Re: LD issues, dues, etc.

[BMcCrary27@aol.com]

In a message dated 9/23/98 6:38:56 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
tobytrot@bigfoot.com writes:

<< Yes, and possibly that's another issue of member dissatisfation that
 needs attention! >>

I've been reading for several days the various complaints from various riders,
and I'm distressed.  Partly, I guess, because I am, and have been for many
years, a staunch supporter of AERC.  So I'm going to do a little thinking out
loud here on Ridecamp.  In the first place, if we all listened to all the
complaints, whether it is about unfair dues, or unfair drug testing fees, or
unfair rules, or unfair LD rules, or God knows whatever else people consider
unfair, then we would conclude that all of us would be better off without AERC
alltogether.
Now we come to Part 2, what would endurance riding be like without AERC.
Would we have any coordination of ride schedules?  Would we have many rides,
period??  Would riders really enjoy endurance as much without having goals to
reach for?  Of accumulating mileage, of winning awards?  Without the
coordination of rides, points, mileage, awards, what would we have??  Does
anyone realize how MUCH we have all learned about horse health and performance
due to endurance riding over the past 20 years?  Would we have accumulated all
this educational material if we had not had an organization -- AERC -- as the
focal point?  And the convention -- wouldn't we all miss it terribly?  Who
would work as hard as the office staff does to organize the wonderful
convention and trade show?  It's THE time of year to visit with riders from
across the country.  AERC brings together people of like interest and from
among those people we personally have developed a set of our best friends.
I've been reading vehement complaints about the unfairness of the dues
structure (among other things).  We personally don't belong to many "clubs",
but we do belong to the Farm Bureau ($145/year), the California Cattlemen's
Assn. ($175/year), and our county horsemen's association ($85/year).  We are
not active in any of the events sponsored by these organizations, but we
support them because they stand for something we believe in, we want to
support their efforts on our behalf, and we want to be able to add our names
to the list of others who are like minded.  AERC dues are less than half of
the annual subscription cost of our local newspaper (over $150/year) and we
certainly get more out of AERC than we do from the newpaper.
I suppose it is part of human nature to gripe about SOMETHING all the time,
but frankly, I'm getting really tired of it -- right along with the scandal
about our president and the best and worst dressed among our celebrities who
have recently attended some awards presentation ceremony!  If those who are
always griping about AERC would put half as much effort into coming up with
some constructive ideas and going to WORK at them, they would become much more
productive.
Nominations are now open for directors at large.  If you don't like the way
AERC is functioning, run for a position on the board, voice your opinions, and
help change things!  And if you aren't willing to work that hard at it, then
stop complaining and offer some CONSTRUCTIVE ideas to your regional directors.
If you don't want to do that, then shut up and go for a ride somewhere, but
just stop the sniveling.

Barbara McCrary