONE and only one form of barbeque. He can make the choice of beef, chicken or pork. In the event that this is not agreeable to him, and it won't be, he can take a hike.
Hosting his own event is a good idea but I believe that the black public would attend both events.
2006-10-24 07:29:45 · update #1
It sure doesn't seem fair that he has gotten away with this for all these years, and now that he has....It will be a hard thing to change.
My questions are: How many other booths do you think you would possible get that would do a barbeque or just sauces? Would it add up to the equilivant of his?
Plus his being a church booth....What would the pastor / priest say about his "exclusive rights" to this event? Is this a neighborly thing? Love one another and all that? I don't think so.
My other question is...Do you feel that "his booth" brings in most of the customers to your fair?
Sounds like this man should have his own festival for his own church. Then see what he thinks about that idea. Perhaps he'll be more conforming. What is he afraid of? That his chicken won't stack up to his competitions?
What if you suggest that if other BBQ vendors come and have the identical menu as his, that the prices have to be the same, along with the amount of food for that price? Perhaps he's afraid they'll be lower in price and take away his business?
What is he afraid of? Ask him.
Also a possibility would be to run an event just for a BBQ contest. The best ribs gets $100 prize? The best sauce gets $100 prize. Hmmm....
Also, you may want to print out your question and answers here, then share it with him to open his eyes.
Well just thinking here, but I wish you luck there.
2006-10-23 22:00:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Rally other members to fight against it. Then encourage other people to come to the festival from other places. We live in a country called the USA. We are free to compete against each other in a free market. If there is a way to remove that person from the committee, I would do so. Bullying other people can only last so long. Get people to stand behind you and get your hands dirty. Sometimes that's the only way!
Here is something else I found that might help at work.
You get bullied at work
Arthur H. Bell, Ph.D., author of You Can't Talk to Me That Way: "Years ago, out of nowhere, my boss walked up to me and bellowed, 'What exactly do you think you're getting paid for?' Then he kicked a trash can and slammed his door. I wanted to shout back, but I sat shocked and red-faced as my colleagues stared at me."
Fix it fast: Don't fight anger with anger; that would simply rile an incensed individual more. Instead, vent behind closed doors to a trusted friend to gain perspective. But don't shy away from confrontation; if you wait too long, a pattern will set in.
Next time: The next day, meet with your boss and say, "I can see you're upset. If you let me know what's wrong, we can find a way to solve the problem." Bullies find it harder to blow up at someone who reacts rationally.
2006-10-24 04:47:05 · answer #2 · answered by RIDLEY 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
With all due respect I would tell him to take a hike. He has no right to the monopoly, and in all honesty just how can he make sure there are no "black" people at the event. If he doesn't go, then maybe more people will. Explain, politely, to other people why he is not at the event and members of his church will be able to see through him...who knows, maybe they already do.
Good luck to you.
2006-10-24 04:48:08 · answer #3 · answered by sarch_uk 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a leader of a church, with his demands and his threat, hopefully the rest knows his character and avoid him as a 'leader'. How can one who harvests such thoughts represents the church? I'll lose my respect for him.
2006-10-24 05:47:49 · answer #4 · answered by TK 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let him do his worst. What sort of delusions of grandeur make him think he can control the whole black population?
Handle it formally, write a report in advance and send him a copy, so that if the worst comes to the worst and your multi-ethnic attendance IS affected, you can explain to your funders that you simply stood up to a bully.
2006-10-24 04:47:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
you know better than to criticize a black person for anything. Shame on you. Go to the corner. (sarcasm)
2006-10-24 04:46:31 · answer #6 · answered by lefty 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
open your own booth and do totally the opisate
2006-10-24 05:04:49 · answer #7 · answered by lilcavichick 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
find an assasin for this guy?
2006-10-24 04:51:20 · answer #8 · answered by bunny 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Put him away..........Deep in the ground.....
2006-10-24 04:48:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋