Re: [AISdiscuss] Life Memberships

["Jill Bonino" <aissecjill@earthlink.net>]

Hi All...

Below is the excerpt from the ByLaws regarding Life Memberships.  To 
eliminate them must be done as a change to the ByLaws as Clarence mentioned. 
This, I think, makes the original motion made by Jay Hudson and seconded by 
Terry Aitken moot as written.

The question then becomes, do we want to change the ByLaws to eliminate Life 
Memberships?

"ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Section 2. The membership of the Society shall be divided into the following 
classes:

(c) life membership, single or dual, non-transferable, which shall carry 
full membership privileges, and shall be limited to individuals;"



Jill





----- 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
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> To sign-off this list, send email to the AIS Secretary
> aissecjill@earthlink.net.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to the AIS Secretary
aissecjill@earthlink.net.