A potential newboy sent me an email with a few queries. What follows is his
note, and my reply, as hopefully that clarifies how the group works. N.B. Name
changed to protect the 'guilty'.
-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Bloggs [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 1999 11:50 AM
Subject: Re: Gusto dining club
Dear Ian
Thank you for your invitation that arrived this morning. I spend quite a lot of time away as well as in London, but if I am in London on 30 June (which I think I shall be), I would be interested to come along. I shall let you know nearer the time. Meanwhile, could you give me some idea of the cost of a meal at Nam's, because you don't mention it, except to say that the price will be spread evenly.
Also, I hope you won't object to this comment, but I find that gay organisations and groups seem to follow increasingly a 'politically correct' party line and don't welcome those such as myself who have no interest in the commercial 'scene', prefer country pubs to gay bars, hate disco music and shopping, think 'Outrage!' is more like a neo-Nazi organisation than a 'liberation movement' and stay as far as possible from events such as 'Gay Pride' or 'Mardi Gras'. ... I hope that your dining club is open to those of us who lead lives rather than follow a 'lifestyle'.
Best wishes.
Joe Bloggs
PS. You have my address absolutely correct. My telephone number is 0171-123 4567. JB
Dear Joe,
Thanks for your reply and I've noted your telephone number - 020 7123 4567.
The web page gives some indication of how much meals cost, and I'll be keeping that up to date as we go on. I have no idea how much Nam will cost, although I expect it to be at the cheaper end of the range. It's nothing very special, but should be fun. My point in highlighting that the price will be spread evenly, is that Gusto is just a name for a group of people meeting regularly, and that it is not an organisation that makes ANY money from anyone concerned. It's organised only in the sense that I'll act as a focus to communicate to people where the next meal will be. It's up to YOU to contact me to find out where that next meal will be. We aim to have the meals on the last Wednesday of the month, although occasionally vary that if it suits the group.
How much a meal costs depends on what people order, and on how greedy they are with the wine. If someone is particularly extravagant then it's up to all concerned to complain about it. I'm not there to 'police' people's behaviour.
From a personal preference, I'd rather people don't smoke during meals, and that they switch off their mobile phones. I might even say so to them, but that would be expressing a personal preference and not in any capacity as 'head' of the group. Live & let live.
I also had to stress splitting the bill evenly, because too many people in the past have quibbled that someone had a more expensive pudding than they did, or that they didn't have a starter. I'm sorry, but we're just a group of gay guys out to have a meal with other gay guys, and if anyone wants to quibble about petty details then they should probably find another group.
So, having got the fascist dictator bit out of the way, I should say that all in all I've really enjoyed the monthly meals, as appears to be the case with the regulars who come again and again.
Regarding your comments about gay organisations - well we're not. We're a collection of gay individuals, who like having a meal as an option to meet people, as well as (or rather than) the gay bars, gay clubs, gay cafes, gay social clubs, gay sports clubs. etc., etc. Personally I enjoy political debate but I know it sends Richard G. to sleep. We're a dining group. We enjoy conversation. I don't know why I keep saying we. They're a diverse bunch, and I can't attempt to predict what the newcomers will be like.
At Nam we'll decide where July's meal will be, in some vaguely democratic fashion. Any suggestions you may have will be welcome. I hope to see you there, and that you thoroughly enjoy it.
All the best,
Ian