[MR] membership fees

[Michelle L. McDaniel]

 Greetings all!
 
In reply to Isabel's thoughts on those who play the game for long periods of
time without being a member: 
I've been a card carrying SCAdian since '93 (member #72993). I believe that
people who play the game regularly should pay dues. The way the BoD's
reasoning has been portrayed is that they see non-member surcharges as a way
to prop up the funds of Corporation. I don't see this as the proper way to
raise funds for the Corporation. In general, I don't see a non-member
surcharge as a bad thing; it should encourage membership. It's the reasoning
behind the surcharge that I fault. If the cost of producing and mailing the
kingdom newsletters and TI have increased so that membership fees no longer
cover them, then membership fees should be increased to cover them. The
Corporation should not hit up non-members specifically to cover shortfalls
in money for membership privileges. 
I think that if you attend more than three or so events a year, you should
be a member. I feel that you have an obligation to support the Corporation
that supports your hobby. I may ask you why you aren't a member if I happen
to notice but in general I won't badger you about it. Becoming a member is a
personal choice and people have very good reasons for both becoming a member
and for not becoming one.  
That aside, the SCA is a weird group though. It was founded in 1968, in San
Francisco by a bunch of hippies (many of them Lit. students at various local
colleges and universities). A lot of the good things from the 60s (equality
for all regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, ability, and
religion, the freedom to explore your own interests, and a resurgence of
hand crafts) have been engendered in the SCA. As you may have noticed
SCAdians take great pride in being accessible to everyone regardless of
anything. We want people to play with us and don't want to put barriers in
people's way. Some people see making people have memberships to play as
being one of those barriers. Others see the non-membership surcharge as one
of those barriers. One of the things that some people cherish about the SCA
is the ability to play with us, without having to be a member. 
It's all well and good to talk about the economics of the situation; it
needs to be done. A non-member surcharge may be a quick way, to raise
substantial amounts of money, it's not a way that sits well with a vocal
percentage of the populace, bcause it seems as though the BoD see
non-members as a bit of a "cash cow". 
I hope this clears up any confusion from my former post.
Yours in service, 
**aelfwynn**
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