AIS: Membership Structure (long posting)

Hello, irisarians!
	From a recent posting by Libby Cross:

>LOOK FOR SOME CHANGES AFTER THE BOARD MEETS IN JUNE!

	This is a good opportunity to re-state my ongoing concerns about the 
existing structure for AIS memberships - one which does NOT offer pro-ration 
of dues. I'm hopeful that this issue will be discussed and corrected when the 
board meets.
	Last fall, I asked fellow club members how we are to sell prospective 
members on joining with no provision for the pro-ration of dues. Not one 
person could answer the question. The further into the year we go, the worse 
the problem gets. As Tom Tadfor Little wrote:

>One could also argue that the current system devalues the first year of 
>membership for those who join late. They don't get to vote the symposium, 
>don't get a chance to attend the convention, don't get timely news of shows, 
>etc. I think we'd all agree that there's more to AIS than the Bulletin; 
>there's also opportunities for participation in various iris activities.

	The only "solution" so far is to hold a new members dues until after 
Oct 1st. A typical response by the prospective member:
	"In that case, I think I'll just wait until this fall to join..."
	This workaround is but a patch; I'd rather remove the millstone from 
around our necks and implement a pro-rated membership structure. Despite what 
any OTHER societies do, this is a better way of doing business. As Bill Smoot 
wrote:

>It is crazy for any organization to cry about problems with first time 
>members not rejoining, and then to treat them like this! <SNIP> Who wants 
>to join an organization and pay twenty bucks for just three months 
>membership?  <SNIP> Again, I just feel that we should have a "kinder & 
>gentler" attitude with new member by being forthright and honest. They join 
>with the impression that they will be a member for a year in the future - not
>backdated. It also puts AIS in a potential legal problem without the 
>exceptions printed on the membership application. Most people don't write 
>letters of complaint - they just don't renew their membership!!!!!!! <SNIP> 
>It was my intention to bring attention to something that I feel is very 
>wrong with our AIS Membership in hopes of correcting it.      

	Is it just me, or is this summation right on target??
	As I have told Marilyn Harlow and others, I fully understand that the 
past bulletins are GREAT references to have, but our prospective member 
doesn't understand this until getting into the club. They may very well view 
them as old magazines that have already been pulled from the newsstands.
	There are many ideas on how to improve the system. The one I like 
best comes from Ruth Walker, founder of the Fredericksburg Area Iris Society. 
She suggests that we just charge 1/12 if a year's dues per month for the year 
in which an individual joins. For an annual $18 membership, that would
be $1.50 per remaining month. After that, the member is on the same schedule 
as everyone else.
	I will again share with you my second favorite alternative: a plan 
for quarterly dues pro-ration that I recommended to Marilyn for consideration 
by the Board when they met LAST FALL:

AIS Dues with QUARTERLY PRO-RATION
**************************************************
Month new member joins:		Cost:	
Jan, Feb or Mar  (QTR1)		$18.00
Apr, May or Jun (QTR2)		$13.50 (OR $31.50)
Jul, Aug or Sep  (QTR3)		$ 9.00 (OR $27.00)
Oct, Nov or Dec (QTR4)		$22.50 (OR $18.00)
************************************************** 

QTR1: "Great news!  By joining now you'll be a member until the end of the 
year & you'll be getting all AIS and Regional bulletins for the entire year! 
That will be $18.00, please."

QTR2: "A year's membership is $18.00, but since you are joining during the 
second quarter, your cost will be only $13.50 for the balance of this year. 
You will start on the yearly dues schedule when you are billed for next 
year's membership in Nov. If you would like to, you can pay through the end 
of next year, which would be $31.50 today. Which one do you prefer?"

QTR3: "A year's membership is $18, but since you are joining during the third 
quarter, your cost will be only $9.00 for the balance of this year. You will 
start on the yearly dues schedule when you are billed for next year's 
membership in Nov. If you would like to pay through the end of next year, 
that will be $27.00 today. Which one do you prefer?"

QTR4: "A full year's membership is $18. Since you are joining during the 
fourth quarter, your cost will be $22.50 for the balance of this year and all 
of next year. You will be paid up until the end of next year! (The QTR4 
alternative of paying only $4.50 is not recommended; it seems to be cost 
prohibitive. As Marilyn pointed out in a message to me:

><snip> Every year we lose 1000 to 1200 members.  Of these members, about 
>half of them are one year members.  For whatever reason, they fail to renew. 
>I could just see prorated paying members getting two bulletins plus a dues 
>notice in a six month period of time and then not renewing. 

	With pro-ration, there would not be free bulletins going out; just a 
fair-minded, pay as you go system. I again suggest that, to the extent 
possible, we try to accommodate the prospective AIS member. Even if it 
requires a little extra effort, the potential of having more people join and 
STAY in AIS is worth it!
	PLEASE provide your support for these suggestions to AIS board 
members; we can help change things for the better by voicing our concerns. 
The AIS should reconsider and offer pro-ration of membership dues during the 
year a person joins: it's an option our prospective members deserve! 

Jim Schroetter, FAIS
Fredericksburg, VA
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