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

[Bill Hubbell]

Thanks, Bob.

Instead of just bringing up the potential problems with the idea, why not
also suggest possible solutions, so we can move forward?

Addressing your concerns - just my ideas, but let's hear yours:

First of all, we set this up as a strictly voluntary offer, much like we do
with having CORSA server host the chapter web sites - chapters can opt in or
opt out - their choice, and at their speed and level of comfort.

As for cost - before I would answer, I would want to know exactly how time
we are actually talking about.  There would be, of course, some initial
administrative cost to set up the web site to allow people to "buy" their
chapter membership when renewing CORSA dues, assuming that is how we set it
up (preferred over sending paper bills for cost reasons).  Additional
administrative time would be spend actually handling the money and making
payment to the chapters, but again, once set up, actual time spent should be
minimal.  Overall, I would see this as a benefit of CORSA membership and the
cost would therefore come out of CORSA dues and to be part of the management
team's job description and therefore paid as part of their contract, as
negotiated between them and CORSA. However, to a certain extent, this might
improve membership in either CORSA or the Chapters, especially if some sort
of joint-membership discounts can be agreed upon - expense of such discount
to likely be shared between chapter and CORSA, per mutual agreement.

As for the issues that face the local clubs with timing of dues payments,
multi-year discounts, etc., let the local clubs decide how they want to set
up the options and CORSA simply provide those options on the renewal form or
on-line "store".  This idea works best on-line because it is easy and
cost-effective to set-up as many options as needed, as opposed to a paper
renewal form.

For instance, consider this sample (note - using current fees from
Communique):

**************************CORSA Membership Store****************************

Please select any one of the following options for whichever clubs you wish
to join (note: you must be a CORSA member to use these services)

CORSA Membership (Join or Renew)
[] One Year Membership.................................................$38
[] 26 Month Membership.................................................$76
(etc.)

010 Stock Corvair Group
[] One Year membership................................................$10


074 NJACE Membership
[] One Year Membership.................................................$X
[] Two Year Membership.................................................$Y
Note: please specify type of membership desired (cost is the same either
way):
[] Individual (no further information needed)
[] Family (if this box is checked, web site will open new boxes to get name
information for additional members)

236 Tidewater Corvair Club Membership
[] Full year membership (runs from June through May)...................$12
[] Pro-rated membership (figured from today's date to next June at $1/month)
[] Newsletter only (annual)............................................$5


Anyway, I could go on, but you should be able to get the idea.  The hard
part is building the "store" website with the multiple choices, but Harry
already has this in process.  If CORSA board were to approve the concept the
next step would be up to the Chapters to decide to join up and provide their
individual requirements, etc.

Bill Hubbell


-----Original Message-----
From: chapters-bounces at corvair.org [mailto:chapters-bounces at corvair.org] On
Behalf Of Robert Marlow
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 11:07 PM
To: Bill Hubbell; chapters at corvair.org
Subject: Re: <CORSA Chapters> Combining Chapter and National membership
fees; shared databases

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