[Psml] PSML Digest, Vol 3, Issue 11 Dues billing question

[GISPS]

PJ> Not being involved in the treasurer's department, my concern when I read this question is whether a 'Family
PJ> Member' can automatically convert to a 'Second Active Member'.  I may be going back too far, but it seems to
PJ> me that the last I knew, a 'Second Active Member' had to pass the basic boating course to join. I don't
PJ> think there was a similar requirement for 'Family Membership'. This may have changed, but if not it will
PJ> need to be factored into any simplified membership categories at all levels. As usual, I do not know the
PJ> answer, but would hope someone at National does.

	I know that when I was essentially a child member back in 1974, my mother and I both took a 13 or so week course (Still have the original books!!!) including charts and so forth to get my associate or affiliate membership (because of young age) and my mother took the class to get her women's certificate and went on to take a number of advanced courses under that same alternative certificate. I went off to college and eventually overseas and around, losing track of USPS activity. Certainly back then, ANY type of membership required passing the exam for the full course and being invited to join. There was no automatic membership invitation with passing the course! I don't remember any "Family Membership" other than family was always invited to special events of all types, even without the course. Now it looks like we will soon not even require ANY course to join, just prompt payment of dues. Good or bad, it will never hold much prestige again this way, but perhaps we are not special enough to attract people the old way any more. 
	Actually, if we take our current direction a little further down the road, you should probably plan on different types of  membership depending on how much you pay, like in arts organizations raising money to sponsor concerts and arts festivals. As long as we have decided that financial equilibrium is easier to accomplish with easier membership requirements and that it is all about money, not being part of something a little bit special or set apart, we may as well learn from other fund raising organizations and have an "Admiral" level membership for $10,000 that guarantees you a spot on the head table for COW or comparable festivities and a "Captian" level membership for only $2,000 annually that gets a whole family into all social activities without cover charge or some such perk, each with its own Certificate and emblem to place on the bow of your boat.. The money is undoubtedly out there if you can make someone feel proud to be a part. If we are not going to be merit based, we may as well make it easier to raise the funds we need, right? 
	This is NOT my position, by the way, but looks to be something we should expect in coming years or months.
-Karl E. Peters, Admin. Officer
Golden Isles Sail & Power Squadron
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.usps.org/pipermail/psml/attachments/20061121/5bf649fe/attachment.html