[Usittne] USITT new england dues structure

[Rebecca Schuetz]

I agree with Ron - I like the individual sections having autonomy, and the 
standardized software would be a good idea. I also like the option of being 
a member of the regional section without necessarily having membership in 
the national organization, as it is quite possible that it would not be 
affordable to do both for many of us, especially students and those just 
starting out.

~Rebecca




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Rebecca Schuetz, MFA, BFA, BS
Technical Director

Listen to the stage manager and get on stage when they tell you to. No one 
has time for the rock star BS. None of the techs backstage care if you're 
David Bowie or the milkman. When you act like a jerk, they are completely 
unimpressed with the infantile display that you might think comes with your 
dubious status. They were there hours before you building the stage, and 
they will be there hours after you leave tearing it down. They should get 
your salary, and you should get theirs. -- Lollapalooza Alumni Henry Rollins





>From: "Crystal Tiala" <tiala at mindspring.com>
>Reply-To: tiala at mindspring.com,        USITT New England Section Mail List 
><usittne at MIT.EDU>
>To: "USITTNE listserve" <USITTNE at MIT.EDU>
>Subject: [Usittne] USITT new england dues structure
>Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2006 10:50:59 -0400
>
>Hi all,
>Below is information regarding potentional changes in our methods of 
>collecting regional dues that was proposed at the Chairs meeting in 
>Louisville.  I would like your input.  Please read the info below and tell 
>me if you feel one option would benefit or hinder us more than another.  
>thanks,
>Crystal
>
>Dues Structure proposal
>
>Rational for proposals
>The sections enjoy their autonomy.  Historically it has been important to 
>the sections that they are able to do their own planning, to keep track of 
>their own members and finances, and to leave it up to their members whether 
>or not to hold national memberships in addition to the section memberships.
>
>There are difficulties though, and not all the sections have been equally 
>successful in dealing with those difficulties.  Some sections have no 
>problems maintaining an accurate and useful database of their membership.  
>Other sections spend a great deal of time and effort on their membership 
>tracking, or have difficulty transferring information when section officers 
>change or have difficulty finding officers willing to do the work of 
>maintaining the membership lists.  Generating and/or sending out renewal 
>notices can be an additional burden in this area, which can mean that some 
>sections are “carrying” members who haven’t actually renewed for some time. 
>(Not all sections mind that.)
>
>Whenever these issues are discussed, (usually once a year at the Annual 
>Conference) the question arises about whether the National office could 
>handle all memberships.  I have tried to summarize the advantages and 
>disadvantages of the current system, and the two other systems that are 
>most typically discussed in the Dues Structure Proposal Summation.  The 
>rest of this document explains those three systems as 3 possible proposals.
>
>
>Proposal 1 – leave things as they currently are.
>No changes.
>
>To support this:
>The VP Members, Sections & Chapters would need to find resources (program 
>recommendations, training, etc) to help those sections that want or need it 
>to handle their database issues more effectively.
>
>
>Proposal 2 – Have the National office maintain one master database.
>Membership applications would provide space for national and each of the 
>regional sections.  Anyone wishing to apply for membership in any of the 
>organizations would fill out one form, checking boxes for which memberships 
>they wished to have.  After adding up all the membership fees, one check 
>would be written.  It would be possible to apply for national alone, a 
>regional section alone, or any combination of national and regional 
>sections.  Renewal notices would go out from the USITT office. Sections 
>would receive their dues from the national office on a regular basis.
>
>To obtain a list of members, officers of a regional section would request 
>either a set of mailing labels by mail, or a comma delineated list by email 
>or regular mail.
>
>All sections would, most likely, have to become official not-for-profit 
>organizations if they are not already.
>
>To support this:
>The USITT Board would need to find additional resources to handle the 
>additional staff workload.
>A process for distribution of section membership monies in an efficient, 
>timely manner would need to be developed.
>
>
>Proposal 3 – Have section membership be automatic with a national 
>membership
>When filling out a membership application for national membership, a member 
>could check whatever regional sections they wished to be affiliated with at 
>no additional cost.  National membership renewal would automatically renew 
>the regional affiliations desired as well.  It would not be possible to be 
>a member of a regional section only.
>
>To obtain a list of members, officers of a regional section would request 
>either a set of mailing labels by mail, or a comma delineated list by email 
>or regular mail.
>
>All sections would, most likely, have to become official nor-for-profit 
>organizations if they are not already.
>
>
>To support this:
>The USITT Board would need to find additional resources to handle the 
>additional staff workload.
>The USITT Board, in conjunction with the sections, would have to determine 
>whether to raise the national membership rates in order to pass the dues on 
>to the sections, or to keep the fees the same, and make major changes in 
>the way sections currently finance their activities.
>The annual section support process would need to change.
>National/Regional Dues structure proposals
>No ChangeAll dues/memberships collected by National  National dues includes 
>section
>Advantages    AdvantagesAdvantages
>Sections retain immediate control of mailing list, finances
>Independence  and autonomy
>of sections retained
>USITT office staff workload unaffectedStandardizes membership processes at 
>both levels
>
>Allows efficient tracking of memberships, lapses & renewals
>
>Web/mail/fax renewals possible for all
>
>Eases workload on, and technical resources needed for section volunteers
>
>Eases ability to market sections to national members, and national to 
>section members
>
>Helps members understand that there          are two separate organizations 
>(Nat & Reg)
>
>Matches member perception of/desire for automatic dual membership at 
>National and Maintains the wide variety of fee structures in the sections 
>Regional levelsStandardizes membership processes at both levels
>
>Allows efficient tracking of memberships, lapses & renewals
>
>Web/mail/fax renewals possible for all
>Eases workload on, and technical resources needed for section volunteers
>
>Eases ability to market sections to national members, and national to 
>section members
>Matches member perception of/desire for automatic dual membership at 
>National and Maintains the wide variety of fee structures in the sections 
>Regional levels
>No ChangeAll dues/memberships collected by National  National dues includes 
>section
>DisadvantagesDisadvantagesDisadvantages
>Sections must be able to maintain and use data base efficiently – track 
>memberships, send renewal notices, etc
>
>Sections must have volunteer members willing to maintain data base and 
>handle business. Turnover problems when volunteers change
>
>Perception difficulties from members who don’t understand separate 
>membership structureSections do not have independent access to own member 
>database or collected dues
>
>Sections will need to request list (by email or in label form) in advance 
>when needed
>
>No “fudge” time when memberships expire
>
>Possible increase in USITT office staff workload
>
>Less section independence and autonomy than many desireSections do not have 
>independent access to own member database or collected dues
>
>Sections will need to request list (by email or in label form) in advance 
>when needed
>
>No “fudge” time when memberships expire
>
>Possible increase in USITT office staff workload
>
>Sections will have to work with National to re-conceive their financial 
>structure and funding in light of no formal dues
>
>Not possible to have section members who are not national members
>To Solve
>Section database issuesTo solve
>How to get section dues to sections in regular, efficient way
>
>Additional resources to USITT office to handle additional workloadTo solve
>Additional financial resources to sections who are no longer collecting 
>dues
>
>A way to have non-national section members
>
>Additional resources to USITT office to handle additional workload
>
>
>
>Crystal Tiala
>tiala at mindspring.com
>EarthLink Revolves Around You.


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