Each year the Society receives many letters from motel managers and employees as well as from brothers and sisters. Most of the letters are positive, but some contain well-founded criticism. Here are some excerpts from letters received, showing why it is important to follow carefully the instructions in Our Kingdom Ministry regarding the Society’s convention rooming arrangement:

From a Witness family: “We appreciate so very much the rooming arrangements for us Witnesses to go to the conventions. Because many of us are putting Kingdom interests first, we have little money to spend, and so the fact that these motels are willing to cooperate with you is much appreciated by our family. We used to just send our check for our deposit, but now we send a letter along telling the motel how very much we appreciate their making special concessions for us to have rooms for a cut rate. We also make it clear that we will do our best to cooperate with their motel regulations, keep our rooms clean, take care of the fixtures, etc., while there and be as quiet and orderly as possible. We want them to know we will be good citizens and not a risk group while we are there. This way they too will come to know what kind of people we are, and this can go a long way in contributing to finding rooms in the future if needed.”

From a disabled sister: “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I want you to know I appreciate so much your help and consideration in helping us to be able to go away to motels for the assemblies each year. The details you cover . . . we would never be able to do ourselves . . . such as negotiating the prices, which are always much lower than the actual amount, and checking the establishments so that we are not afraid to stay. The accommodations are always very good. Please take note that those who really care and benefit from it like myself, ‘the needy,’ can’t thank you enough and would like to encourage you to continue, please! When I read your message to us that appeared in Our Kingdom Ministry about lack of appreciation, I was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the conduct and disrespect some of us have shown for this loving provision. Please do not let the actions of some spoil it for those who do appreciate it and probably would not be able to attend the conventions and benefit from the fine spiritual food that is so lovingly well prepared and seasoned. Please continue this feature, and may Jehovah continue to bless this arrangement.”

From a sister: “I’m writing this note to thank you for the effort you put forth in arranging for rooms that are clean and at a good price so that persons like me and my daughter can attend our convention without a lot of needless worrying. We are not afraid to stay at the motels that appear on the list that we receive at the Kingdom Hall because we know that loving brothers have done all that they can to see that we enjoy the conventions.”

From a brother: “I would like to express my family’s appreciation for your efforts in obtaining reasonable motel arrangements for our district conventions. . . . I would like to relate to you an experience proving the effectiveness of your bargaining efforts. My older brother, who is not one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, is the general manager of [a motel]. In 1987 . . . we were anxious to see if he had cooperated with the brothers in the rooming department. We were excited to see that he had and that a rate of $45 a night was agreed upon. (The normal rate is much higher.) I asked him if he felt good about the arrangements, and he said he did. The reason was that the brothers are well-mannered and would not overburden his staff because of their showing respect for their rooming accommodations. However, the next year [his motel] was not on the list. Needless to say, I called to find out why. He said that the brothers had again asked for $45 a night but he wanted $55 a night, which on the surface does not seem like a big deal, but for 100 rooms it meant $1,000 a night difference. Besides, [he said], some brothers had taken rooms the year before at motels that were not on the list. He said, in fact, he had already made reservations with some Witnesses for the 1988 convention. This part bothered my wife and me. My brother and I did not discuss this again until this year, 1989. . . . We were delighted to see once again that [his motel] was on the list at $45 a night. . . . I immediately called [him] to find out why he had a change of heart. His reason: ‘Last year every motel was filled except mine.’ Thanks again for your efforts and . . . the obedience of all our Christian brothers who follow the lead of Jehovah’s visible organization.”