wildflower
11-10-2008, 04:13 PM
(Perhaps letters of support could be emailed or sent to the contact at the very bottom of this email if it is not possible to show up at the hearing)
Dear Sonoma County Residents,<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>The Sonoma County Fair has put up to bid the contract for ALL the alcohol, beer and wine sales. This contract is a 3 year term and covers the Fair, horse races, and all the other events at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. There were five companies bidding on the contract, including Elite Beverage services (our company). We are the ONLY company within Sonoma County to have bid on this. There is a three person board who looks over and interviews all the applicants. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>On November 4, 2008, the appointment board released their intention on recommending Ovations Food Services, a conglomerate headquartered out of Lutz, Florida, with a satellite office in Pleasanton, CA, as their nominee to win the vender contract with the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. This recommendation will go before the Fair Board of Directors for final approval on November 13, 2008 at a public meeting held on grounds at the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>I believe residents, business owners, and community members should voice their concerns over this upcoming recommendation due to the fact that Ovations (www.ovationsfoodservices.com (https://www.ovationsfoodservices.com/)) is a multimillion-dollar company owned by Comcast Inc. Ovations currently operates over 65 fairs and sports facilities, and over 27 convention and exposition centers across the Unites States & Canada, with annual revenues in excess of 10 million dollars.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>Ovations does not keep their revenue dollars local. They do not re-invest money back into the communities in which they profit from. As a result, it is my belief that local businesses and Sonoma County as a whole will be impacted economically by bringing another conglomerate who will send revenues out of Sonoma County. Ovations is known to go to mid-size and smaller counties and take over fairs and public facilities to edge out the small business owner, much like Wal-Mart has done with their business model.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>In this case, Ovations is offering the fair over $200,000 a year for three years in order to secure an exclusive contract. This type of offer and promise is impossible for smaller, local companies such as Elite Beverage Service to match. In order for Ovations to make true on their commitment to give the fairgrounds 600 hundred thousand dollars over the next three years, several things will need to happen.<o:p></o:p>
Ovations will not adhere to the same level of customer service and support for our local community as a local vender would. They will cut staff and security to save money resulting in job losses and less support for people who attend events at the fairgrounds. It is my belief that Ovations will be a company whose bottom line will be the amount of profit they can make and how they can further increase their profit margins to meet the demands of their investors on the East coast.<o:p></o:p>
I personally feel that the Sonoma County Fairgrounds has always represented the people of this great county. Every part of the fairgrounds has been local, from the great events like the Sonoma County Fair, Horse races, Harmony Festival, July 4<sup>th</sup>, Harvest fair, and so many other important events that are locally run and support our local economy. We all have shared memories of events we have attended at the Sonoma County Fair, from stomping grapes and eating cotton candy to winning a prize for that piece we entered as a kid. Some of us even took home ribbons. We share those memories and experiences with our families, friends, and our community. This is a local facility. The Sonoma County fairgrounds is for the people of the county, and hopefully put on by residents of our county. <o:p></o:p>
I have written this letter because I am asking for your help in stopping the Sonoma County Fair Board of Directors from awarding what should be a local contract to a national corporation. On November 13th at 4pm at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds administration building the Board of Directors will have their PUBLIC board meeting. This is where this three member board will make their recommendation of Ovations.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>This is our opportunity to let the board know how we feel about their choice. I'm asking you all to please attend this meeting to show your support against Ovations and keeping Sonoma County business for local companies. I am not writing this letter because I feel Elite Beverage Services should be given this contract, however I do not want to see this business opportunity go outside of our County. The Sonoma County Fairgrounds should remain in the hands of Sonoma County residents and businesses to continue the wonderful events that we know best.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>The Sonoma County Fairgrounds is a non-profit owned by the people of Sonoma County, So now we need to let them know that we are opposed to a WAL-MART type takeover of OUR fairgrounds. Please reply if you can attend and if you'd like to speak to the board. Thank you for your time in this matter.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>Gianni Messmer<o:p></o:p>
707-326-0766 ph<o:p></o:p>
707-575-9088 fx<o:p></o:p>
[email protected]<o:p></o:p>
--
Jessica Diaz
Director, Accountable Development Coalition
PO Box 1862
Santa Rosa, CA 95402
(707) 321-1577
[email protected]
Dear Sonoma County Residents,<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>The Sonoma County Fair has put up to bid the contract for ALL the alcohol, beer and wine sales. This contract is a 3 year term and covers the Fair, horse races, and all the other events at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. There were five companies bidding on the contract, including Elite Beverage services (our company). We are the ONLY company within Sonoma County to have bid on this. There is a three person board who looks over and interviews all the applicants. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>On November 4, 2008, the appointment board released their intention on recommending Ovations Food Services, a conglomerate headquartered out of Lutz, Florida, with a satellite office in Pleasanton, CA, as their nominee to win the vender contract with the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. This recommendation will go before the Fair Board of Directors for final approval on November 13, 2008 at a public meeting held on grounds at the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>I believe residents, business owners, and community members should voice their concerns over this upcoming recommendation due to the fact that Ovations (www.ovationsfoodservices.com (https://www.ovationsfoodservices.com/)) is a multimillion-dollar company owned by Comcast Inc. Ovations currently operates over 65 fairs and sports facilities, and over 27 convention and exposition centers across the Unites States & Canada, with annual revenues in excess of 10 million dollars.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>Ovations does not keep their revenue dollars local. They do not re-invest money back into the communities in which they profit from. As a result, it is my belief that local businesses and Sonoma County as a whole will be impacted economically by bringing another conglomerate who will send revenues out of Sonoma County. Ovations is known to go to mid-size and smaller counties and take over fairs and public facilities to edge out the small business owner, much like Wal-Mart has done with their business model.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>In this case, Ovations is offering the fair over $200,000 a year for three years in order to secure an exclusive contract. This type of offer and promise is impossible for smaller, local companies such as Elite Beverage Service to match. In order for Ovations to make true on their commitment to give the fairgrounds 600 hundred thousand dollars over the next three years, several things will need to happen.<o:p></o:p>
Ovations will not adhere to the same level of customer service and support for our local community as a local vender would. They will cut staff and security to save money resulting in job losses and less support for people who attend events at the fairgrounds. It is my belief that Ovations will be a company whose bottom line will be the amount of profit they can make and how they can further increase their profit margins to meet the demands of their investors on the East coast.<o:p></o:p>
I personally feel that the Sonoma County Fairgrounds has always represented the people of this great county. Every part of the fairgrounds has been local, from the great events like the Sonoma County Fair, Horse races, Harmony Festival, July 4<sup>th</sup>, Harvest fair, and so many other important events that are locally run and support our local economy. We all have shared memories of events we have attended at the Sonoma County Fair, from stomping grapes and eating cotton candy to winning a prize for that piece we entered as a kid. Some of us even took home ribbons. We share those memories and experiences with our families, friends, and our community. This is a local facility. The Sonoma County fairgrounds is for the people of the county, and hopefully put on by residents of our county. <o:p></o:p>
I have written this letter because I am asking for your help in stopping the Sonoma County Fair Board of Directors from awarding what should be a local contract to a national corporation. On November 13th at 4pm at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds administration building the Board of Directors will have their PUBLIC board meeting. This is where this three member board will make their recommendation of Ovations.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>This is our opportunity to let the board know how we feel about their choice. I'm asking you all to please attend this meeting to show your support against Ovations and keeping Sonoma County business for local companies. I am not writing this letter because I feel Elite Beverage Services should be given this contract, however I do not want to see this business opportunity go outside of our County. The Sonoma County Fairgrounds should remain in the hands of Sonoma County residents and businesses to continue the wonderful events that we know best.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>The Sonoma County Fairgrounds is a non-profit owned by the people of Sonoma County, So now we need to let them know that we are opposed to a WAL-MART type takeover of OUR fairgrounds. Please reply if you can attend and if you'd like to speak to the board. Thank you for your time in this matter.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>Gianni Messmer<o:p></o:p>
707-326-0766 ph<o:p></o:p>
707-575-9088 fx<o:p></o:p>
[email protected]<o:p></o:p>
--
Jessica Diaz
Director, Accountable Development Coalition
PO Box 1862
Santa Rosa, CA 95402
(707) 321-1577
[email protected]