[MR] The surcharge

[Apollonia Margherita]

Very well said, my lady!  I feel about the same.

Apollonia
----- Original Message -----
From: "Neca D Johnson" <neca.d.johnson at aexp.com>
To: <atlantia at atlantia.sca.org>
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2002 1:31 PM
Subject: Re: [MR] The surcharge


> I view any discount that SCA merchants would offer much the way I view the
> Hertz rental discount I get as an American Express employee "Nice to have,
but
> not the main reason why I work here."
>
> People purchase a membership (or any other good) because they feel like
its a
> good value for their money.  Maybe they want to be an officer, or a
fighter (in
> kingdoms where they can't fight w/o a membership card), or maybe they just
> consider it important.
>
> But there seems to be a large group of people in the SCA who I think of as
> "casual SCAdians."  These people go to a number of events, rarely attend
> business meetings, don't hold an office, and are infrequently fighters.
They
> go to hang out with friends, shop, and "be a part of the show."  Maybe
they are
> new, their lifestyle doesn't permit more active involvement, or their
interest
> isn't as all-encompassing as it seems to be for so many SCAdians.  I am
not
> criticizing these people - but the fact is they have a very different view
of
> the SCA and membership than does the run of the mill "avid SCAdian" who
can't
> seem to find time between events to clean out their desk of paint the
guest
> bathroom, holds multiple offices and autocrats when they aren't too busy
> cooking feast.  It says a lot for this hobby that the avids seem to far
> outweigh the casuals.
>
> But these "casual attendees" are the folks that will be a tough sell on
the
> intangible value of membership.  Yes, its great that Sir Gregory of Lochac
can
> come to an Atlantian event and can "prove" who he is.  Its great that I
can fly
> out & fight in Estrella war with the same armor I use here.  But for the
> "casual attendee" these intangibles aren't very important.
>
> The challenge (presuming you believe these people should be encouraged to
join
> the SCA) is to sell the idea to this casual attendee that membership is of
> value.  The simplest way is not through selling them on the intangibles
they
> may or may not value (insurance falls here for many people too, even
though its
> important).  The easiest thing in the world is to show them a simple
equation
> that says "Membership costs $35.  You will save $20 at Pennsic plus $3 at
each
> additional event you attend.  If you attend more than 5 events, membership
> saves you money."
>
> I don't feel strongly for or against the non-member surcharge, but as an
> economist I can see why it would be the simplest way for the BoD to
encourage
> people to behave in the desired manner i.e. Paying membership dues.
>
> Neca
>
>
>
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