Miata Mailing List: February 1999, Message #250

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The subject came up at last night's meeting about lifetime dues. 
Currently we have a lifetime club dues of $75. The point was made that
in the long run, this may not support the club very well if everybody 
decides to go lifetime. We are currently at 56 member numbers and 
growing by leaps and bounds. There are many options that we have.
I would like comments from folks as to which their clubs have decided,
what would be a good idea, what has been considered, etc... in the 
way of lifetime dues. Our yearly dues remain $25 and will be staying that
way. There are 4 choices. Student = $15, Long-distance = $15, 
Yearly = $25 and Lifetime = $75  These are the options:

1. Leave lifetime dues @ $75 for all incoming members/old members,     
    etc...

2. Grandfather all current members at $75, due upon their renewal
    date, to become lifetime, though they can still stay with yearly. They      
    would lose their lifetime option after their renewal date.
     All new members after RAGS 056 would pay $150
    for a lifetime membership. (the price is subject to increasing after 
    debate by members. $150 is hypothetical)

3. Grandfather like above, but eliminate the lifetime option for all new
    members.

4. Drop lifetime all together for anybody that hasn't already signed up.

What I would like are comments/ideas regarding these ideas or any
others that might have some valid basis. The club is a subisidary 
of a non-profit corporation, RAGS Inc., and likes to have a 
little money in the coffers to support club events/incidentals/etc...
Profit is not the goal. The club just wants to be sure that 6 years down
the road they will be able to pay the bills. Some think that this won't be
able to happen if people pay lifetime, as eventually all will opt to 
go lifetime and no money will be coming in. Some think that the 
majority of people will go yearly, as they don't know if they're going to
be with the club long enough to justify 6 years worth of dues. 

Any and all comments can be directed here or to my home address:
mrmiata@icx.net   I only get the messages at this address M-F, 8-4 
p.m., so any evening mail that is to be responded to promptly needs
to go to my home address. 

Anybody with any experience or just some well-thought-out ideas, 
please, let me know.

Scott and Woody