I need some help with a work-related question.

If you were an independent professional (a writer, let's say) and there were a weekend conference you wanted to attend in another city, would a Mother's Day conflict deter you from attending? You are self-employed and picking up all your own costs. A different weekend would cost you $30 more per night.

The Sunday of the conference is an optional half-day program. The two big days are Friday and Saturday. Does that make a difference in your response?

We need info by tomorrow to make a decision about when to hold this event in 2009. Some people seem to care a lot about Mother's Day and won't attend if there's a conflict, but it's possible that just as many care more about the dollar savings.

Thanks for your thoughts!!

I need some help with a work-related question.

If you were an independent professional (a writer, let's say) and there were a weekend conference you wanted to attend in another city, would a Mother's Day conflict deter you from attending? You are self-employed and picking up all your own costs. A different weekend would cost you $30 more per night.

The Sunday of the conference is an optional half-day program. The two big days are Friday and Saturday. Does that make a difference in your response?

We need info by tomorrow to make a decision about when to hold this event in 2009. Some people seem to care a lot about Mother's Day and won't attend if there's a conflict, but it's possible that just as many care more about the dollar savings.

Thanks for your thoughts!!

It's not the specific day that matters, it's the emotions behind it. I'd go to the conference.

There's no way to predict the "emotions behind it" on a large scale, of course. Some people are fixated on the date, others are not. I'm trying to get a sense of how many fall into which camp.

Votes, please, people!!

There's no reason why you can't go to the conference and spend some special time with your mum or child or both the weekend after. As long as you explain that you can't be there beforehand, I'm sure they'll understand. Good luck with your decision.

There's no reason why you can't go to the conference and spend some special time with your mum or child or both the weekend after. As long as you explain that you can't be there beforehand, I'm sure they'll understand. Good luck with your decision.

Oh, I'm not trying to decide whether to attend or not. I work for the organization sponsoring the conference, and we're trying to decide when to schedule it in 2009. That's why I'm trying to get a general sense of what most people would do faced with this choice.

Sorry I misunderstood. In that case I would not have it then because there are too many people to consider and I would say that at least 75% of people will want to be with family whether from genuine care about this day or just from a sense of duty.

I need more votes!!

Sorry I misunderstood. In that case I would not have it then because there are too many people to consider and I would say that at least 75% of people will want to be with family whether from genuine care about this day or just from a sense of duty.

I don't know, how many people even live in the same state as their mother?

That's true in the USA Wasa but not so much in Australia.

I voted Yes but after I read your explanation, I want to change my vote.

I am active in the Figure Skating Community and for a while our big Governing Council meeting was always Mother's Day weekend. This is a BIG event -- it's when all the club delegates get together and vote on what rules will be used by US Figure Skating to run everything -- including Olympic Trials.

I was a delegate two years in a row, including the year that a bunch of mothers rebelled and made an action on the floor to make a rule that GC could be held on ANY weekend of the year except Mother's Day.

Although being on Mother's Day didn't stop me from going, it did upset my family AND it was apparently a Really Big Deal to a bunch of people, enough that they made the organization change the date on subsequent events.

I think if you have professional conference that caters at least 50% to women on that weekend that you will have diminished attendence and a lot of grumbling from those who do attend.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. We ultimately decided to have it two weeks before Mother's Day, even though it will cost us a bit more. The reasoning was that if we take advantage of the savings this year we become married to the discount, and we'll never get out of the MD rut. And I guess that makes a lot of sense.

On to 2010! Thanks, everyone.