<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><BODY BGCOLOR="#ffffff"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2>In a message dated 8/21/2002 8:10:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time, vnend@adelphia.net writes:<BR>
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<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">On of my biggest disappointments at the July Board meeting was the <BR>
nearly complete lack of discussion or consideration of the value of <BR>
membership or cutting of corporate costs. Instead the discussion <BR>
fixated on how best to get more money by cutting benefits (unbundling <BR>
TI) and charging more</BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
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Which is why I'm against the surcharge. I see this as a mismanagement issue rather than budget problem. Throwing money at a problem is an easy fix, particularly if it happens to be someone else's money.<BR>
If there is a need for extra funds for member services within the kingdom, then I support it fully. I have always felt that there should be at a dollar tax for each person who attends an event that should be paid directly to the kingdom. There are many ways in which these monies can be used, in particular a larger stipend for Royal travel and reimbursement for phone bills and postage incurred by the Royals during their reign. However, I fail to see the "need" of the corporate entity which is so reluctant to look internally for answers and so quick to simply demand more money.<BR>
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Hrothgar</FONT></HTML>