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Date:         Sun, 8 Nov 1992 05:23:26 -0600
Comments:     Warning -- original Sender: tag was ST17A@JETSON.UH.EDU
From:         USS@SPACE-SOCIETY.UH.EDU
Subject:      My IDM input.

First of all, yes, I beleive the so called "IDM" program should be undertaken.
If the folks at MIT can assure us that they will be in adaquate contact with
the editorial and administrative staff of the NOVA, the address, the only
address, the new contacts in the outside world should see for official
SEDS-USA contact should be the permanent headquarters, current residing
with our friends at MIT.  And obviously CalSEDS (or is it Caltech?)
should be given enough control and resources to get the job done.


As far as what IDMs really mean, or what thay really should be, I see them
as ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIPS.  Many organizations have associate memberships
that provide individuals with some of the benefits of full membership
without giving them the right to vote.  The AMs get the club newsletter,
member discounts on conferences, and can legitimately put SEDS membership
on their resume, even though there is no chapter at their school.  I don't
think there is any problem or anything unusual about this concept.

The above comments only refer to the non-chapter catagories of IDM. The
chapter members are ALREADY MEMBERS OF SEDS-USA, full members capable
of voting in a chapter representative with the power to cast their vote
on national affairs.  It is confusing to even call the $5 IDM's "membership",
you don't ask people to join an organization they are already in!  The
correct term here is INDIVIDUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS.  They are really only being
asked to pay to get their own individual copy of the NOVA, that's all.

I also don't get it when people argue against AMs/ISs (IDMs) based on all
the extra work involved. What are we talking about here?  The NOVA needs
to be regularly produced to maintain credability with our chapters, this
is with NO regard to whether this "program" flies.  The NOVA needs to be
produced, it will be produced, it needs to be mailed, it will be mailed,
etc...  All we are really talking about here are numbers.  Adding in
individual subscriptions just means more copies printed and mailed,
it may or may not effect the content.  It appears that Jeff and company
intend to improve the content regardless.

More copies of the NOVA means several things.  First, if professional
printing or photocopying is used, the more copies you make the cheaper
it is per copy.  Second, mailing costs go down by half or more as soon
as you reach the 200 mark and can justify bulk mailing.  The Journal
for Space Development costs us $.111 per copy to mail (up to 2.34oz.).
We can have our own bulk mail account and mail at the non-profit rate
even before we get the 501c(3) mess straightened out. Third,
greater circulation and exposure should provide more opportunities
for growth, not less.

As for promotion? What are we talking about here?  SEDS needs exposure.
When we are promoting, we need to promote SEDS, not IDMs per se. What
we want is for there to be general promotion of SEDS.  When someone
want information, send them an informative flyer that includes all
of the options open to them for participation.  The flyer should include
a reply form with boxes to check off for getting a chapter starter kit
and for the different non-chapter associate membership choices.  If there
is a chapter at their school, send them the contact information for that
chapter and send their name to that chapter.


                              +*,  (Ad Astra)

  __       __   _______    ________             |\____
 |  |     |  | /  _____|  /  ______>======------>______\
 |  |     |  ||  /       |  /
 |  |     |  ||  \____   |  \____      Alvin Carley,  President
 |  |     |  | \_____  \  \_____  \    University Space Society
 |  |     |  |       \  |       \  |   University of Houston
 |   \____|  | ______/  | ______/  |   PRESIDENT@SPACE-SOCIETY.UH.EDU
  \______/|__||________/ |________/    Group mailbox: USS@SPACE-SOCIETY.UH.EDU



P.S.:    Caltech 18,000?    UH 31,000   I would have thought Caltech bigger.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU