[tjjeepjeep]

This will be lengthy, so my apologies to those with short attention spans. I will post a Cliff Notes version for those who fall asleep by paragraph 2:

I was off work yesterday so I took to opportunity to go by Rib City. I got lucky in that both Rhonda (our normal server) as well as the owner (Mike) were there. We opened the conversation with Mike asking how he could help. I said I was there to figure out what needs to be done so he doesn't call Scott the Tuesday after every meeting.

We started with the "open" tickets. I asked how it was possible that a ticket paid with a credit card still shows open. He said it's not, that the computer would show it closed. I replied that one of the two was and that the person was willing to bring in copies of his statement to prove it went through. We pulled it up, and sure enough; it showed as closed with a credit card. So he said he'd give me my/club money back on that one. He asked about the other and I said I'd not heard anymore on it. It showed as cash, which wasn't conclusive on when (unfortunately).

I then mentioned some service related issues, as well as kitchen related issues. He said there shouldn't be issues with the kitchen staff keeping up with us since we place orders as we get there versus one big order of 40 people. That it could be how it's typed in as well as when (yes, meaning we're back to server). So I said to both of them how can we as a group help to ensure things go smoothly, here's what we came up with:

--When you order, Rhonda will give you your order number. Please try to remember it.
--They will open the drink station near us. Rhonda said we complained stuff tasted funny from it, but Mike said he'd call Coke to come look at it. The intention of this is not for us to necessarily have to serve ourselves (though I personally would rather than wait) but to reduce time for Rhonda to go back in the back for drinks.
--They will put pitchers of drinks out so when we mill around we can fill from those (I think this has been done a couple of meetings).
--Rhonda will try to get the tickets distributed shortly after Scott ends the meeting, rather than waiting.
--We are going to now pay at the cash register at the front instead of paying Rhonda. Hopefully this will ensure all cash sales get taken care of. In addition it will ensure no tickets are lying around appearing as unpaid (I personally believe this may have been what happened).
--Tips: you can add it on your credit card at the front. However if you're going to leave cash, I will have an envelope for them whereever I happen to have my stuff gathered. Please put the cash in it and I'll give it to her at the end of the night. I did convince them that it was in their best interests to continue to refrain from automatically adding the tip to the check.
--I will check before I leave that all of our tickets are closed out.
--Keep in mind that it can be difficult for Rhonda to know who's come in since she was last in the room. Feel free to stop her if you've not placed an order and have been there a few. Or let me know and I'll send her your way.
--Mike said he would be there til 7:30p at the meeting, if you wish to give specific feedback you've experienced. Please feel free, so he's not just hearing from Scott or myself.

I'm personally (not on behalf of the club, my thoughts only) disappointed that the open ticket issue didn't produce a more apologetic reaction from either one of them. I refuse to believe that any one of us would intentionally walk out without paying. Based on their lack of reaction to the credit card; I immediately shifted my goal of the meeting to protection of our members. And I was glad I did because after 45 minutes with them providing specific examples/issues, I never once heard any apologies or mention of needing additional people to support us ...not from Rhonda, nor from Mike as owner. It felt like I was just given a constant stream of excuses.

That said, I will do what I can and am personally asking for each of your assistance in getting the meeting to work to the best of our ability. (This may be just short of me taking orders to the kitchen, and delivering food honestly.) If we can find some sort of happy medium where we're happy and Rhonda/Mike are too; then we've found middle ground. I would ask that you please refrain from any soapbox posts. However as always, I'm interested in constructive feedback/ideas. I know it's far from a perfect solution, but it is what it is. We will see how the Feb meeting goes. Thanks for your attention and patience.