Jeff,

Succinctly, my fee will be including my management team and crew to assume duties within our agreed scope of the project. I have always found that the most successful events I have been associated with have a director/organizer, and a number of qualified captains to execute an agreed upon plan. The benefits are:

 1. You acquire the talents and expertise of more than one capable person.

 2. One person cannot be the most talented for every single aspect of a large event. The Marketing/Communications expert is not necessarily the Site Management expert. To utilize individuals who are at a height of success within their own unique areas of expertise brings more than just the sum of the parts to the effort of the event(s). It is a corollary to the J. Paul Getty axiom "I'd rather have the efforts of one percent of 100 people than 100% of my own."

 3. If I were to actually physically expedite all of the components listed in the RFP, I would require a larger fee than I submitted. The team concept is more economical, cost efficient, and enjoys a much bigger brain trust than just an individual Herculean effort.

 4. A new event has a better chance of becoming an annual event when experienced participants who know what works and what to look out for are managing the event.

 5. It allows time for director to focus on negotiations, sponsor issues, stakeholder relations, message, coordination, and development.

I will speak concerning the individuals that comprise my team when we meet. I want to make it clear - I will reiterate this when we meet - they are not responsible for their tasks within the events. I am responsible for all the components of managing the event. They respond under my guidance and direction, but the ultimate responsibility for the successful management of RiverFest is mine.

I would like to point out, as a bonus, another benefit to this management practise is: everyone on my team resonates and buys into the Mission of the Organization.

When we meet, I will also bring a line item budget that I use for events. These are the component costs that the organization will be responsible for. Ultimately, every event and every component of each event has its own budget. Once the events and promotions are agreed upon, we can build budgets, and the budgets will drive the events.

Acquiring sponsorship is actually another budget category that we should all be prepared to discuss on Wednesday.

My own questions will revolve around entertainment, fiscal responsibility, non-profit participation, stakeholders, and funding sources.

I very much look forward to meeting with all of you at 2:30 on Wednesday. Please feel free to call me with any comments or questions.

With best regards,

JIM MILLER