[MR] Membership and its affects.

[Corwyn Sinister]

Greetings Populace of Atlantia.

Ahh, clarification apparently in order.

The BoD has instituted the Non-member surcharge again. It will take effect 
1/1/03 (please note, change event flyers, etc.). This is a $3 fee for 
non-members. All events after 1/1/03 must charge a $3 non-member surcharge. 
That money will be going BACK to the BoD, and could be an administrative 
nightmare. Nonetheless, Atlantians are the brightest in the world, and I'm 
sure we can figure it out, right? Systems and policies are in the works.

Atlantia, as you might recall, currently has a $3 _discount_ for members. 
That money does NOT go to the Corporation, but to the local group.

Yes, that means that AT THE MOMENT, all events after Jan 1 would have a $3 
discount for members (going to the local group) , AND a $3 surcharge for 
non-members (going to the BoD), making a total of $6 difference for members 
vs. non-members.

For those who think, "WHAT?!? $6!?!" I have two comments.
1) That is still not out of line with other organization's pricing 
structure. It still means that you should get a membership!
2) TRM and TRH can also do math. They are certainly considering what 
adaptations to Atlantian law might be required by this recent change.

As to Gorm's:
>If someone could actually explain how a non-member's attendance at an event is
>more costly to the hosting group than a member's attendance, then I could
>perhaps be persuaded otherwise.  However, I don't see it.

Perhaps a difference in perspective might help. Nonmembers attending events 
is not the specific expense (Although non-members attending events does 
cause additional expense, currently in the form of paperwork and storage of 
such -- negligible, but present. )

Corporations cost money to run. Some of those costs are fixed (or 
reasonably so). Therefore, the more people who ARE members, the less the 
financial burden on each individual member. And any "profits" the 
corporation turns to stay afloat, and build a reserve, can be a lower 
percentage if there are more members involved.

And as to:
>Again, I find it amazing that the Corporation is losing money while the local
>groups in sum total are making money.  This tells me that the "Game" is
>healthy, but the "Corporation" is not.

It shows that the local groups are making money from events (where almost 
all group income comes from), and that money is not making it back to the 
Corporation. That means the Corporation either need to up membership dues, 
or earn money from the local events, or both.

The Board does not light-heartedly change things. It's not like the members 
of the Board like being yelled and complained at. It's not like they are 
making their profits and large salaries and then are off to Tahiti to 
retire. They are SCAdians, much as you are, and are playing the same game 
(and typically for mcuh longer). However, they are tasked with the 
additional burden of attempting to plan for the SCA's future. If you aren't 
happy with those decisions, I suggest three things:
1) write to the Board, and explain politely and rationally why you disagree 
with those choices. (Do you listen to non-rational rude people? Don't 
expect them to).
2) check regularly for requests for commentary, and respond. They don't get 
all that much input from the membership when they ask, means that you as an 
individual get to speak for hundreds (if not thousands) of your SCA 
brethren. You might consider that perhaps the vocal minority isn't as big 
as you think.
3) Nominate yourself, or someone whose opinions you respect, for the Board. 
And then encourage commentary on those nominees.

Corwyn


Master Corwyn Sinister
Seneschal, Atlantia
Rick Steeves
seneschal at atlantia.sca.org 
http://seneschal.atlantia.sca.org