[MR] NonMember Charges (fwd)

[Craig Levin]

Karon:

> Hello All, 
> Being a non-member, who does plan to join, I have a couple of
> comments.  First off, I never knew until recently, that I could 
> attend SCA events without being a member, or the guest of a member.

That's pretty much been the custom for the last thirty-seven
years, actually. 

> That said, I dont know of any club or organization that doesnt charge
> more for non-members if they are allowed to attend at all.  I would 
> not mind paying the extra money for an event as I am a non-member.  
> I dont feel I should be entitled to the same price as a member.  I 
> have enjoyed comming to the events I have attended, and I have always
> been the guest of a member. 

Actually, I can't think of any time when I was asked for cash at
the gate for going to services, aside from some synagogues at the
high holidays, & you can even find some synagogues that maintain
an open-door policy.

Okay, so you don't feel entitled. Join! But there are a number of
us who feel that this custom is a good one, & not to be
discarded. You *are* aware that such guesting as you have enjoyed
would, as a result of these policies, become harder upon your
hosts, yes? That, as a result of these policies, it won't be as
easy to recruit new people, because of the cost, whether as guests
or as newcomers out of the blue?

> I recently read somewhere that over 1/3 of the folks that are active
> with the SCA are NOT members.  I think that requiring membership to 
> attend events, or being the guest of a member would be a good thing. 

Why? A number of us, members & nonmembers alike, have our
misgivings about such a requirement. For a good deal upon the
subject, might I recommend that people peruse the archives from
when the BoD last proposed this move:

http://www.daviddfriedman.com./Medieval/Board_Flap.html
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/usr/mjc/www/bod/ef-board.html

Pedro
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Craig Levin				Librarians Rule: Oook!