Question for MARS BOD

Justin74

New member
Was curious to the clubs position on MASNA and on sponsorship of MASNA. Seemed like a worthy cause, although Im unfamiliar with dues for a club to sponsor MASNA other than an individual dues of $5 which seemed pretty reasonable to add on to our individual dues to the club although some may feel differently. Thoughts?


-Justin
 
I can try and bring it up at the next meeting if we have time.
(Time may be strapped in this meeting with the Garage Sale very soon though... sooo.... No promises it will be talked about this month)
 
Cool .No hurry or worries :) To be honest only reason I bring it up is I noticed the photo contest in the LPS forum being sponsored by MASNA. I know very little about it and will be looking into it personally very soon, just seemed like a large collective of clubs that participate sponsorship so it made me wonder if this club had considered the idea or knew more about it, basically the scoop.

-Justin
 
Re: Question for MARS BOD

I don't think it's right to "force" members to join another organization by tacking on addition fees to the club membership fee. Granted, it's not much money at all, but the decision for an individual to join should be up to the individual and not the board. If the board would like the club membership - it can be decided by the board and brought up to vote by the whole club.

The only role that the club should play in individual membership is to make the information available (as you have in this post).

Minh

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10511351#post10511351 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Justin74
$5 which seemed pretty reasonable to add on to our individual dues to the club although some may feel differently. Thoughts?


-Justin
 
To be part of something "larger" and a "bigger" with more involvement in the hobby while at the same time being a representative for a large metro area of California, I don't think it would be a negative thing for MARS to align itself with a large organization. Whether or not this is the "one" is yet to be determined.

I think 5 clams is a small price to pay.....of course we have to understand and all be aware of the ultimate intentions of the club.

Are we just a locally conscious club, regional, or national?

I often notice, this is one of the larger club forums, that often competes in replies and threads to general discussion forums, such as LPS........with that much involvement in the hobby, perhaps we should be thinking on larger scales and attempting to send "representatives" to major events on a voluntary scale to "promote MARS and the hobby"

Is this along the lines you were thinking Justin?
 
I also agree with dots that being a part of something larger that is aligned with the club's mission is very valuable. I am not yet a member, but intended to ask this very question once I joined. I need to reread the club's mission statement, but I'm hoping one goal is concientious reef-keeping. I would definitely push for club-level sponsorship or donations to a national or global reef organization that is involved in lobbying for safe and environmentally friendly wildlife harvesting. Several are mentioned in The Concientious Marine Aquarist book that the author recommends supporting.

Just my $.02
- Mark
 
I'd have to agree with Refugee. Though it sounds like a great idea to me, I not sure how I feel about already existing members becoming part of another organization without their prior knowledge/anticipation of such, particularly if it costs money. Club level might be a different story if voted in, but anything more than that is not sound.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10516166#post10516166 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wee-Reef Master
I'd have to agree with Refugee. Though it sounds like a great idea to me, I not sure how I feel about already existing members becoming part of another organization without their prior knowledge/anticipation of such, particularly if it costs money. Club level might be a different story if voted in, but anything more than that is not sound.

Im not sure why the words "forced" or without prior knowledge or anticipation were used. If anything it was just an idea worth mentioning, hopefully to be voted on, if not, no love lossed. But would never enourage something forced upon someone who does not wish to participate, although this club's mission statement is congruent with MASNA's.

To answer dots, ya it would be nice be part of a global network seeing how the things we treasure most and are attempting to provide education about is not anything indiginous to our area, it would/could allow any applicable resources we do have here in our own backyards to possibly be utilized where it can be most proactive and impactive.

Something to look into, not something to force anyone into. But to respond to Minh's comments, ya it would be conscientious for the club to mention this other orginization. Im not sure I agree with the angle. I assume that each 25$ membership has a budgeted slot to fill, for example 10$ of our dues may be designated for things such as the raffle budget, the other $10 may be for and administrative budget ie, individual processing, fees for maintaining websight, various advertisements, newletters etc. Every dollar of the 25$ has a place and purpose for something, it's like saying it's not fair to "force" people into contributing $5 of the total $25 dues because they dont attend meetings or participate in raffles, or it is against there religion to accept gifts or participate in lotteries, yaddy, yaddy, ya.

On the otherhand it is a great selling tool for new memberships and existing ones IMO. Not only is your money making a difference locally in supporting your local club and it's mission, but now you can also be part of a global network of people who share the same goals and ideaology as you, and will also allow you to participate in venues and conferences and utilize there global resources of information and contacts abroad the US, not just Sacramento.

-Justin
 
Justin,

But the $25 fee is for the operation of the club. If the club need to raise it's membership fee due to the club operation, I have no objection. However, I strongly object raising the fee to FORCE me to be a member of another organization. Should MARS tack on a $25 fee for Reef Central membership? After all, RC's mission is:

Reef Central is an online community where quality information about the marine and reef aquarium hobby can be exchanged among all levels of hobbyist from beginner to advanced. Our goal is to help educate people about the saltwater aquarium hobby and enhance awareness of the fragility of coral reefs around the world. We hope you will join us and that you find this site useful.

That seems inline with the MARS goal. And we would be part of a larger organization. I am sure I can find a dozen different organization that have similar goals. Should we force the members to join those organization as well? $5 isn't much - but where do we stop?

I joined MARS - not RC, not MASNA, not any other organization. If I want to join another organization, I will pay my own dues. But please don't force us to join another organization that we may or may not want to be part of.

Minh
 
I agree with Mihn. Thanks Justin for pointing out a worthy cause. However, I agree that these things should be separate. A slippery slope syndrome could result from this as Mihn stated.

Overall, membership in nearly everything is experiencing a downward trend across America. I wouldn't want to encourage anything that would further this trend i.e. increasing MARS dues unneccesarily.
 
Well from what I'm gathering here it does not sound like it would pass a vote from the club.
Justin, did you still want me to have this brought up at the BOD, or was the response here conclusive?

If you'd like I can still bring it up and present it to the membership for vote, but it dosen't look like we all agree with a blanket membership proposal.

LMK
 
Ya the idea has been pretty much rubbed out :D
Dont worry bout mentioning it Steve, thanks for your attention though :)

-Justin
 
No problem..
Just didn't want to deny any member of having their ideas heard by the board or the general membership, by just what a few have said online.

I wouldn't want it pressed on all the members either. :(
But hey worth throwing out there...
:)
 
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