GNHLUG.Organizational - Automated notification of topic changes
This is an automated email from GNHLUG. New or changed topics in GNHLUG.Organizational, since 07 Aug 2007 - 23:54: - MembershipFeePolicy (TedRoche) http://wiki.gnhlug.org/twiki2/bin/view/Organizational/MembershipFeePolicy - MailingListPolicy (BenScott) http://wiki.gnhlug.org/twiki2/bin/view/Organizational/MailingListPolicy - MailAliases (BenScott) http://wiki.gnhlug.org/twiki2/bin/view/Organizational/MailAliases - WebMaster (BenScott) http://wiki.gnhlug.org/twiki2/bin/view/Organizational/WebMaster - DomainMaster (BenScott) http://wiki.gnhlug.org/twiki2/bin/view/Organizational/DomainMaster - ListMaster (BenScott) http://wiki.gnhlug.org/twiki2/bin/view/Organizational/ListMaster - WebSites (BenScott) http://wiki.gnhlug.org/twiki2/bin/view/Organizational/WebSites - LimitedCommercializationPolicy (BenScott) http://wiki.gnhlug.org/twiki2/bin/view/Organizational/LimitedCommercializationPolicy - WhatDoWeWantToBe (BenScott) http://wiki.gnhlug.org/twiki2/bin/view/Organizational/WhatDoWeWantToBe - WebHome (BenScott) http://wiki.gnhlug.org/twiki2/bin/view/Organizational/WebHome - ChapterConcept (BenScott) http://wiki.gnhlug.org/twiki2/bin/view/Organizational/ChapterConcept - WhatWeAre (BenScott) http://wiki.gnhlug.org/twiki2/bin/view/Organizational/WhatWeAre - OurStructure (BenScott) http://wiki.gnhlug.org/twiki2/bin/view/Organizational/OurStructure Review recent changes in: http://wiki.gnhlug.org/twiki2/bin/view/Organizational/WebChanges Subscribe / Unsubscribe in: http://wiki.gnhlug.org/twiki2/bin/view/Organizational/WebNotify ___ gnhlug-org mailing list gnhlug-org@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-org/
GNHLUG.Main - Automated notification of topic changes
This is an automated email from GNHLUG. New or changed topics in GNHLUG.Main, since 02 Aug 2007 - 07:43: - BruceDawson (BruceDawson) http://wiki.gnhlug.org/twiki2/bin/view/Main/BruceDawson Review recent changes in: http://wiki.gnhlug.org/twiki2/bin/view/Main/WebChanges Subscribe / Unsubscribe in: http://wiki.gnhlug.org/twiki2/bin/view/Main/WebNotify ___ gnhlug-org mailing list gnhlug-org@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-org/
Membership fee policy
I was cleaning up various parts of the website, and that included the MembershipFeePolicy page. I added a couple comments, and then Ted posted some good points. Since I know even fewer people pay attention to that part of the website than this list, and wiki's are cumbersome for discussion anyway, I figured I'd bring the discussion here. For the story so far, see: http://wiki.gnhlug.org/twiki2/bin/view/Organizational/MembershipFeePolicy My take: I think part of the issue with this perennial discussion is semantics. We have never define member. I'm going to continue that tradition here by side-stepping the definition and talking about what I think we[1] actually mean. When we say GNHLUG shall have no membership fees, I think the general intent is that we want it to be as easy as possible for people to be able to be involved with and part of the GNHLUG community. One of the purposes of GNHLUG is, I think, to share knowledge, experience, assistance, and enthusiasm for Linux/FOSS. More people can benefit from that if we don't charge for admission. That doesn't mean we cannot charge for a given activity/project/service/whatever, should it be appropriate. Some examples: When we have dinner at Martha's, people still have to pay for their dinner. When we had the BBQ at Bruce's, everyone had to bring some food. If we want to have a catered party, we could charge a $5 cover. And so on. A benefit to this approach is that contributions go directly to the intended purpose, so contributors are happier and accounting is easier. More generally, free admission does not mean voluntary donations cannot be accepted. It is reasonable that the people who make the donations have the most influence over how they are used. I think that's one of the real benefits of having a formal organization (i.e., Board of Directors): We can collect general funds and put them towards things in a way that's more open than We all trust Bob to handle the money well. It is also possible to combine the above: Have a special activity with a cover charge, where the cover actually exceeds the cost of the event. The proceeds go into the general fund. In practice, this is identical to charging the lower cover and a voluntary cash donation, but it has a psychological advantage in that many people are more willing to donate if there is a more direct and immediate benefit. That's why PBS sells videos. (As an aside: Contributions are not limited to money. Bring food is just as much of an admission fee as $5 cover. Likewise, You can sell your stuff at our hamfest table if you also volunteer to evangelize. Heck, even You can ask questions on -discuss, if you also are willing to read the discussion. If you count the time people give, GNHLUG is rich indeed.) Comments? Commendations? Condemnations? -- Ben [1] We may actually just beI here, but I think I'm not the only one who thinks this way about this issue. ___ gnhlug-org mailing list gnhlug-org@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-org/
Re: Membership fee policy
All good points. I think Ben's train of thought is going in the right direction. Membership should have various degrees, starting from the public which should be welcome to attend Freely. Perhaps an associate level for us regulars, and then we already have definitions for various corporate officers. I've always been a fan of membership fees (and deserved discounts) either for extra services, or if absolutely necessary: * As an example of extra services, the FSF provides fee-payers (Associates) certain items of low cost, which are valued by members (see https://www.fsf.org/associate/support_freedom). * Absolutely necessary means the club cannot function without funds. Were it the case that our hosting costs were not free, or if we had to advertise ourselves, then the benefit of having the club would actually be the above service which members obtained. At RUSLUG we awarded valued members (no fee, but rather time donated to the club) with user accounts on the server, which included mail accounts and web space on a server less restricted than that provided by the university. I don't know if GNHLUG wants to open up the server in that way, but I'd personally love to have an @gnhlug.org account for LUG business. As for Ted's suggestion of taxation without representation, I think that's what board elections and referendums are for. Certain things should be voted on by dues-paying members, other things should be handled by the officers. The line should be drawn probably based on either monetary value (the board may, by simple majority expend [x USD | %y of last years collected dues], larger expenses require either simple majority of two thirds of the board or a simple majority vote by due-paying members) or expenditure type (of which I'm not a fan, because it gets messy real fast). The university made RUSLUG use a hybrid system which was a real pain (though mostly made sense considering 19-year-olds with credit cards and an affinity for liquor handled thousands of student-body dollars). I'll leave you nice folks alone now. Michael ___ gnhlug-org mailing list gnhlug-org@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-org/
