1. I understand that there was a miscalculation of the number of AERC members,
reported at 5000 (or 6000) depending on what page you read, and in fact that
membership totals were only at 3600. Hence raising membership fees was the
answer to cover whatever deficit was incurred in running expenses for the year.
2. Epxenses were incurred for new software programs in house (why they didn't
include email or internest access one can only wonder). If upgrading the mileage
calculation and records was a result of this, then its a step forward.
3. I agree with Mike, a full accounting to the membership of expenditures is
only fair if the membership is supporting an over expenditure.
4. Credit is due to Miki Morrison for reducing cost of publication of
EN significantly by going to a different format. Glossy is great, providing
you *actually get* the publication, something I have never had problems with with
EN.
5. As a ride managers,we make sure we collect the non-membership fee. Part of
the function of AERC is to sanction rides, which provides the riders (and horses)
with some well defined guidelines under which rides are run. This includes rules
for competition, due process for protest, and maintenance of ride result records.
Non-members should contribute to this process if members already are. Raising the sanctioning
fee is an idea, but remember this fee is built into the ride entry, so riders would
end up paying anyway (whether members or non members).
AERC also functions in many other (possibly transparent to the membership) ways to
provide members with a say in what happens in national and international competition
and forums.
I am sure anyone who has been, or is on the board of directors is reading these
posts, and fingers are itching to reply. It seems that rather than dumping AERC
because we are displeased with the rate hike, contacting the office (en masse) and
asking for justification might be a more positive way to go. Perhaps the AERC office
has friends on the net who could give the (electronic membership) some rationalization
for the increase. One thing is for sure, if the internet horsemen are questioning the
rate hike, you bet your average, non-net horseperson is too. With one difference, they
don't have access to this kind of dialogue.
Ciao for Niao
Dom (Who will renew her membership!) and the boyz Fadjurs, Jur Prize and Arabick Jayare
______________________________________________________________________
Dominique Freeman | "Life is short, science is long" |
fadjurs@sadandy.hpl.hp.com | |
Hewlett Packard Laboratories, | |
Palo Alto, CA USA | |
Phone: (415) 857-8596 | |
FAX: (415) 852-8576 | |
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