Is anyone affiliated with Church of the Pilgrims?

[dkel]

Seems like a simple phone call would do the trick.

[wheelswings]

@dkel 150195 wrote:

Seems like a simple phone call would do the trick.

Yes and no. Cold-calling with such a big “ask” does not always work. But sure, that’s always a fall-back – option C.

[dkel]

@wheels&wings 150196 wrote:

Yes and no. Cold-calling with such a big “ask” does not always work. But sure, that’s always a fall-back – option C.

Speaking as someone who has worked in churches for the last two decades, I can tell you that this isn’t “a big ask.”* They actually have an online form for facility use requests, so they’re not looking to become great friends with people before accommodating requests like this. Going to a service is a lovely idea, but it likely won’t figure in their decision making process, and if you ask someone in charge on a Sunday morning after services, they’ll probably tell you to use the online form, or…call the office.

*Having 200 people show up on your doorstep at the end of the business day, and ask if they can have a wedding in your church right now because their outdoor ceremony down the street just got rained out—that’s “a big ask.” True story, too.

[wheelswings]

Good to know. Sounds like you’d be the perfect person to make the call.

[dkel]

I’d be happy to. After the weekend.

[wheelswings]

@dkel 150197 wrote:

*Having 200 people show up on your doorstep at the end of the business day, and ask if they can have a wedding in your church right now because their outdoor ceremony down the street just got rained out—that’s “a big ask.” True story, too.

Yow! What did you say to these 200? “Welcome inside” or “OK if you pay double” or “a lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part” ??

Thanks for making the call.

[dkel]

@wheels&wings 150200 wrote:

Yow! What did you say to these 200? “Welcome inside” or “OK if you pay double” or “a lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part” ??

It happened at the church where I work, but before I began working there. I believe they did accommodate the wedding on very short notice; I don’t think they even charged any money for it. In my experience, churches really do try to help people in need.

I have a feeling for our parking question, it will be a matter of logistics: is there anything else going on at the church at the same time, such that a mess of bikes would be in the way. There may be a fee associated. I’ll find out all of these things when I contact them. I’ll report back here before committing to anything.

[eminva]

Sorry — just saw this — Dkel may have dealt with this already, but I do know the senior pastor at Church of the Pilgrims in passing. Let me know if I can help.

Liz

[dkel]

I called the Church of the Pilgrims, and the nice lady on the phone told me their parking lot is allocated to a nearby hotel during evening hours, so they can’t offer us any bike parking in the lot. It was a good idea, but no dice. Any other ideas?

[KLizotte]

@dkel 150285 wrote:

I called the Church of the Pilgrims, and the nice lady on the phone told me their parking lot is allocated to a nearby hotel during evening hours, so they can’t offer us any bike parking in the lot. It was a good idea, but no dice. Any other ideas?

Ask the hotel nicely?

[wheelswings]

Thanks for making the call, dkel. Did they tell you which hotel?

[dkel]

@wheels&wings 150289 wrote:

Thanks for making the call, dkel. Did they tell you which hotel?

I didn’t ask them which because the lady told me that the church owns the lot, and have made a deal to share it with the hotel. I suppose we could press this further and try to go through the hotel, but I’ll let someone else make that phone call.

[wheelswings]

I made a follow-up call to Marcia at the church, and I sent her an email per her request. She will circulate it among the church staff. She says the basement is being used for dance classes, but maybe there is some other space. She is also checking to see if we could use the staff parking lot. She says that Hotel Palomar uses the church parking lot at night. After we hear back from Marcia we can touch base with the hotel.

[Author]

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