AUGD: Thread about charging dues and donations
AUGD: Thread about charging dues and donations
- Subject: AUGD: Thread about charging dues and donations
- From: Brian Coleman <email@hidden>
- Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:41:26 -0600
This has certainly been an interesting thread, and I'm starting to see
why there is such a decline in user groups and why they don't get new
members
First, reading the archives, plenty of places can be the
location donated. "donation" is what started the thread. How can you
ask for donations and have dues. Usually it's on or the other. Yes,
occasionally you might have to move a meeting location. However, with
other groups I've been in, that also happens. Changing the date can be
a big deal. Location isn't. In fact, we've found that sometimes an
occasional change of venue can be fun.
As far as insurance, I've never seen any group asked for that.
Could be an issue in certain states, but I've been on boards of many
organizations and involved with countless civic activities, and never
has the issue of liability come up. We're no different that a group
of friends that might meet for lunch. If you damage something, the
person that damages it would pay. Personally, I have an umbrella
against my own liability. When I checked with Apple in forming our
group, nobody mentioned insurance. If it were important, Apple would
have mentioned it.
For computer, already covered. Somebody in your group simply has
to step up to the plate and offer a computer. It seems like most
groups the "leadership" is titular, where in the "real world" leaders
need to offer something to be on the board. The classic TTT: Time,
treasure, or talent. If you aren't giving something of yourself, you
shouldn't be a leader. Same with a projector. There has to be someone
in your group that can get one. It's extremely wasteful to "buy" a
computer or projector for a group that meets once a month. This is a
User Group, not Citibank. People need to be frugal. To me, a club
computer and projector is the "corporate jet" of the user group world
CDs are also silly. Disk of the month? I'm utterlly shocked
anyone is doing that. Just put links in yoru newsletter and have them
download them
Buy for raffeles....again, why? You were asking
for donations. We get more than we can handle. And if you need to
give something away to get attendance, huh? If you are paying to join
a group, why would you then need a "prize" to go to meetings. We give
things away at our meeting because vendors send us stuff for free.
Sometimes we have to agree to review it, but that's fine, because then
we get content for a newsletter. If you are having to buy stuff,
you're missing out.
Refreshments? No. We don't do that. There's a pop machine down
the hall from where we meet and a starbucks across the street. This is
a User Group meeting, not a cocktail party.
I've received some great responses off list.
Networking with other user groups, I find a very different 5ole.
People are there because they've been there a long time.
Interestingly
enough I find myself the youngest in the room and I'm 42! In our
group, we are much younger and just not set in our ways. The answer I
get to most questions I ask are, "We've been doing it this way for 20
years". Hello? Is the world the same as it was 20 years ago.???
What I am seeing is many groups are "stuck" in old ways. Being a
newer group we aren't stuck in the old cliquish ways. Everything in the
User Group world is secretive. How you get recognized, the unelected
advisory board, rules about what you can and can't do. New groups
aren't let into the party, and you know what...we don't care. We
aren't listed with Apple despite many times of trying...and you know
what...we don't care. We get 40-50 people at meetings and get
referrals from the local computer shops and AT&T store. I can't
even find out the benefits of being recognized with Apple, much less
what they offer us. We're promoting *their* product, yet they won't
help us.
You all are running your groups the same way for the past 20 years
and I'm sorry, that just doesn't fly. Apple doesn't do business the
same way it did in the 20th century and neither should you Your
membership will figuratively and literally die out. Are you focused on
the past or looking towards the future?
I'm rambling I know and I apologize for hijacking Gary's thread,
but it really irked me to ask for donations AND charge dues. This
financial mismangement is what is causing this worldwide financial
crisis and User Groups shouldn't be exempt from fiscal responsibility.
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