Re: Non-Member Fees, also paying more to be single

[Maggie Mieske <mmieske@netonecom.net>]

Now, a new dilemma to delve into!!!  Hmmmm, I don't care about the $10
non-member fee... that's standard in alot of organizations.  But now, I have a
good size family... at this point, only my husband, my daughter and I are
interested enough in the sport to join... the other 2 kids are gonna have to
learn to pit crew!!!  But if we had to pay $195 to join, we wouldn't.  Why?  It
would be cheaper for us to pay the non-member fee then.  If we did pay that
much, are we going to get 3 EN?  That makes no sense.  Are we going to get 3 of
everything they provide members with?  (I don't know yet what goodies I'll get
until I send in the dues... I better hurry up!!haha).  Many organizations have
special prices for juniors (I think AERC does, too...can't remember) and so that
would help reduce the cost there, I guess.  Still, there should be a price break
for families... that's just how I feel about it, right or not.  I think all in
all, it's probably the families who join who perpetuate the sport with their
children and grandchildren... kind of the family that plays together stays
together???  I don't know... I have to quit shopping on ebay and reading these
mails and get to BED!!  Good night, folks!!!  (Is there a button that can HOLD
my mail until I am mentally capable of handling it again????).  BIG GRIN  :D
Maggie

"Thomas, Barb" wrote:

> Gee Joe,
> You only had to pay $25 for your verification?  I had quite a shock when I
> bought my condo in Ca.  $250 for the covenant/rules book and $100 for the
> minutes of the past year's meetings and you didn't have the option to just
> say no.  Guess what answer I got when I asked why so high??  You got
> it..."that's what other associations charge"!!
>
> I guess we'll have to see how the non-member fee affects ride attendance
> over the next year and if it's really bad, maybe we can encourage the board
> to change the ruling.  Personally, $10 doesn't seem so bad and I've paid it
> in the past riding 50's.  Heck, I pay it to the local rinky-dink dressage
> club just to ride some training level tests and I ain't exactly rolling in
> the dough.
>
> My big peeve, though, is the unfair difference between what a "single"
> member pays and what a "family" pays.  Look at the fee structure for the
> convention speaker seminars.  $65 for a single and just $10 more for an AERC
> family (2 people)!!  What's the deal here??  Now, $65 is not a bad price to
> pay for the convention at all, but charging just $10 more for the second
> person of an AERC "family" really gets my goat and is a slap in the face.
> How is that fair and equitable?  Will the two person family only receive one
> set of handouts and materials?  Will they only be allowed to consume
> refreshments for 1.15 people since that's all they paid for??!!  Maybe the
> fee structure needs some rethinking for the future?  Maybe, (novel idea!!) a
> flat fee for each person!  Let's see, everyone has the chance to hear the
> speakers, get the material, and learn the same thing at the same fee...fancy
> that!!!!!  If a fee structure is reasonable and fair, I don't mind paying
> but this "charge the single person more" stuff is a bunch of hooey.  Any
> other single people out there feel the same way??  Any other single person
> want to become a "convention couple" and save some bucks!!???  We could
> start an underground "convention couples" connection!... a singles
> revolution!... a voice to be reckoned with!... conquer the world!!!  Ok,
> I'll settle for fair rates...
>
> Barb