Re: Fee structures and more history

["Jerry Fruth" <hikryrdg@evansville.net>]

Kat just produced some great logic.  Lets take it one step further.  For
all of you interested in fees, costs ect,. isn't it about time AERC
published its current financial position.  All of this is kind of like
throwing darts in the dark.  Lets  see what it takes to run AERC and THEN
adjust or establish a new fee structure.  The history of numbers would be
very interesting to study.  You can't figure out where to go if you odn't
know where you have been.  Jerry Fruth  AERC #441         

Hickory Ridge Arabians web page:
http://www.evansville.net/~hikryrdg/

Standing JABASK KNIGHT
On Wed, 30 Dec 1998, guest@endurance.net wrote...
>
>
>PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO GUEST@ENDURANCE.NET!!!
>You must post replies to the actual sender listed below.
>
>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
>