Fee structures and more history

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From: Kathy Myers 
Email: kathym@nickmail.com

Well, just a barrel of thoughts here. :)

I find it interesting that the orignial
single member to family ratio was a
full 100%... $5 to $10.  Then the
family rate went to "$10 more", but the
ratio plunged dramatically.  Now we
have a situation where an entire family
can join for only 15% more than a
single membership.  What's up with that?

Which brings us back to history.

Apparently the pony express lost a LOT
of money.  1-2 million in 1860's $$$.
And it was steeped in controversy,
illegally "borrowed" monies, and
banckruptcy.  Within 18 months it was
replaced by the telegraph and by then
the money was gone.  There were 
congressional hearings... the money was
illegally "borrowed" from money set
aside for displaced indian tribes.
Not much came of it all.

We had serious financial trouble within
the AERC.  I do not know what happened.
An annonymous post was squashed... as
annonymous posts like that should be.
However, other unnamed but reliable
sources indicated that the AERC might
have indeed... one more time... followed
the history of the pony express.

No one wanted the AERC to go bankrupt.
Infact, we all love and support the
sport.  That's what we're here for.  If
the fee structure was needed to dig us
out of a hole, then great.  We're very
happy to still be here.

If the membership fees are now needed
for keeping our trails and rides then
show us how.  Let's get out there.  If
the membership fees are needed to
upgrade software / hardware then great ... show us how.  If the membership fees
are needed to discount juniors then
that's fine too.

If the fee structure doesn't make sense,
then let's adjust it.  The Sundowner
discount is wonderful!  Good Job!  But
it does not fix the discrepancy between
the single / family membership
percentages.

Personally, I have no trouble with the
$65 single membership as long as the
issues above are accounted for.  But I
do agree that a family membership which
costs only 15% is not an agreeable fee
structure.

- Kathy Myers
AERC Region West
kathym@nickmail.com
magnumsmom@aol.com
in No. Cal with Magnum the TB ex-racer
and Mr Maajistic... endurance Arab