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Space & Planetary Science

Sponsoring Receptions While Budgets Are Being Cut

By Keith Cowing
NASA Watch
January 5, 2014
Filed under , ,

Keith’s note: At a time when NASA science budgets are being slashed, I find it to be a little odd that USRA, a non-profit that could simply not exist without a constant influx of NASA funds (and the overhead that they charge on those funds) is able to find the money to host a reception for 5,000 astronomers – and to be telling everyone that they have done so. Receptions like this can easily cost $20 to $30 per person – or more. Perhaps USRA can tell us what they spent on this. My guess is that it would cover a good portion of someone’s college education.
I guess this was what it was like when Rome was burning.

NASA Watch founder, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA, Away Teams, Journalist, Space & Astrobiology, Lapsed climber.

18 responses to “Sponsoring Receptions While Budgets Are Being Cut”

  1. Vladislaw says:
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    Only 20 bucks? Gosh Keith why so cheap .. can’t we throw in a keyring or something to jack it up?

    • kcowing says:
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      Actually my estimate is low. You can easily pay $20/person for coffee breaks. Receptions can reach $40 or more.

  2. dogstar29 says:
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    A lot of the high cost of a reception is due to the extraordinary prices charged by large hotels and convention centers, which have a captive audience. One pot of coffee can cost several hundred dollars. But realistically many organizations similar to USRA still find this the most effective way to make contacts, if that is what they need to do. As a business decision it is a little more understandable than spending the money on a party for employees or executives of your own organization.

    • kcowing says:
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      Where does USRA get that money? Hmm … lets see .. overhead they charge on top of what it cost to do NASA research?

      • GentleGiant says:
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        That overhead is negotiated with NASA. If NASA didn’t like what USRA was spending their overhead funds on they could demand a lower rate.

      • dogstar29 says:
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        I am not saying I’m enthusiastic about it, but realistically I would be surprised if USRA charges any more than Space Florida or other research contractors. University overhead is usually considerably higher.

  3. objose says:
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    5000 astronomer get together to discuss topics important to NASA in some way, for 100,000. No need to pay for their travel and lodging? Assuming that the topics to be presented are of value, that the communications and discussions to be held are valuable, this is very effecient use of funds. I have paid over $1500 to attend an educational conference. The annual cost to NASA of a civil servant is more than $100,000 One person. One can have a negative view of NASA and its work, but once one get to rounding error amounts, the discussion breaks down to personal issues, not budgetary.

  4. Molnár László says:
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    Let me remind you that people paid registration fees – often a lot – to be there. You expect them to pack sandwiches too?…

  5. Veeger says:
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    I could join in the negative discussion here, but really does anyone think for a minute that USRA’s overhead is going to change if they don’t sponsor this? Not likely. Also, its likely that this is mostly going to be a group of Academics, so again are we really doing anything that is going to change things. Seems like it would be more helpful to get after the DoD, they have many more conferences and much more sponsored support than NASA has. I would suggest, that just like the NASA budget is in the rounding error of the DoD, this would also be the case in the area of sponsored receptions… something to think about

    • kcowing says:
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      I would be willing to bet that what they paid would cover a good part of someone’s education. I asked USRA what it cost. Lets see if they respond.

    • Treetop says:
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      Isn’t there a reason why this is called NASAWatch and not DoDWatch?

      • kcowing says:
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        I regularly mention DoD issues since there is an overlap with NASA and issues affecting both agencies are often one in the same. I also mention other agencies to put NASA’s activities in context. I do not focus on the military but I most certainly do not ignore it.

        • Treetop says:
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          I was merely responding to the comment “Seems like it would be more helpful to get after the DoD”. The reality is that spaceflight advocates can wish/dream/hope for more money, but at least for now belts have to be tightened. NASA needs to make due the best they can with the money they have.

  6. dave says:
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    Did you bother to research the actual costs of sponsoring the reception, rather than just wildly guessing? Maybe ask one of the conference organizers? Or someone in the conference organization industry? I ask. because sponsoring a reception is not the same as paying for the reception. A sponsor pays some money for the right to have its name attached to something, and that money goes into the pool of funds that pays for the entire conference (which, in this case, costs millions). And most likely they bought a sponsorship package that includes exhibit hall space, a certain number of passes to the exhibit hall for its personnel, a half-page ad in the conference handbook/agenda, and maybe a logo on the official conference totebag. Unfortunately, it seems that your zeal for a “gotcha” moment is getting the way of actually understanding what you’re talking about.

    • kcowing says:
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      Did I say that they paid for the whole thing? I have actually run large multi-thousand attendee meetings like this – several for NASA. Been there, done that. The fact that any non-profit is spending money on a reception is sending the wrong message at a time when budgets are tight. They registration fees should cover the cost of all refreshments- and refreshment costs should not exceed what registration fees provide. Simple. I asked USRA what it cost. Lets see if they respond.

      • DTARS says:
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        While we wait for them to respond I’ll go to the frig for some refreshments lol

        Quite entertaining lol

        Joe Taxpayer

        Your bias against people or groups that make sure they take care of themselves by keeping themselves well fed and entertained on other peoples hard earned money is showing Keith

        Psi Squared