Who are our official sponsors?

[Runner]

I really need to know who our official sponsors are for the ETRC web pages. Right now, I have trimmed it down to Aquatic Island as the only verifiable one and have placed their banner on the website index screen.

I know that Coral Reef and Ocean Inside (formerly Under The Sea) give our club members discounts. I was planning to add this to the links page rather than the "Sponsors" tab on the front page. Is this correct and appropriate?

I guess what I need is clear direction on what constitutes "support" and who gets a banner on the front page and who gets a mention on the links page. The bylaws and constituion are mute on the matter. And while I comfortable making such decisions myself, I am not the one who should be making the blanket decisions. Even the bylaws state that I need approval for new sections and that I "serve at the club officers' discretion."

 

[cee]

I believe there are none that are "paid official" sponsors.

 

[Runner]

Hmmm. I thought I remember that Aquatic Island paid. I must be losing my mind in my old age...

EDIT: Here is the link -->
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=772009&highlight=Aquatic+AND+Island

 

[cee]

Affiliate doesn't equal sponsor. Talk to Art, it was his doing I believe.

 

[Runner]

Heck, they are all affiliates, then. I should just change the "Sponsor" section to a banner that says "Your Ad Here" and put all the other banners we have on the links page.

 

[imsqueak]

No, the ETRC board will confirm sponsors. We'll pm you.

 

[Runner]

Thanks. There is only so much the arm can do without the head instructing it and the body supporting it.

 

[hawkeye31657]

ok I a a little lost here isn't a sponsor someone who supports or club like say if I need co2 for my ca and Holsteins gives me a discount like 20% then isn't that a club sponsor

 

[Runner]

I reckon that is what I am trying to get defined. I think there are "Sponsors" who donate money to the club in exchange for advertisement like a banner on our front page. Then there are "affiliates", I suppose, that give us discounts. I just need clarification on who is what.

 

[TriMax]

In the bylaws
Article III Section 8:

Section 8 - Dues for Regular and Charter Members will be set at $24. Dues for student members will be $12. Dues for Commercial members will be $50 unless they do not hold ownership in any phase of the aquarium or tropical fish sales, for which the dues will be $24. Commercial members will be provided with a small advertising space on website and newsletters.

I did not find the term “sponsor”. I think that if we are going to let a business have advertising on the ETRC site, they need to be a commercial member according to the bylaws. However, in the past, several companies have had a banner/advertisement on the ETRC site.

Do we want to have “commercial members” and “sponsors”? If so, how do we differentiate between the two â€"œ pay $50 or not? What are the benefits of being a commercial member instead of being a sponsor?

Have we promised any “mention of a company/advertisement/banner” on the website to any business in the past? If so, in exchange for what?

I think we have defined Matt as being a “commercial member”, but Matt is not allowed to advertise during the meeting and probably does not NEED/WANT to have a banner displayed on the ETRC site. So, should he pay a $50 membership fee? I would say no, but the bylaws say something different, I think. Of course, Matt may have a banner that he would want displayed on the site.

Sounds like a Board meeting topic. Maybe even a regular meeting topic.

Just some thoughts.

Eddie

 

[Runner]

I am re-designing and uploading newer pieces to the website each day. Now that I am taking more total control of the content and making it my own, the updates can be made quicker. However the board decides we should break this up and label it, I will be able to quickly respond and design the website to support it.

Until we get an official ruling, I am going to leave the banners and links on the same pages they were on previously.