From: grimmund@edsi.plexus.COM (Grimmund Blackwing)
Subject: Possible Membership Solution
Organization: Enterprise Data Systems Incorporated, Appleton WI
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 23:18:05 GMT



Proposed Solution to Member/Nonmember Conflict
 
	The overall problem appears to be that nonmembers (NMs) are seen 
as not carrying their share of the financial burden of the SCA, 
Inc, to include paying for the insurance policy that allows us all 
to play, and for the office overhead that is generated by trying 
to keep 22,000+ paying members happy and well informed.  It 
appears that a number of members are unhappy enough with the 
situation that they want it changed.   One of my basic tenets is 
that people should get what they pay for, and pay for what they 
get.  If someone is enjoying their time in the SCA, then they 
should help pay the bills; if they are not enjoying their time 
with us, then  (!) why are they still here?
	My own particular opinion is that we would be better off 
spending our time convincing people that they have a moral 
responsibility, a debt of honor, to help pay for the upkeep of the 
SCA, Inc.  If they are just visiting, thats not a problem. 
	Basic fee schedule is  $12/year for an Associate membership, 
conferring a membership card.  An additional $13/year buys TI and 
a Kingdom newsletter, as a Sustaining member.  In theory, then, 
the basic expense of running the SCA, Inc is $12 per person per 
year.
 
 	OBJECTIVE:  To ensure that NMs contribute $12 per year to 
Milpitas,  putting them on par with an Associate member and thus 
ensuring t).  This money is then used by the SCA, Inc. to offset 
operating costs now born solely by members.
    This works two ways:
	Those who attend < 6 events/ year save money as NMs and are not 
forced to pay for something they dont get the benefits from.
	Those who attend > 6 events/ year save as Associate members, 
ensuring that they are paying a fair share without generating 
undue amounts of extra paperwork or labor/cost overhead.
	The problems I see with this are that it increases admin 
workload at Milpitas. (I *assume* that they already get all the 
kingdom newsletters, so the simplest solution here is to open the 
newsletter and check off which events have tithed and which have 
not.  Call or write after two the troll all morning. )
  
	OBJECTIVE:  To ensure officers have kingdom information in a 
timely manner, they should receive TI and their kingdom 
newsletter.
	SOLUTION:  Depending on how much it costs to maintain someone on  
the registry, it may be possible to sell the two magazine 
subscriptions, separate from a membership,  for the $13 dollar 
difference between Associate and Sustaining members.  If it is not 
possible at $13, perhaps it can be done for a small additional 
charge in the $2-3 range.  I dont know.
 
	OBJECTIVE:  Make it easier for people to buy a membership. This 
is the crux of the matter.  Membership forms are not always eathe 
Sponsoring Group (SG) have a stack of membership forms on hand, 
and slightly increase the workload of the Troll and Exchequer.  It 
will also require some sort of chit that will be recognized 
throughout the SCA as a temporary membership card.  temp. cards 
should indicate the type of membership bought, and have a limited 
life span, expiring probably no more than 2 months from purchase 
date.  
	Purchasers checks are made out to SCA Inc., Office of the 
Registry, just like normal.  Cash monies will be collected by the 
Exchequer and deposited to the SGs bank account.  The Exchequer 
then writes a cheque to the Registry for that cash total.  
Membership forms and chthey should be given a chit that states 
when the membership was bought, the name of the Sponsoring ave 
their temp. card, they no longer have to pay that darn NM charge.   
They dont have to keep paying the surcharge while the Registry 
processes their membership, either, making the idea of buying a 
membership even more attractive.   Best of all, they are now 
helping to offset the cost of operating The Dream (tm) that we all 
enjoy.  

Hmmm...small parts of this seem to have been lost when my rig sent 
it to the net.  If something need sclarification, please ask and 
I'll try and clear it up.  Hmmph.

Just a few thoughts...If there is any great agreement or 
disagreement, let me know and I'll make revisions before I sent 
this to the BoD along with some other comments.

In Service, 
Grimmund Blackwing
Queen's Own Shire of Windhaven, Northshield, Middle Kingdom   

Usenet:  grimmund@edsi.plexus.com

From: Tim@f4229.n124.z1.fidonet.org (Tim)
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