<CORSA Chapters> Another Q or two

[Steve Goodman]

Hello all:  Rocky Mountain Corsa added to the constitution a number of years
ago an automatic dues increase every other year.  This saves the club
President from having to face the group and ask for a large increase after a
couple of years of losing money and being close to zero bank balance.  Small
increases on a regular basis are viewed with less anxiety than a  large
increase every few years. This tends to take care of postage increases and
printing cost increases.   I have no idea how a plan like that would fly
with all of CORSA,  just telling you what we do in Denver.

I would also like to add that in the beginning of the 2008 year I lobbied
for an increase in dues for PPCC (Colorado Springs) of which I am the
president.  No one objected to the increase and both clubs enjoy very nice
newsletters and other benefits.

I am sure I speak for most when I say that CORSA  'cost cutting' would
reflect directly on the COMMUNIQUE and I believe that would be a grave
error, the COMMUNIQUE needs to stay with the top quality and content that we
have enjoyed through the years.

Happy holidays.

Best regards, Steve
RMC historian
PPCC President

----- Original Message -----
From: <intocorvairs at aol.com>
To: <flat6vair at comcast.net>; <chapters at corvair.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2008 12:36 PM
Subject: Re: <CORSA Chapters> Another Q or two


>
> To all,
>
> First, I would suggest that the dollars for?CORSA annual membership dues
stay in line with the cents for the US Postal Services first class mail rate
(1 ounce), which is currently $.42, which would make our current dues
$42/year.? By using this formula, when our mail costs increase, so will our
dues.? For the majority of CORSA members who aren't involved in these
discussions on the chapter list, these increases will be more palatable if
it is properly explained in the Communique that the increases are
"related."?
>
> Second, as for the other suggestions, make only?the necessary changes
after the dues adjustment is finalized.
>
> Stephen Bujtor
> President, CORSA SC
> Lyman, SC?
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: tim mahler <flat6vair at comcast.net>
> To: CORSA Chapters <chapters at corvair.org>
> Sent: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 7:55 am
> Subject: <CORSA Chapters> Another Q or two
>
>
>
>
> Trying to get some early feedback.  The CORSA board is looking at the
CORSA
> budget and are seeing a big shortfall.  Some of these were asked,
partially
> in the survey last year, but,  I am going to ask again.
>
> The biggest cause is the continued decline in membership numbers -- which
> translates to fewer dues coming (lower revenue)
> Expenses, of course,  continue to rise,  some faster than the consumer
price
> index (postage)  some less .  The management and editorial fees are
actuall
> rising slower then the CPI, but still rising.
>
> It is either time to raise dues -- The finance committee suggested by $7 a
> year.
> One thought was to offer a electronic only membership at a lower rate --
> saves postage and printing.  even after the survey, I am not sure how well
> this option would be utilized.
>
> and / or reduce expenses
>
> Reducing expenses,  by the amount needed over the next 3-5 years,  means
> reducing what is provided to the member, or requiring members to do more.
>
> One item on the list that reduces printing expenses but still provides the
> same amount of content is printing two different size Communiques -- One
> with 20 numbered pages and one with 28 numbered pages (average 24 numbered
> pages as today)
> Saves about 2k.   Is that a reasonable consideration?  or would the low
> numbered pages cause members to be upset?
>
> More drastic measure would be to print bi-monthly or even just
quarterly --
> more pages per printed edition, but fewer editions.  saves both postage
and
> printing expenses -- enough to prevent a dues increase.  Should that be
> considered?
> Should an electronic "newsletter"  be published in the non-print months?
>
> OK.
>
> Keeping the Communique at the current 24 number pages, printed monthly.
> Another option would be to drastically reduce the services we contract
. --
> Say,  having membership renewals processed totally by volunteers.   Having
a
> help desk for the membership center staffed by volunteers (separate from
the
> current VV-help group), and having the database maintained by volunteers.
> It is a lot
>  of work.  Are there volunteers out there to pick up that work?
> I haven't been convinced this is a good move at this time,  but I have
been
> wrong in the past.
>
> OK,  enough Qs for this email
>
> Happy holidays everyone
>
> tim mahler
>
>
>
>
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