RE: AERC nonmember fee idea/Board?

["Bob Morris" <bobmorris@rmci.net>]

Richard:
<<<Instead of stressing about how to make the Non-member fee system work
better, why not just cut the Gordian Knot?>>>

So what you advocate is that if a rule or policy of AERC is the slightest
difficult to enforce, then that rule or policy should be deleted.

I do not believe that this policy would contribute to the over all benefit
of the AERC in the slightest. The requirement for either having a membership
in AERC or paying a day fee is not the slightest bit difficult if the Ride
Manager is MANAGING THE RIDE. Many of our so called ride managers are out
there riding the ride and if not riding the ride they are working instead of
managing.

I would venture that not  more than 10% of the rides experience any problem
with the current system. Those that do are the vocal minority. The system is
simple the rider either has a AERC membership card to present or they pay
the $10 fee or they do not ride. It is very simple. There is no hassle for
the ride manager there is no extra work for the office and there is no
misunderstanding for the rider.

The problem comes when the system is circumvented. The RM accepts the riders
word they are AERC members but show no card. Well, in that case it is the
RM's fault no one else's. The second problem is when the rider kicks up a
fuss about having to pay and this situation is because of the lack of
conformance at some rides where the rules are not enforced.

A simple statement in the ride entry stating either a membership card or $19
and there will be no problem. But the RM must be firm and not deviate.

Bob Morris



-----Original Message-----
From: Nat & Richard [mailto:trailride@foothill.net]
Sent: Friday, June 08, 2001 12:27 AM
To: ridecamp@endurance.net
Cc: ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: RC: AERC nonmember fee idea/Board?


> Ride managers can contact the AERC office and double check on whether the
> riders listed are current members.  I've done this before, and if a rider
who
> claims to be a member is not current, I simply make a notation on the
> registration list that the rider owes $10 when he or she checks in. I am
> rarely caught having to pay the bill for non-current members.  If I have
> missed one or two, I call them and insist they pay up.  I won't pay for
their
> negligence.
>
> Barbara
> West Region director
> Chair, Rules Committee
> Special Events sanctioning director

Just looking at this $10 Non-member fee from a "systems" point of view,
I'd have to say that the prudent thing would be to just get rid of it
altogether.

It is obviously a royal pain in the keester for ride managers, seems to
generate significant work for the AERC office staff (by way of
enforcement, answering questions, accounting, etc.), probably is not a
vital source of AREC income, and serves only as a negative incentive for
non-members to join the organization ("What's my break-even point, given
that I'd like to do a few rides each season, but I don't give a hoot
about collecting points?")

Instead of stressing about how to make the Non-member fee system work
better, why not just cut the Gordian Knot?

/richard

--
Natalie's Barn & Breakfast  http://www.natbarn.com  1-877-NATBARN


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