Re: I second motions 01-01 and 01-02

["David VillaSunscape" <davidlass@villasunscape.com>]

Please let me respond to the points Neil has raised.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Neil Frank" <nfrank@mindspring.com>
To: <aga-sc@thekrib.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2001 7:54 PM
Subject: Re: I second motions 01-01 and 01-02


> Normally, the next step is discussion... and to provide opportunities for
> amendments to a motion. At least that is what Robert would say. :-)

I don't know who Robert is (unless you mean Roberts' Rules of Order), but we
have had plenty of discussion on this topic. All of us (save Dorothy who was
not able to be there) talked it at length at Convention in November, and I
made a "pre-motion" a few weeks ago saying what I was going to make a motion
on, and there was some discussion on that. I certainly do not want to shut
out anyone's participation, but we really need to get started doing things
rather than spending interminable lengths of time discussing them.

>
> Not so for 01-01. I would like to offer some discussion and an amendment.
>  Despite the fact that my opinions currently seem to be in the minority,
> and I just saw that 4 of the 5 SC already voted yes,  I will offer a few
> thoughts anyway.

Too late for amendments. We will, of course, take into consideration your
thoughts.

>
> Re: motion 01-01 (appoint TAG chair)

The import of the TAg motion was basically that there be a PUBLICATIONS
COMMITTEE, and that the Chairperson of that committee also be the editor of
TAG. The Editor gets paid $650 per issue, and also as committee chair
can/should/hopefully will appoint people as subcommittee chairs or single
folks in charge of the different tasks -- such as getting articles, getting
ads, etc.
The Editor also will present a budget for TAG, in which we can woprk out the
issues of paying for articles, advertising, how much color, etc.
The Editor can divide up the $650 per issue in whatever way he/she sees fit,
as well as offering other "green stamps" as inducements for articles, photos
etc.

If we pay staff AND authors,
> won't we be back in the same negative cash flow as Gomberg? Any
Discussion?

Gomberg's experience with PAM should be instructive for us. i'm not exactly
sure what it says, other than the fact that he didn't have any kind of
backing to be able to withstand the startup phase of an endeavor. Also, the
fact that his number of subscribers dropped like a stone from the initial
ones was because the articles were too technical. There are maybe 100 folks
out there who can really follow something like my friend Brad Metz, who is
getting his PHD in aquatic botany, wrote. What I kept hearing from folks at
Convention was "How about some simple articles on how to make a nice planted
tank."

If Neil would l.ike to make a motion that the new TAG Editor be required to
submit a budget, and get approval from the Board, I would be pleased to
second it.

> >    * solicit advertising from the same folks who advertised in PAM
>
> Definitely, a yes.
>
> Neil

My basic dollar thoughts are that if we can offset any increase in costs for
color pages, paying a little for articles and photos, and the like by
selling advertising, we should be just fine. I also think that when we come
out with the first issue of the "new TAG" (assuming that the next one is
going to be the one Erik described) we should also raise our dues to $20. By
then we will be offering the membership some extras for their membership
fee -- a bigger better more colorful TAG, back issues of PAM, a regular
annual convention, who knows what else.

Neil -- I'm sorry if it seems like we moved to the vote too fast, but I know
that I for one feel that we have talked this to death and we need to get
going. Hope you are not offended.
David


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