ES - Membership trend

[baron at elfsea.ansteorra.org]

Galen here, ranting in reply ...

I knew I would see this post from someone.  I can't say 
I'm surprised it's from you, Sfi.

Quoting Matthew G Saroff <msaroff at pobox.com>:

> 	Just as a bit of a rant, I'd like to explain the 
> likely reason for a drop in the number of paid SCA 
> members.  

There are a number of possible reasons; Ceatta posted 
some.  The one I was addressing, which he didn't mention, 
is procrastination.

> It has go do with the benefits received as a result 
> of membership.

Now Sfi, this isn't new; why should the slight 
interruption to our years-long local growth trend be new?

> 	When one pays their dues, one gets:
> *	A membership card (Very little value, saves 15 
> seconds at  troll).

No it doesn't.  Either you have your membership number on 
a card or you have your newsletter mailing label handy, 
or you search for the number, or you have to sign the 
form that the evil corporate people put there to make you 
sign away all your rights.  If you don't agree to not sue 
the corporation or its officers, the site owner, and hold 
everybody and their dog harmless, and submit to federal 
income taxation, etc., then you can't come to the event.  
If you don't read the waiver, then it takes 15 seconds to 
sign.  If you're a member, it probably takes a full 
minute to pull out your membership number and write that 
down instead.

> *	Tournaments Illuminated (The articles are typically > very shallow.  Useful stuff appears in the Complete 
> Anachronist, but you pay separately for that).

True.  But first, only members can subscribe to Compleat 
Anachronist.  Second, boycotting a newsletter is no way 
to improve it.  That's why I'm offering a prize to the 
next Elfsea person who gets published in Tournaments 
Illuminated.  Obviously, what's wrong with TI is that 
there's not enough Elfsea stuff in it.

> *	The Kingdom Newsletter (Very Useful, but you can get > that off the web now).

Certainly, everything a non-officer needs in the Kingdom 
newsletter can be found on-line, but it's hard to fit a 
computer into your glove-compartment.

> 	In addition, you dues go to:
> *	Insurance that does not insure you, but insures SCA, > Inc.  FROM you.
> *	Computer purchases that don't quite work well.
> *	Professional staff
> *	Flying BoD members around to meetings.
> *	Lawyers hired in (largely unsuccessful) attempts to > deny the  general membership access to internal 
> documents on the BoD's decision making process.

All of these charges were true in their day; but not all 
-- particularly the 2nd and 5th ones -- remain so.

Even so, the BoD travels to be more accessible to the 
membership; something I personally have appreciated.  The 
SCA insurance policy protects our officers, and enables 
us to get sites never could otherwise get.

> 	With the growth of the web, the most basic reason 
> for paying dues, the need for a kingdom newsletter, is > now lessened because you can get the calendar off the 
> web.

Lessened, yes.  But some people aspire to be officers; 
officers must be members.  Some people aspire to rule; 
rulers must be members.  Some people aspire to be honored 
for their service; but it's easier to get recognized for 
service when you've been an officer and/or event 
autocrat.  Membership can be a prerequisite to what some 
of us want to achieve.

That said, there are many non-member participants in 
Elfsea; I would oppose any effort to make their lives 
harder or less pleasant, or their participation less 
rewarding or more expensive.  I value these people.  
Someone who's made the decision not to be a member still 
has an important place in Elfsea, if they want one.

But for those who've let it lapse, or just haven't gotten 
around to sending it in, please do.  I would be remiss as 
Baron if I didn't take part in maintaining the paid 
membership rolls of my barony.  

- Galen
 
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