<CORSA Chapters> Combining Chapter and National membership fees; shared databases

[Robert Marlow]

I find the idea appealing on its face, but I can see where it would 
have to be eased in over time, due to the wide variations in Chapter 
dues structures, member types, renewal dates, and so on.

Of greater concern is the simple fact that nothing in this world is 
free.  By asking CORSA to administer, collect and distribute Chapter 
dues, we are asking our paid management team to do more.  Is the cost 
of this to be absorbed by CORSA?  By the Chapters?  By the management team?

At first blush, I thought that this would be very easy for my local 
chapter because we have only one dues rate, X dollars per year.  Then 
I realized that even for my local club there would be complexities to 
be resolved.  We offer a discounted two-year rate (which CORSA should 
do instead of that unique-in-all-the-world 26-month thing).  Every 
member's membership runs on a fiscal year, from April first through 
March 31st, rather than on an individual's anniversary date.  We 
renew our memberships right now, just before Springtime.  New members 
get a bonus, their first-year dues takes them anywhere from 12 to 23 
months, depending on when they join.  Oh, and you can specify either 
an "individual" membership or a "family" membership (up to two adults 
and all children under 18 living in a single household).  Dues are 
the same either way.

So even for my local club to participate, where I at first thought it 
would be "clean" because we have only one price, significant 
adjustments would have to be made.

Still, an idea worth kicking around further.

--Bob

Robert W Marlow
Vairtec at optonline.net