Dues Talk...

[mgm1979]

ok, it's time to get this conversation rolling - and I only started this in the CO section b/c I know we're all pretty much for it, at this point...ideally, I'd like to see whatever the approved dues structure is to be applied across the board for ALL of RME - and pretty sure I speak for the majority of the CO chapter on that point.

Anyway, let's run the numbers...

Active (CO) Members:
- MGM
- Austin
- Curtis
- Ian (Garf)
- Kyle (DKdunn)
- Nick
- Matt (MSonia)
- Shannon (ladyinred)
- Joel (Akai)
- Ricky
- Greg (lilyork)
- Dave (dipolley)
- Chris (onefstgtu)
- Luis
- pwmin
- Joe (YellowSS)
*If I forgot you, let me know

Now, there's a question of "active" - and I'm not sure how far we'd want to delve into that...particularly with members who come on occaisionally.

Initially, my thoughts are doing a dues payment plan of $20/qtr (or a $75/yr if paid up front). That would include 2 window vinyls/stickers, and I'm not against throwing in an RME T-shirt, if we ever have one made up (of course, that would increase the dues a little - maybe we should keep the shirts separate?)

So, what's the money go towards? Well, for starters - THIS website...right now, it's paid out-of-pocket, which isn't fair to the individual picking up the tab, who has NEVER outright asked for so much as a donation - I might add. After the site fees are taken care of, any surplus funds would be kept in an RME Paypal acct (or similar) to help fund get togethers, cruise/race fees, and anything else the "group" approves to fund. So, really, the dues WILL end up coming back to YOU (the member) if you're active at meets and whatnot, one way or another.

The bottom line is this "club" doesn't pay for itself - and to use a played out phrase, "you have to pay to play." If we ever get any kind of fundraising activities organized, I would advocate that whoever participates in such events receive a "dues" credit (amount to be determined), for their time/effort - to be applied to the next scheduled payment.

So, rough calculations, 12 active members (?) x $75/yr would put $900 in the RME fund - I don't know, off-hand, what kind of surplus that would give us initially, but it'd be a start. Then, of course, things like the caribeeners, additional t-shirts, maybe even club videos would help contribute even more...I'm even in the process of working some sort of payment/donation schedule to RME for tuning that I do within the community (stay tuned).


There's the foundation - let's build on it...comments, ideas, suggestions?

[DKDunn04]

I also agree that we need to get the ball rolling on this. This is a "club", not an online forum that anyone can be a part of. If that is all people are looking for there are several other websites for that. I dont see why anyone wouldnt be able to do this. What it comes down to is $20 every 3 months........ thats it. That is a very very small amount of money. If you dont want to dish out that small amount of money, I suggest redlineforums.com or CSS.net.

[msonia03]

Yeah, im in. 20 bucks every 3 months is cake. look at the bigger clubs that ask for wayyyyy more than that. my mom was in the roadrunner club of california and their dues were 500 a year i believe. so these are set ok. i would even like to see them set at 25 every three months. but members should not be discouraged just because there is talk about dues. i dont wanna scare anybody away, but we need some sort of this set up for the many things we do throughout the year. it would be easier to go and write an RME check when we go to places we have to pay rather than pay individually like we did at RMNP. that was kinda a headache, then the rukas we caused after getting into the park and trying to group up. the T-Shirts need to happen. they just need to. i want one and im sure most of our active members want as well. so we should get on that as well. we all use this site so i think its time we start paying from it. i think we should keep the chapters money seperate tho so we can use what we put in to it.

[mgm1979]

good inputs - I'm not against $25/qtr...and maybe a t-shirt for anyone who cuts a $100 check right away, depending on what they end up costing to make - maybe a discounted shirt (50% off)...

Remember, the more we put IN to the club/fund, the more we'll get OUT...but, like Matt said - we don't want to scare people away, either.

Agreed - this isn't, nor will it EVER be a RLF- or CSS-type site. I don't think that was the intention of those who started it up, nor should it be now.

[purplesmurfete88]

Well, when ya'll figure out the CO dues, I wanna know what we can do about Business cards and stuff. I have not had time to really work on any ideas. I have a couple. But I'm a little on edge right now, but I will probably post some ideas up, like before. Since they don't really want me to out a pocket the money to get a few made, and there can be a standard design.

plus... I really want RME decals... Lol.

Have fun!

(p.s. i'm all for the dues. I think it's a great idea, and the price is alllllright.)

[mgm1979]

/\ /\ patience young grasshoppa 

...with any luck, we can get the dues thing squared away and start collecting come March 1st.

BUT, by all means, start rolling on the design - and that goes for anyone with any kind of graphic program skillz. Maybe we should start a Bizz Cards Designs thread...

[purplesmurfete88]

That would be awesome................. I'm always trying to rush things when I shouldn't. Lol. No more caffine for me! right?

anyways....  or just post up in the ideas for the website on designs, and ways to fundraise, everyone doing their own little creative part. and whichever ideas pop out the post can use some funds to make them work to help get new members, and also for more events... make sense? I try....

[onefstgtu]

Am I not active?

[ssnick]

I concur on all.  One thing I think we should discuss now is what we are going to do for people who don't want to pay.  Say someone doesn't want to pay but then shows up on a cruise.  Are we gonna have like a 5 dollar cruise fee or something.  Definitely wouldn't be fair to those that have paid.  I suggest we make club bylaws or whatever and have all this stuff in writing. 

[RickySS]

Here's a good idea... Start letting companies advertise their stuff on RME.  Tell the CEO of RME to jump on the ad boat and sail away. I know RME is just a club and not a big forum like Cobaltss.net.  As far as dues go for me... I really really cant pay it, even if its 20 bucks, any money I earn goes to bills and paying for my car. 

[mgm1979]

Am I not active?

my bad, I knew I'd forget people - you're not the only one, either...don't take it personally.   


Nick, I agree - we should have some stipulations for the "blue-mooners"


Ricky, we'll figure something out...this isn't meant as something to alienate people - we've had members step up and help others out when things were tight on more than one occasion.   

[msonia03]

i think that if people wanna come to a cruise thats perfectly fine. only the members that have paid into the fund will get in with those funds if its agreed we use those funds. the other people will just pay outta pocket. we pretty much just need to support the funds of RME because we use it, and like being apart of it. not because RME is money hungry like me. it would def make it easier if all members could pay that way we had enough food, etc.... for matt to cook. oh and ketchup!.

[purplesmurfete88]

((pretends to post a thread on Nevada dues...... "who's paying up!" yeah... i pay myself..... haha)) kidding. good luck guys. I will keep checking to stay posted! woot.


ash

[ssnick]

I think we should have something set up before hand, like if you aren't a paying member and show up for a cruise, you pay like a 5 dollar cruise fee or something on top of your food/drink/entry fee sort of stuff.  Just to make it fair for everyone that has paid.

[mgm1979]

honestly, I'm torn between Nick and Matt's arguments...I can rationalize them both. But, I think we have to examine it from all angles. In fairness to the club and its members, but what's BEST for the growth of the club too.