ANST - Kingdom membership

[leigh- at primenet.com]

At 12:28 AM 02/19/2000 -0500, Clarissa wrote:
>>How does paying more affect cost? Hum. I have a family of five. Yes I am 
>>a member and my wife has the family membership. So, two of the five of us 
>>are members. If non members have to pay $2 extra, that just raised my cost 
>>by $6, not bad, but in the long run of 12 events later it has cost me an 
>>addtional $72. <snip>
>
>If you bought associate memberships for all then you wouldn't have to pay 
>the extra surcharge but it would be $30 more in memberships. My 2 kids, 
>ages 3 & 7, have associate memberships because they participate in our 
>local group and at events and, therefore, should be members too.
>
Greetings Clarissa,

Whether he buys associate or family memberships for his children is, in the
realm of this discussion, something of a moot point. In terms of deciding
kingdom membership size the _only_ memberships that are counted are the
supporting. And, in terms of other groups I have joined in the past, two
memberships per family would have been considered wonderful support, not
something to point at as lacking because the three children do not have
separate memberships. Indeed, if he pays site fees for the children he is
head and shoulders above many supporting members I have known.

>Having a family DOES cost more but it is sort of the decision one makes 
>when one decides to have a family. Going out to dinner, to Fiesta Texas, 
>etc is all more expensive. That's life with kids. Most events do help 
>families with young children by charging less since the younger set don't 
>necessarily get to 'benefit' from events as adults do. I could certainly 
>see not charging kids a surcharge to get in but I don't have a problem 
>with charging adults. Quite honestly I believe that if you can't afford 
>the membership fee you can't afford the SCA. I have been a member since 
>less than 1 month after finding the SCA 16 years ago. I believe in 
>supporting the organization I enjoy. 

Yes, having a family is a choice one makes, as is playing in the SCA. I
honestly feel that all the self-rightous declarations and judgments (not
just from you) as to what another individual can or should be able to
afford are extremely ill-mannered and certainly not the type of friendly,
chivalrous behavior I have come to associate with Ansteorra through my
years of reading this list. I must say that this particular lurker is quite
disappointed in the attitude being shown by so many on this topic. "Play my
way or go away" is one of the reason I have returned to the fringes of the
SCA instead of being heavily involved and I would hate to see Ansteorra
descend to that type of low behavior.

Lady Laetitia of Blackthorn
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