First of all. I am willing to discuss the merits of having these meetings bit you have to be willing to listen. Half of what you've said is not accurate.
1) Every person only spends two half days during the conference (8 hours net). It repeats 4 times because you can not fit every participant at once so we are divided in four groups.
2) The purpose of these meeting is not to give hugs or party.... they are intended to communicate what is going on with he company. We have it every year, and there was a debate to cancel it. Unfortunately this was planned in March when oil was a 25 not at 50 and most of the expenses had been paid off already. Most likely next year it won't happen or it will be a significantly reduced version of it But considering the importance of it and the few savings the decision was to go ahead and have it.
3) For a organization of this size you need some vehicle for communication. Arpey is flying all around the system to meet with employees and explain what is going on. This is just another effort to fulfill that purpose
4) Some of the expenses were been paid by companies like American Express in exchange for Advertising.
5) We were shown the projections for the rest of 04 and 05 with fuel at all time highs it is scary, we will continue to simplify our operation (Chicago test) and we will continue to reduce the cost of parts we buy. We will have almost no growth in 2005. But no specific cuts were discussed of any magnitude were discussed.
6) The bar thing I admit was unnecessary. But it was at the end and not plentiful, the way you described it. I got to drink a glass of wine because I was early but it ran out quickly. Also keep in mind that most people live in Dallas so the amount of food, hotels and transportation is just for outsiders. Just to give an example of how tight things were, instead of providing parking close to the conference site for the locals, parking was provided like 10 minutes away and we had to take a bus because the on-site parking was expensive.
Well this is my story, unfortunately these days the company can't do anything w/o being criticised. If we meet we waste money, if we don't, we are not keeping the employees engaged. If we advertise we are wasting money.. but if we don't why aren't we doing anything to bring passengers back.... this is a loose-loose situation....
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Airguy----From where I set, I may not have all the answeers! And I'm the first to say that at times I do jump to conclusions, maybe without all the info I should have! But it seems to me in a year that has seen unpresadented concessions on the part of a.a.'s employees, the company should be more sensative to the fact that now, more than ever we all should look for ways to save what has been given them! And if that means you pay for your oun wine! So be it! And Sir I do applogize! I'm not picking on you personally, just trying to make a point!
