RE: [atlarge-discuss] Membership fees

["Jeff Holt" <jefftttt@txucom.net>]

@Large,

The way to obtain growth and recognition is through numbers, and the
numbers will be best found by having the least amount of obstacles to
membership.  Until such time as this organization has something concrete
to show its members in terms of benefits, it would be unwise to
implement any kind of "dues" or "membership fees"....  At some point
AFTER the organization becomes a valid legal entity complete with Board
of Directors, Bylaws, and documented Charter it might be that adding a
fee for additional access or benefits would enhance the overall
membership. But that time appears distant for now.  

Sincerely,
 
TTTT
Jefftttt@txucom.net
www.tejas-info-services.com
 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Henderson [mailto:richardhenderson@ntlworld.com] 
Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2003 7:54 AM
To: Paul; atlarge-discuss@lists.fitug.de
Subject: Re: [atlarge-discuss] Membership fees

I think you're right Paul

The only peripheral 'sweeteners' for contributing money should be things
like a public acknowledgement, or a webpage profile, or advertising, or
things which do not effect the fundamental all-equal democratic impulse
for
a bottom-up users' organisation

Membership itself - and particularly the right to participate and vote -
should be open to all... the other way we will put off thousands, and
devalue the real strength of our democratic argument

We should avoid - at all costs - "being like them"... if you play their
game
by their rules, they always win!

We should not be a sophisticated club, we should be a people's movement
- a
people's movement full of information and driven by the case for
democratic
representation in the way *our* internet is administered

Yrs,

Richard H

----- Original Message -----
From: Paul <notmyopinion@btinternet.com>
To: <atlarge-discuss@lists.fitug.de>; <sirenj@earthlink.net>
Cc: Paul <notmyopinion@btinternet.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2003 1:25 PM
Subject: Re: [atlarge-discuss] Membership fees


> I'm not so sure this is a good idea...
>
> Jan Siren wrote:
>
> >Walter Schmidt wrote:
> >
> >
> >>On Sun, 8 Jun 2003, Dassa wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>But their could be two or more classes of membership.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>   ...Dassa, a good idea! We could also:
> >>
> >> - Set suggested contribution levels by country
> >> - Those who join, join.
> >> - Those who join and contribute the minimum get a
> >>Certificate-of-Membership, along with...
> >> - Those who contribute at the Sponsor level get...
> >> - Those who contribute at the Major Sponsor level get...
> >> - Those who contribute at the Key Sponsor level get...
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >Not bad.  In my view:
> >
> >"Those who join" can participate in (non-binding) on-line opinion
polls.
> >
> >"Those who join and contribute the minimum..." can join and chair
committees, have voting privileges including eligibility to vote for
Board
members, and can stand as candidates for the Board.
> >
>
> That doesn't sound very egalitarian. It reminds me of the "all about
> money" approach of too many interational standards bodies. I prefer
the
> IETF approach, myself.
>
> I know that things cost money, but that sort of entrance fee for
> democracy just seems wrong. I don't like the idea of the more you pay,
> the more democracy you can have.
>
> I guess there are things we need money for, and it has to come from
> somewhere. I work with some organisations that do quite a lot with
> little or no money. There is an important difference between being
> professional and efficient on the one hand, and paying commercial
rates
> (particularly western or US commercial rates) on the other. It's
> important not to lose that distinction!
>
> Perhaps I'm an idealist?
>
> regards,
>
> Paul



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