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Well now I am missing something here. First of all,
our membership fees cover things like recording, bookkeeping, and making sure we
are heard all over on trail issues, etc,. As a matter of fact, right on the ride
application it states that "AERC is primarily a record keeping and educational
body...".
When you go to a ride, your ride fee includes,
meals, vets, port-o-potties, awards, insurance and the fees that ride management
has to pay to AERC to put on the ride. I do believe it is up to $5 per rider.
Members and non-members pay the same. (if you have 85 riders that is
$425.00)
So what benefits, if any, do non-members get for
the extra $10 they pay? They are not suppose to have any recording done with the
AERC office, however, they do end up in EN with all the results. Is that what
the $10 is for? I don't know, that is what I am asking.
From the RM point of view, if that money is not
collected at the time of the ride, the RM is responsible to AERC to pay those
dues before results can be posted. Why?? I think that is where Joe was coming
from. The non-members are not getting points, are not qualified for any year end
or region awards and are not suppose to have their mileage recorded. So why the
$10? And why would that hold back results from a ride and why is the RM
responsible for it?
RM's have 30 days I think, to send in results after
a ride or there is a late fee. It took me every bit of that 30 days to get all
the money situated. The people in the AERC office are pretty understanding
especially considering that it is hard for RM's to know who is a member and who
isn't until after all the paper work is completed. I would like to hear from one
RM that had everybody show a card at their ride.
So yes, non-members do get ride amenities at the
rides, but they pay for them, just like the rest of us. So how important is that
non-member fee? If so few riders are actually non-members, how much money would
AERC lose by not collecting it? Better yet, if it is that important, why can't
AERC collect it and leave the RM the rest of the paper work?
Another alternative would be to not include
non-members in the awards ceremony after the ride. Oh, wouldn't that go over
well! My point is, that we are all paying the same price to
ride. However, members are getting the benefits of mileage being
recorded, year end awards, regional awards and the ability to qualify for NC
rides or whatever they are calling it now. Non-members don't.
I am all for making it as easy as pie for anyone to
put on a ride. I use to be a bill collector and it wasn't fun. That is how you
feel though when you have to start making calls to people who didn't pay that
$10. If it is not that big a deal, I say let it go.
Lisa Salas, The Odd fArm
No Green Swamp Stomp this season, going to the
convention. But wait til you see the T-shirts for
2004!
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