Re: RC: International

[Lynne Glazer <lynne@glazer.org>]

Agreed, Heidi.  I'm curious about why the AERC website doesn't 
include a way to sign up for International membership, as an add-on 
to general membership already in place.

I'm one of those who has absolutely no aspirations of competing 
internationally or even about finishing first domestically, but wants 
to support the international efforts of AERC competitors.  I feel 
great when I hear how well our riders are doing.  Who here didn't 
feel crushed when the France pre-ride results came out, and only one 
US team member had managed to complete?   We can't play in the 
international game without money, and if you enjoy hearing of our 
triumphs and aren't a USET member (I'm not), $10 seems a small price 
to pay to support the tremendous effort to compete against the better 
funded nations.

Lynne

At 6:00 PM -0400 5/20/00, CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com wrote:
>In a message dated 5/20/00 2:49:19 PM Pacific Daylight Time, dpwg@juno.com
>writes:
>
><< 1. International is not making money in its own right so needs to borrow
>  from AERC>>
>
>OK, this part baffles me.  AERC International has made its own way, had
>donations specifically earmarked for international riding, etc.  NO other
>aspect of AERC has EVER been asked to be self-supporting.  It is my
>understanding that at one point AERC actually "borrowed" from AERC
>International's funds!  If anything, AERC International has come closer to
>being self-supporting than ANY other aspect of our sport.  (And no, the funds
>do NOT go to pay for things like passports, travel, etc.--riders have to foot
>their own bill for passports, and travel is funded by USET--a completely
>separate organization.  I did get a nice $20 polo shirt as a "uniform" when a
>friend graciously put up the money for my airfare and I paid for a weeks'
>lodging, etc. for the "privilege" of crewing at the WEC in Dubai--I don't
>know if AERC International bought those or not, but it was certainly a small
>thing to do for folks who spent upwards of $2000 apiece of their own money to
>go support our squad, and I still wear it proudly.)
>
><< 2. There are riders that do not want to ever (from their own prejudices)
>  want to participate
>  in an international sport so do not want their dollars going to that part
>  of the sport. >>
>
>There are those who will never participate in the Jim Jones competition by
>accruing mileage on stallions.  There are those that will never participate
>in family awards because either they do not have families or their families
>don't ride.  There are folks who will never participate in ANY aspect of
>competition, but who manage rides, vet rides, time, PR, etc.  That does not
>justify destroying successful programs that at least SOME enjoy--especially
>ones with so much beneficial spin-off as world involvement has given us.
>
>Heidi
>
>
>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.   
>Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp  
>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=