Looking for clarification on guidelines

[ZeMartelo]

I need some clarification on the guidelines concerning fees to attend an event.

 

Theres going to be a local event soon and on the description page it mentions that there is a $5.00 fee to help cover the rental of the room and snacks.

 

Under the guidelines is this acceptable?

[+joranda]

I did not think so but these things change.

It is like going to a event at a hometown buffet, you can't go in unless you pay for the buffet.

Edited February 14, 2011 by joranda

[Pup Patrol]

I think the reviewer would be the best person to ask.

[+addisonbr]

I need some clarification on the guidelines concerning fees to attend an event.

 

Theres going to be a local event soon and on the description page it mentions that there is a $5.00 fee to help cover the rental of the room and snacks.

 

Under the guidelines is this acceptable?

It has been interpreted in the past as okay if the nominal fees are truly to cover the expenses of the event. This post by Keystone says, in part:

 

It is OK to charge to cover the actual costs. If the picnic pavilion rental is $100 and 50 people attend, it's fine to charge $2 per person. If everyone is going into the maze and it costs $5, then they have to pay the $5. Disclose these fees on the cache page.

The way that I read it is that a small charge for rental fees and snacks is probably fine. Charging a little extra to turn the event into a bit of a fundraiser for your group, would not be fine.

 

As always it makes sense to run anything that is questionable by your reviewer ahead of time - if you email him/her with your plans before actually creating and submitting the cache listing, I think you'll find the conversation goes pretty smooth. Perfectly reasonable question to ask in the forums though - I think if you run it by your reviewer you'll be fine.

[+Lil Devil]

I always grumble and bitch when an event host demands a "fee" to attend. However if they ask for a "donation" I'll happily donate $10 or more.

 

Even better when they get a bunch of local businesses to donate swag, and then sell raffle tickets. Then I feel like I'm getting something for my donation.

[+StarBrand]

I think it is reasonable to "ask", however, requiring it seems a bit tacky. When I host an event, I pay the room fees myself.

[+t4e]

yes, charges that are intended to cover the costs are acceptable...charges intended to create a profit are not acceptable

 

we hosted a 10 year event and paid for the pavilion rental, offered free hotdogs/hamburgers and fixings and water

we also had a lot of stuff, kindly donated by many geocaching stores, and in an attempt to recover the costs we organized a raffle for the swag, but buying tickets for it was optional

[+Dragoon]

That's why I love potluck events so much, removes the whole "giving the person money" stigma, also why I love spring/summer events where you don't need to rent a space

[+TerraViators]

I attended an event once that asked for donations to a charity. I forgot my cash so I wrote a check to the charity and gave it to the event host. The check never cleared.