Re: membership restrictions

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Paul Kline writes:

>Those club membership restrictions that seem so arbitrary make perfect
>sense in another setting.  I belong to a different kind of club which
>has suffered aging membership and slow growth (sound familiar?) where
>so many people kept their memberships but stopped attending meetings
>that we had trouble getting a quorum to conduct business.  Our solution
>was to have separate annual fees for membership and newsletter, so that
>some people could maintain contact without membership.

That's fine and the Chicago Club has the same system.  I am a subscriber to
the newsletter ("Flash", edited by our very own Gene Mitofsky) but not a
member of the club.  But what do you say when someone is willing to come to
the meetings and become a member.  Would you stop them because they live
180 miles away?

I could justify restrictions for "long distance" members, i.e. members who
mail in slides for the competitions but don't show up in any meetings or
help the club in any way other than through club membership fees.  For some
clubs this is not acceptable, and I see their point.  But instead of
putting a bland topographical restriction, the club could require that all
full members attend at least one meeting a year.  (Other clubs have no
problem with this.  Example: I am a proud member of the Cascade Club which
is as far away from Cleveland as it could possibly be!!!  I don't know if
I'll ever be able to actually make it to a meeting.  I am willing to
support them any way I can, i.e. financially, sending slides, writing
articles, etc., but I cannot make it to the annual picnic ;) -- sorry guys
and thanks for the hospitality!)

It is interesting that the Chicago club allows past members to remain
members after they move far-far away.  One famous is someone who, after
moving to CA, remained a member mailing in his slides and collecting most
first-place awards!  Ironically, I was a member too but my only one year
was not enough for Chicago.  What length of time is needed for such high
honor is unknown to me.  I don't think it is written anywhere in the
by-laws.  It must be decided on each individual case.

George Themelis

PS.  I plan to copy and mail my public comment to the current club
officials.  A little public "exposure" could help change things.  Again,
this is a not a personal problem, I do not want to be an active member of
the Chicago club.  It is a matter of principle.  Yes, a club is a club and
the members make the club and can decide on anything they like, but a
stereo club is, in my mind, responsible for promoting stereo photography
and it is open to critism by the stereo community at large.  Open those
doors and get rid of unreasonable restrictions!!!!


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