[memcom] Re: [Psml] Dues increase

SailPlay@aol.com SailPlay@aol.com
Mon, 13 Dec 2004 12:06:12 EST


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Ahoy MemCom Members, 

FYI, passing on some comments about an issue we will discuss during our 
closed meetings. A recommendation is being put forth to increase joining fees from 
$10 to $25. 

Please save any comments you may hear and bring them to the mtg...thx. 

That said, John Gill makes some very good points in his post to PSML. 

Bruce
---------------
In a message dated 12/13/2004 7:02:06 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
twojscom@quadnet.net writes:
George Ellis wrote:  (snip) Why not eliminate the squadron dues for the 
new member?

Here is another solution:

Why not do what our Squadron did.  For years, we went without a dues 
increase because either District or National raised their dues and we 
did not want to put too great a burden on our members.  We finally got 
smart and rationalized that if expenses at District and/or National 
necessitated that they must have gone up for the Squadron as well.  So, 
we passed a resolution to raise Squadron dues by the SAME amount as 
District or National when those dues were raised.  End of Squadron 
financial problems!  If every Squadron did likewise, perhaps our 
Districts and National would think twice about raising dues, knowing 
that the cost would be multiplied at the Squadron level.

Also, if you believe that:  "If something is worth nothing, it probably 
is" and "That you only get what you pay for".  Then there is no problem 
with increasing dues.  Increasing dues is not the problem, providing 
value and member services is!

Free memberships and free courses to new members only devalues what we 
have to offer.

The KEY to membership is FRIENDSHIPS.  New members may join USPS for 
education, they continue being members year after year because they have 
friends in the squadron.   Members don't want to loose those friends and 
relationships because they dropped their membership.  Make sure every 
new member makes new friends -- with active members.

One Squadron I know goes so far as to team up one proctor to every one 
or two students in their public boating courses (the Squadron BOATING 
COURSE).  The proctor is available during the week and in the classroom 
to aid his/her student(s) and make friends.

D/Lt John R. Gill, AP
Pennsway (PA) Squadron in D/5

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<DIV>
<DIV>Ahoy MemCom Members, </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>FYI, passing on some comments about an issue we will discuss during our=
 closed meetings. A recommendation is being put forth to increase joining fe=
es from $10 to $25. </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Please save any comments you may hear and bring them to the mtg...thx.=20=
</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>That said, John Gill makes some very good points in his post to PSML. <=
/DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Bruce</DIV>
<DIV>---------------</DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 12/13/2004 7:02:06 AM Pacific Standard Time, twojsco=
m@quadnet.net writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue=20=
2px solid"><FONT face=3DArial>George Ellis wrote:&nbsp; (snip) Why not elimi=
nate the squadron dues for the <BR>new member?<BR><BR>Here is another soluti=
on:<BR><BR>Why not do what our Squadron did.&nbsp; For years, we went withou=
t a dues <BR>increase because either District or National raised their dues=20=
and we <BR>did not want to put too great a burden on our members.&nbsp; We f=
inally got <BR>smart and rationalized that if expenses at District and/or Na=
tional <BR>necessitated that they must have gone up for the Squadron as well=
.&nbsp; So, <BR>we passed a resolution to raise Squadron dues by the SAME am=
ount as <BR>District or National when those dues were raised.&nbsp; End of S=
quadron <BR>financial problems!&nbsp; If every Squadron did likewise, perhap=
s our <BR>Districts and National would think twice about raising dues, knowi=
ng <BR>that the cost would be multiplied at the Squadron level.<BR><BR>Also,=
 if you believe that:&nbsp; "If something is worth nothing, it probably <BR>=
is" and "That you only get what you pay for".&nbsp; Then there is no problem=
 <BR>with increasing dues.&nbsp; Increasing dues is not the problem, providi=
ng <BR>value and member services is!<BR><BR>Free memberships and free course=
s to new members only devalues what we <BR>have to offer.<BR><BR>The KEY to=20=
membership is FRIENDSHIPS.&nbsp; New members may join USPS for <BR>education=
, they continue being members year after year because they have <BR>friends=20=
in the squadron.&nbsp;&nbsp; Members don't want to loose those friends and <=
BR>relationships because they dropped their membership.&nbsp; Make sure ever=
y <BR>new member makes new friends -- with active members.<BR><BR>One Squadr=
on I know goes so far as to team up one proctor to every one <BR>or two stud=
ents in their public boating courses (the Squadron BOATING <BR>COURSE).&nbsp=
; The proctor is available during the week and in the classroom <BR>to aid h=
is/her student(s) and make friends.<BR><BR>D/Lt John R. Gill, AP<BR>Pennsway=
 (PA) Squadron in D/5</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
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