Re: AUGD: Creating a budget for a MUG
Re: AUGD: Creating a budget for a MUG
- Subject: Re: AUGD: Creating a budget for a MUG
- From: "Dave G" <email@hidden>
- Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:06:14 -0600
On Feb 11, 2008 9:22 PM, Alex <email@hidden> wrote:
> Victoria,
>
> Ah dues and the need for them. A universal discussion point among MUGs.
>
> you ask why MUGs might have dues. right off hand:
>
> 1. Rental of meeting space
Cross-promote. Meet at a place that gets a benefit by your meetings:
bookstores, restaurants, partnered business associates (graphic design
firms)
> 2. Buying raffle items
Why sell raffle tickets? Simply give them away.
> 3. Paying for a web presence
Free with .Mac and/or sell sponsorship. Domain names are $5.00 a year
> 4. An annual gift or party for volunteers
If you have to bribe volunteers, then are they really volunteers?
Thank them in other ways such as recognition or something inexpensive
with lots of value.
> 5. A holiday party for the MUG
Potluck is not only fun, but is a way of bringing a diverse group of
people together. Instead of going from A-Z, we have things like
people running any app in classic bring dessert, Tiger and Panther
brings main dish, and Jaguar, Cheetah, or OS 9 bring side dish. You
get the idea.
> 6. Purchase of a Mac for presentation purposes
I'm sure you can borrow one from a member. If all you are doing is
presenting, you don't need a super powerful Mac
> 7. Mail and other office expenses
Email is free and sustainable!
> 8. There is a perception that something free isn't worth much.
You need to create value, and value doesn't cost, it pays. if you
offer something someone wants...and free, all the better. People
realize that User Groups aren't about making money, but having fun and
learning. If your members aren't getting value for something free,
charging dues simply makes it less valuable.
I have yet to hear a good, rational reason for dues expect "We've
always had them." This is 2008, not 1984...and it ties into the
discussion earlier about why Mugs are on the decline. The generation
of the iPod expects free music, free email, free software, unlimited
phone calls and text/SMS, and unlimited Internet. They never knew a
time where cell phone minutes were measured in dollars and not
pennies. A time when you "dialed" into the Internet and had constant
busy signals.
In 1984 we needed dues to supply Disks of the Month (then CD of the
month) and printed newsletters. We offered exclusive content
inaccessible to others. Then we had to pay for our AppleLink and then
AOL accounts, expensive webshosting and domain names. Oh, and
probably a BBS so members to chat.
Today, we simply won't attract new members by presenting them a model
that has no relevance to them. Information, as we know, seeks the
most open path. The model of computing is movings towards openness
and universality, not a "haves" and "have nots" club. When they hear
"Members Only", they think of those cheesey jackets they see on VH-1
Totally 80s. The concept of some "private" area on a website violates
their world view. Today, it's about open source and Wikipedia.
Ironic, that Apple constantly breaks the model in design, yet the
basic model of the MUG hasn't changing since the Lisa. Do you realize
today's college students never lived in a world without a Mac?
When Steve buried the classic OS in a coffin at WWDC, he did that to
show people that old habits die hard. Mugs need to adapt to change
and not force new groups into an outdated and restrictive model.
Break the mold and break free of your plateau.
You say you need dues, I say Mugs can't afford to charge dues! There I said it!
And yes, I know I'm taking a huge risk in saying this...but I so
firmly believe it, I'm willing to put alot on the line. However, for
the record, I speak only my opinion and not on behalf of my group. I
speak with my voice and my voice only and if I get banned, ban only
me, not the group I work with.
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