Re: July AIS Bulletin for Emembers

[Robert Pries <robertpries@embarqmail.com>]

I do not think wishing to balance the budget endangers the good name of AIS. That seems a bit melodramatic. We did extensive surveys and interviews before creating our pricing structure and I do not remember anyone protesting the suggestions. I think your idea is a good one, and should be explored, but my concern at the moment is not what we can give away, but how we can how we can bring in more. The e-memberships have barely existed for 6 months. They still have a lot of development that could be thought about and accomplished. We could certainly do a survey to see how many people would add the e-membership to an existing membership at a combined rate or at the present rate, and then act on those results. Presently I think just understanding what an e-membership is, is more the issue for many. I hope I never sound like I am just defending the status quo. We have too far to go, and too many changes needed, in order to make this society relevant to the present world. We are n!
 ot there yet, and it will always be a work in progress. It is interesting that the times in our history when the society doubled in membership in the space of 4-5 years were also times of rapid change in the society. I think we could be in that type of time once again. Sometimes deciding what needs to come first is difficult. I wish you could turn your thoughts to how we get the budget balanced? Our reserves have continued to dwindle. The electronics fund also has less in reserve. Maybe you are correct and having a lower combined rate would bring in more money. If so I would be all for it. My quarrel is not with your idea, but it comes in the midst of a discussion where most of the comments of others seems to be centered on why cannot we have stuff for free.

----- Original Message -----
On 7/30/2012 2:00 PM, Robert Pries wrote:
> Gerry; All the things you mention cost AIS very little.

Except, of course, the printed Bulletin.
> They are essentially part of either membership. I believe you have been at every meeting for the last 5 years. You should be aware that many of those years AIS ran in the red. I think it would be a marvelous idea to offer a discount for combinedE/print membership, but where would you make up the extra money to pay the bills? If scores of old members would suddenly join with an e-membership, maybe that would work, but only about 400 had memberships in the Iris register when it was $10 and they were grandfathered in for the life of their subscription. My hope is that we could make e-membership better and better so that it became irresistible. But it is far from there yet, and the budget still needs balancing. Its a nice idea but we still must pay the bills. If I could be convinced that a third more existing print members would join with a discounted $10 e-membership than I would be all for it.

So now before we change anything you want a mathematical proof that it 
will work?

We are getting complaints about the current pricing structure. I feel 
certain there are many more being made that we do not hear about. Is not 
the good name of AIS worth something?

Gerry

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