Re:  Rotary Meal Prices
 
Fellow Rotarians,
            Past Presidents Tom Early and Gary Thomas met with Doug Johnson (Bidarka Inn Owner) and the Bidarka Inn Management Team, to discuss Rotary lunch meal prices. 
 
Past:  
            The Bidarka Inn has generously allowed us to use the upstairs dining room for our luncheon meetings, at no charge.  They have provided a self-serve lunch for whoever wanted it, for $13 per lunch.
            Then some Rotarians wanted to buy just coffee and a dessert.  The Bidarka agreed to offer dessert and coffee for $6.50.
            Then some Rotarians wanted to buy just a salad for $6.50. We tried that for a while.
            Then some Rotarians wanted to fill a large plate with salad and only pay $6.50.  We allowed that for a few months, but finally, the Bidarka Inn said that was not OK.
            So we switched to a large plate for $13.00, or a small plate for $6.50 regardless of what you put on it.  We tried that for about a month.  That arrangement has failed the Four Way Test, since some Rotarians were loading up a small plate with tons of food and making a second trip for refills.
 
Present:
            Doug (Owner) and Francis (Bidarka Inn Front Desk Manager), Tom and Gary discussed the Bidarka Inn situation.  Doug stated that the Bidarka Inn loses money on every Rotary Luncheon.  There are not enough meals sold to cover the cost of the cook and the helper, not to mention the cost of the food, and fixed overhead.  It was pointed out that every other group (Chamber of Commerce, Realtors, etc.) that uses that dining room for luncheon meetings pays $15.00 per lunch. (We only pay $13).  No other group is allowed to buy partial portions at reduced prices.  The arrangement to offer a cup of coffee and a desert for ½ price - has grown beyond its original intent.
 
Future:
            The Rotary Board and the Bidarka Inn have agreed that the best way to move forward is to keep the lunch price the same ($13), but eliminate the ½ price option.  Salad has become as expensive as full meal options for the Bidarka to purchase and offer.  The overhead is the same and the purchased raw food items are almost the same.  Lunch, whether it is the full course meal with a salad, or just a salad, will be $13.00.  If you just want soup and a salad, it is $13.00.  If you just want desert, it is $13.00.  Basically, if you use a plate or bowl of any size, it is called a lunch and it is $13.00.  Coffee will be free and available to anyone. 
            This new program becomes effective as of July 1st.  This new program will allow the price to remain the same at $13.00, and eliminates the management of ½ punches and odd change at the lunch front desk.
            Thank you for your cooperation.