In addition, I make another motion that we increase our membership fee's as outlined by Leann below, beginning in Year 7 AND that we review our prices yearly (membership year) so we don't get into this problem again. Second?
Best, Chuck On Apr 1, 2011, at 7:12 AM, Leann Christenson wrote: > This is not an open discussion or debate. This is a report. When the > President and VP call for a discussion, then there can be a discussion. > > Treasures Report: > This last week I've made an exhaustive look at the costs of Memberships and > bookstore items. > > Overall, the GGA does need to set new prices. In almost every category, > prices do not reflect what the GGA pays for items and is loosing money. > > Understanding that Year 7 brings many changes to the GGA. The membership > suggested changes are for the current Year 6. > > Bookstore > Gekko current price $7.50 members, $10 non members, Bulk $5-$6 > > Actual costs, especially the last two issues with 64 pages, are costing the > GGA $7.00+ each to print. This does not cover overhead costs which are > always included in merchandise prices. > > Since the Bookstore defrays the cost of Gekko inventory (not yet sold items), > the GGA is loosing money and loosing potential income. > > New Prices: > Gekko, membership price $8.00 > Gekko, non member price $12.00 > Bulk price: $6.50 25 or more, $7.00 ea 10 or more > > Membership > USA: $32, Canada/Mexico: $34, Overseas: $36 > > On April 11, USPS is increasing postal prices by approximately 11%. The > membership fees have not reflected increased postage costs in over 8 years. > > I have investigated mailing from locations other than the US. Large mailing > companies who specialize finding the best postal prices in the world all say > the same thing: > 1) The US has the lowest postage rates in the world. > 2) The best way to mail to multiple locations in the world is to mail from > each country (thus avoiding international postage rates and customs). This > means mail to UK members from UK post office and not from the US. > > Since the GGA represents so many countries but not a large number of people > in any one county except the US, printing and mailing from any other country > does not save money. (German 13 and Denmark 11 have the most other than the > US). > > I don't want to give up on this but at this time, it is still costing too > much effort and money to print in France or another county. But I am > continuing to look at this option. I am not giving up yet. > > Based on all this, I am recommending these new membership categories to > better reflect the specific postage costs fairly and to better represent the > "overseas" members (who don't consider themselves as overseas). > > New Membership Localities & Price: > North America $35 > Southern Continent $45 > Central Europe $40 > Middle East and Asia $45 > > I don't think the debate should be cost (I think should be more), this > reflects a fair and reasonable membership increase. What is important is > paying attention to how the GGA (a global group) refers to it's members. > > Submitted by Leann Christenson > > > > >
