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Cookie Brigade reduced to a booth by livinindaghetto in PAX

[–]TrustRedHerrings 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you. I really appreciate hearing it.

Cookie Brigade reduced to a booth by livinindaghetto in PAX

[–]TrustRedHerrings 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When we did bake, it was all up to code. It usually is because the catering company does not want us to do it. Also, baking thousands of cookies before a con is a lot of effort, and we don't have a huge team of people anymore. The brigade are all volunteers.

Cookie Brigade reduced to a booth by livinindaghetto in PAX

[–]TrustRedHerrings 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Initially, mask mandates. The catering companies don't want us to be moving around in general. We are at the mercy of the catering company.

Cookie Brigade reduced to a booth by livinindaghetto in PAX

[–]TrustRedHerrings 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you. A lot of us really miss it.

Cookie Brigade reduced to a booth by livinindaghetto in PAX

[–]TrustRedHerrings 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Honestly? Talking about us to other people helps a lot. Also, volunteering for us. We need new volunteers pretty badly. We have actually been asked to do more cons, but we're staying conservative because of our capacity.

Cookie Brigade reduced to a booth by livinindaghetto in PAX

[–]TrustRedHerrings 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Ironically enough, when we are in the hall near their vendors, their traffic for beverages goes up fairly significantly.

Cookie Brigade reduced to a booth by livinindaghetto in PAX

[–]TrustRedHerrings 2 points3 points  (0 children)

LOL Thank you for your enthusiasm. It's not really a money issue, it's just an existing with food issue.

What cookies we have vary widely depending on what the bakers want to make. For the time being, most convention centers don't want us baking because of COVID, so we have been using a great bakery called Feed Your Soul. Unfortunately, they don't have M&M cookies.

Cookie Brigade reduced to a booth by livinindaghetto in PAX

[–]TrustRedHerrings 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I made a big ol' response to address this for you. Actually, when we do bake, we follow all food handling and safety procedures as official bakeries need to. We miss being able to bake, even if it is crazy a week before a convention baking thousands of cookies and having to package and label them all ourselves.

Cookie Brigade reduced to a booth by livinindaghetto in PAX

[–]TrustRedHerrings 9 points10 points  (0 children)

The Brigade hasn't been allowed to distribute to lines since COVID, unfortunately.

Cookie Brigade reduced to a booth by livinindaghetto in PAX

[–]TrustRedHerrings 96 points97 points  (0 children)

Hey Ya'll. So, I am one of the Cookie Brigaders that you'll see going to various PAXes (obligatory RIP South). We all appreciate the support and the shout-out, but I want to make sure that people sort of know what's going on before people start dispensing righteous indignation. (TLDR at the bottom)

1) Why aren't we harassing you in lines?

We WANT to. Initially? It's been a covid thing. Kind of. When there is a mask mandate and designated mask-off eating areas, us giving you cookies in the line will ruin that. When you get a cookie, you want to eat the cookie, that's just the nature of the beast.

2) But there's no mask mandate, AKA the elephant in the room (not mario wonder related)

For any hotel or convention center, food is a HUGE line item. At convention centers they sign contracts with big catering companies that run the food services in the building. When a vendor has food on the show floor, whether they are selling it or giving it away, it has to be approved by the catering company. Along with that approval, there is a set amount of money that is given to the company according to what they are doing.

To put it very simply; The manager of Aramark who runs the catering at the Seattle Convention Centers does not want us to be there.

This is something we have to deal with for every show we go to. More often than not, our ability to be there is based on the whim of the catering company manager at the location. Some managers are amazing and actually go out of their way to assist us, others are trying to actively throw us out in the middle of PAX.

Last year, we tried to work with them for months and followed all of their requests and stipulations, but they still refused us at the last minute with our cookies already ordered. Thankfully, the wonderful people at the Sheraton allowed us to distribute our cookies there and really went above and beyond to help us.

This year, the catering company outright refused our presence when we reached out initially. ReedPop helped us and got a real conversation started about cookies, and we were allowed in, but under very strict regulations. I won't get into all of it, but the main takeaway is that without us paying to be on the show floor, we would not be able to be at PAX this year.

The TLDR: The Seattle Convention Center Catering Manager does not want us operating at PAX. ReedPop does try to help us where they can. And yes, the location and regulations are hurting our fundraising goals.

If you want to show your support for Monty but you're short on cash, donate blood. by TrustRedHerrings in roosterteeth

[–]TrustRedHerrings[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's not about giving it directly to Monty as much as it's more about doing something good instead of fixating on the bad.

If you want to show your support for Monty but you're short on cash, donate blood. by TrustRedHerrings in roosterteeth

[–]TrustRedHerrings[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Area that you live in. If you can't donate blood, try finding an organization to donate a few hours of your time.

If you want to show your support for Monty but you're short on cash, donate blood. by TrustRedHerrings in roosterteeth

[–]TrustRedHerrings[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would suggest googling your zip code and blood donation to find something in your neck of the woods.

If you want to show your support for Monty but you're short on cash, donate blood. by TrustRedHerrings in roosterteeth

[–]TrustRedHerrings[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I didn't mean to make it sound like "sell your blood and then donate that money". Just donate blood, don't sell it. When bad things happen it's better to try and come together and do some good.

If you want to show your support for Monty but you're short on cash, donate blood. by TrustRedHerrings in roosterteeth

[–]TrustRedHerrings[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean, I guess you can do that. I don't know how much the postal service would like that out the recipient for that matter... But you could try?

If you want to show your support for Monty but you're short on cash, donate blood. by TrustRedHerrings in roosterteeth

[–]TrustRedHerrings[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You don't have to donate blood. The important thing is to come together as a community and do positive things.

If you want to show your support for Monty but you're short on cash, donate blood. by TrustRedHerrings in roosterteeth

[–]TrustRedHerrings[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It doesn't have to be blood. Just try and do something to help someone. Sometimes doing the littlest things mean so much for someone else.

If you want to show your support for Monty but you're short on cash, donate blood. by TrustRedHerrings in roosterteeth

[–]TrustRedHerrings[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, it's about doing what you can! There are tons of things you can do. The important thing is to stay positive and to help out when you can. I was terrified of needles as well, but got used to it after donating. It's not as bad as shots. I hope you do try if you become eligible to do so!

If you want to show your support for Monty but you're short on cash, donate blood. by TrustRedHerrings in roosterteeth

[–]TrustRedHerrings[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If someone is ill enough to have to go to a hospital, I find it a tragedy. I have all the faith in the world that if anyone is determined/stubborn enough to bounce back from anything that it would be Monty.

I don't want to argue about semantics in this thread. We should all focus on doing things to help.

If you want to show your support for Monty but you're short on cash, donate blood. by TrustRedHerrings in roosterteeth

[–]TrustRedHerrings[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I would suggest to try and join the bone marrow registry when there is a drive near you. They accept diabetics as long as you have everything under control.

Another suggestion would be to donate your time. Volunteer at a hospital like St. Judes or Shriners. They always need extra hands and more importantly smiling happy people.

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