A bit of a clarification is in order. Since I announced the 2010 International Custom Rod Exposition back in May of 2009, I have been contacted by no less than 18 “not for profit” or “non profit” groups or charities all asking for free Expo booth space. I could easily fill half the hall with the groups that have requested free booths and promotional opportunities at the Expo. However, I can’t accept one without accepting all, and thus, I have declined to offer anyone free space, non profit or otherwise.

This doesn’t mean that I don’t like the various charity groups or that I don’t give to charities - I certainly do. But I just can’t afford to pack the Expo exhibit hall with free booths for charity groups and not for profit organizations - there would be nobody left to pay the bills and the bills for the Expo are substantial.

I respect the intentions of these groups and feel that most all of them are sincere and doing good work. However, my pockets are only so deep and I can’t foot the bill for every well intentioned group or person out there. If you were refused a free booth space, please understand it had nothing to do with your intentions or particular charity - it had everything to do with funding. I don’t get a free ride and thus can’t offer one to others. Sorry. An event of this size and scale just costs far too much to pull off for me to be able to offer free space to all the various charities. As I said, I can’t offer space to one without offering it to all. And there are just too many that have requested it.

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Thanks Tom, there is a time and place for everything. I dont see where any charity has anything to do with a rodbuilding convention. This is not a
callus statement but one where I attend several expos and conventions annually and at those I feel the same way. We all do our own charity work
in our own ways and I often feel put upon by these groups in these settings. Next you will have PETA wanting a free booth so they can tell us what a
bunch of heathens we are for 'hurting' defenseless fish!!! It makes about as much sense.

Conference attendees come with certain expectations. Most attendees want those specific expectations to be met and don't like too many surprises.

Encountering a number of charity groups within a rod building Expo is NOT a conference expectation.

I have many opportunities to contribute to charity through other forums, and I do.