February 2008 BoD Board Meeting

[arc]

Originally Posted by oiuyt

One thing that it was suggested that I highlight, just to increase awareness, is one of the items mentioned in the Good & Welfare section:

I've been told that if people renew now (for next season) they can do so at the current rates. Also note that there is a long-standing policy (in the By-Laws, I believe) that for NEW members, joining on or after April 1st results in the membership extending not only for the remaining months of the current season, but also for the entire following season.

I don't know what rate will be set for a lifetime membership. Last quad it jumped $200 from $1000 to $1200.

-B

What I would be curious to know is whether the people who are on sustaining life will see a price increase for their annual installments or if they will see their annual payment remain the same since they started the payments at the current rate. Doesn't affect me personally, but I know several people in the process, as it were.

[oiuyt]

Originally Posted by arc

What I would be curious to know is whether the people who are on sustaining life will see a price increase for their annual installments or if they will see their annual payment remain the same since they started the payments at the current rate. Doesn't affect me personally, but I know several people in the process, as it were.

4 years ago when Sustaining Life was being talked about (but not yet in existance) there was discussion of exactly that topic at a Board meeting. My recollection is that it was decided at that time that sustaining life rates remain constant for the 10 years and don't grow with any increase in the life rate.

That said, even assuming my recollection is correct, of which I can't be absolutely certain, I won't guarantee that the answer will have remained unchanged.

Perhaps an email to membership@usfencing.org would be in order from any who might be affected.

-B

[fencerbill]

The life membership has been typically 20 times the annual rate. At least at the time they raised the annual membership from $15, they left the life membership at $300 for a short while. That was about 15 years ago, so it was a good investment. Don't know if there will be a corresponding delay in raising the life membership again.

Renewing, or extending, for 3 years at this past year's rates is also an investment to consider, if allowed. Depending on the whole membership fee structure, might save $50.

Allowing such actions might be a temporary measure to improve the cash flow crunch.

[oiuyt]

Originally Posted by fencerbill

The life membership has been typically 20 times the annual rate. At least at the time they raised the annual membership from $15, they left the life membership at $300 for a short while. That was about 15 years ago, so it was a good investment. Don't know if there will be a corresponding delay in raising the life membership again.

Renewing, or extending, for 3 years at this past year's rates is also an investment to consider, if allowed. Depending on the whole membership fee structure, might save $50.

Allowing such actions might be a temporary measure to improve the cash flow crunch.

The rate was $1000 when membership was $40 (25x annual) during the entire 2000-2004 quad. It's now $1200, with membership at $50 (24x annual) and has been the entire 2004-2008 quad.

Early renewal at the lower rate was also allowed in 2004, so it's not purely a reaction to current cashflow issues. That said, I'd assume it being pushed out a bit more publically this time IS designed to help ease our current situation.

-B

[arc]

Originally Posted by oiuyt

Early renewal at the lower rate was also allowed in 2004, so it's not purely a reaction to current cashflow issues. That said, I'd assume it being pushed out a bit more publically this time IS designed to help ease our current situation.
-B

As long as the USFA doesn't do some things that some other organisations do when desperately trying to raise cash; the National Rifle Association, in particular comes to mind. The NRA routinely has "fire sales" on life & higher membership categories to raise money.

For instance, a basic life membership in the NRA costs $1,000.00. I paid $400 (I think; it's been a while).

One of the things that's I've touted to a few people in senior USFA leadership as a model for fundraising is the NRA's "premium" life membership programs, where basically, a life member can give additional money to the NRA to "upgrade" their membership level, essentially for bragging rights. For instance, a life membership can be upgraded to endowment, patron, or benefactor membership for an aggregate amount of $2,000, $3,500, and $5,000, respectively (or $2,000, $1,500, and $1,500 when done incrementally). The NRA has fire sales on those, too, with my incremental upgrades costing $300, $175, and $250 respectively (and I even got cool jackets with the last two).

While those fire sales can raise cash quickly, the downside is that the organisation now has a life member that it has to provide services for in perpetuity, without having had the benefit of receiving enough money whose present value will offset the costs of those services in the future.

[fencerX]

Originally Posted by arc

While those fire sales can raise cash quickly, the downside is that the organisation now has a life member that it has to provide services for in perpetuity, without having had the benefit of receiving enough money whose present value will offset the costs of those services in the future.

Obvious solution -- sell after life memberships. That would allow people to really upgrade the bragging rights of their memberships, bring in extra funds now, with a low cost of future services.

Become a new afterlife benefactor and Al Gore won't be able to take away your NRA membership from even your cold, dead hands!

[Goldgar]

Originally Posted by fencerX

Obvious solution -- sell after life memberships.

Bravo!

[fencerbill]

Rules out the Sustaining Life option, hard to collect.

Mormons might participate.

[needle]

Originally Posted by fencerX

Obvious solution -- sell after life memberships. That would allow people to really upgrade the bragging rights of their memberships, bring in extra funds now, with a low cost of future services.

Taking this to a boring practical alternatives - how about memberships that can be inherited?

[fencerX]

Originally Posted by needle

Taking this to a boring practical alternatives - how about memberships that can be inherited?

How would reducing potential future revenues and increasing future costs be better for an organization than getting people's money now while offering them little to nothing of cost in the future?

There are members of the NRA and some other organizations who would pay (big and now) to one-up their fellow life members by becoming a card carrying member that lists not just a life membership but beyond.

It's absolutely amazing what some people will compete over so maybe afterlife memberships could be sold in X year increments. If criminals can get life plus 99 years, why can't law abiding, amendment loving citizens support the NRA just as long? Just imagine how much money could be generated from politicians alone.

Back to the USFA -- some organizations cleverly combine marketing their more exclusive (i.e. pricey) memberships while making extra $ in doing so. Some will only sell X level members certain distinctive and personalized jackets, badges, pins, green colored user names, whatever. There very well could be opportunities for the USFA in this area.

[Inquartata]

Originally Posted by fencerX

Obvious solution -- sell after life memberships.

My employer has been doing this for centuries, although he uses a rather different currency of exchange...

[arc]

Originally Posted by fencerX

Back to the USFA -- some organizations cleverly combine marketing their more exclusive (i.e. pricey) memberships while making extra $ in doing so. Some will only sell X level members certain distinctive and personalized jackets, badges, pins, green colored user names, whatever. There very well could be opportunities for the USFA in this area.

I will state that when I pointed out the NRA's scheme to a member of the senior leadership at Charlotte, I was told that as a matter of course, donations of a certain level come with gifts, and a suitable donation later, I have a really, really cool jacket that I don't believe is available anywhere else.