This is most disturbing. Sentry Box was a stalwart defender of RPG back when the Calgary Herald was constantly alleging a connection between our games and crime, witchcraft, and even ouija boards [actual newspaper article]!
Quite obviously the destruction of property cannot be tolerate, but to punish all gamers for the actions of one or a few is stupid. If it is one, take legal action. If it is a whole group, kick them out.
With their solution, they are sending a message, "We don't care about gaming, just your money. Pay up or get out." I doubt that is their intent, but that is what I hear.
If it would help for we to contact them as CAR-PGa Chair, I will be glad to do it. If not, please make these points when you do.
Paul
From: Bryan Campbell <bcampbe@ucalgary.ca>
To: CAR-PGa: The Committee for the Advancement of Role-Playing Games <car-pga@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 8:28 PM
Subject: [CAR-PGa] Calgary, Alberta: Concerning policy change regarding in store games
I just had this show up on my Facebook feed this afternoon. As a bit
of background, the Sentry Box is a very large and very active gaming
store in Calgary, Alberta (where I live). The store is built into an
old dance club, and the upstairs mezzanine is used as a gaming area.
This policy addresses some problems the store seems to have been
having regarding the space.
New Policy for Events
After consultation and discussion we are going to be implementing a
new policy regarding events from the beginning of August.
If you are buying something and are in the store because you are
playing or running a specific event then you should inform the person
on the till. They will make a note of the purchase amount and it will
be entered into a spreadsheet to keep track of the total money spent
by each event. We will then periodically review to make sure the
events that deserve to be allocated space continue to get it, and
perhaps look at whether other events should continue.
So this will mean that there is NO fee for playing in events, as was
one of the ideas previously put forward. However, I do want to make
sure those groups that support the store are getting space to play so
we have come up with this alternative.
We would like to continue offering free gaming space but lately there
have been lots of broken chairs, tables, handrails, damaged walls,
etc. and the maintenance costs for running the space have been
increasing. By making sure that the groups using the space are the
ones that spend money in store it helps to justify us eating these
maintenance costs.
If you have any questions or comments on this new policy please email
me at ops@sentrybox.com
Greg
http://sentrybox.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/new-policy-for-events/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
I will be formulating a response to the store over the next few days.
I am very concerned with this, as I feel that less finance-requiring
games like roleplaying games and board games (as well as other events,
like a lecture series I wanted to run) are being targeting. I'm
concerned that this will be seen very negatively, and customers will
feel like they have to compete with each other financially in order
feel welcome at the Box. I also feel that players may choose other
venues to play in, and thus spend less money in store, which is
completely the opposite effect.
If anyone would like to include some comments, please sent them to me
over the next day or two, and I will try to incorporate them.
For the community in general, I hope that policies like this do not
become common place. Roleplayers stand to lose the most from decisions
like this, as it is very hard for many gamers to find affordable
spaces to play.
Bryan
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