Re: [AISdiscuss] Life Memberships

["William Plotner" <gardens@molalla.net>]

Finally,  a statement to get behind.

You know that I do not always agree with you Clarence, but this time you are
right on the mark.

Here, Here to this statement by Clarence.

Will


----- Original Message -----
From: <CEMahan@aol.com>
To: <aisdiscuss@aisboard.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 7:53 PM
Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] Life Memberships


> Point of order!
>
> The Board cannot vote to discontinue life memberships. The  category of
ife
> membership is established by the By-Laws of the  Society and can only be
> discontinued by a change of the By-Laws, and  voted on by the entire AIS
membership.
>
> The Board can vote to change the cost of life memberships, but I
personally
> think any change in dues should be done at the regular meeting of the
Board
> not  over the Internet.
> I do think it is reasonable to have a different price place on life
> membership for U.S./Canadian members and overseas members. But I think
even this
> should be discussed in an open membership meeting with a full rationale as
to  why
> it is desirable. There is no need to antagonize our overseas members (and
> there are VERY few overseas life members anyway).
>
> As for changing the By-laws to discontinue life memberships, I am  unconv
> inced it is a smart thing to do. Most organizations I belong to have life
> memberships, and it is a long tradition in AIS. Traditions are important.
And in
> any event, a vote to change the By-laws should only be done at the
regular
> Board meeting.
>
> It has only been in the past few years that the abnormally low interest
> rates have caused the income from a life membership to generate inadequate
> revenue.  Over many long years the interest income from a life membership
more than
> covered the cost of an annual membership. AND interest rates are not
going
> to stay low forever.
>
> Over the long run, the present value of money makes a life  membership an
> income producing category unless life memberships are priced too  low. If
action
> is deemed necessary, it would be wiser to reprice the life  memberships
than
> to discontinue them. But I strongly recommend that any  repricing be done
in
> regular open board meetings. Perceived secrecy is the enemy  of
organizational
> cohesion. Especially when the subject is money.
>
> Warm wishes to all, Clarence
>
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