Re: [AGA-sc] [Fwd: AGA/sfbaaps cooperation]

[Cheryl Rogers <cheryl@wilstream.com>]

Erik Olson wrote:

> My question is this:
>
> What is the goal of the premium membership?  Is it to increase AGA 
> memberships, or is it to improve relationships between local clubs and 
> the AGA, or is to bring in more funds for the AGA?

Yes. :-)  In that order, I think.

> $100 is, I think, too little for what you are offering.  The DVD is 
> worth $35.  Complete back issues, Scott's analysis notwithstanding, is 
> easily worth $50-100.  The subscription is worth $20.  A Half-Page ad is 
> worth $150, and I don't think we are in need of filler material, so this 
> would be offsetting either article space or paid ads...

That's right. Originally, I added up the retail value of the chargable 
items, rounded up, then cut it in half. Jeff is basically doing the same 
thing. But I wasn't sure how much to value a half-page, one-time ad. So I 
undervalued this in the first place, I think.

> In the original proposal, that made sense because, on one hand, you 
> didn't give them all the stuff at once (i.e., like a record club, you 
> get a different bonus selection each year... otherwise, why join for 
> more than the first year?), and because it was bringing in, say, 10 
> presumably new TAG subscriptions.  Wasn't it also an article or 
> featurette rather than a half-page ad?  

If that was ever in my mind, it slipped out. Too bad, because that's a fine 
idea. Karen?

> But without the memberships 
> attached to it, it seems just like a way for a club to get a bunch of 
> the AGA's "stuff" for pennies on the dollar, while the AGA doesn't 
> really bring in much of anything.

Yes. I don't know about the sfbaaps membership in general, but Jeff's main 
interest seems to be cooperation and reciprocal promotion. More political 
interests than getting "stuff." Which is both intriguing and scary.

I actually don't have a problem with Premium Club Members having a "say" in 
AGA matters. Having a "say" doesn't mean they get a vote. Didn't AGA used 
to have something called a "Management" committee or something? Scott's way 
of putting it, "buying into the Board" sounds a little smarmy, and 
certainly some people will think of it that way if we don't separate them. 
No offense Scott. It's a good point.

> Now, on the flip side, we already offer to promote local club events on 
> the website, and we already provide links (SFBAAPS is one).  If we need 
> them to pay money to us to get them to actually get their butts in gear 
> and use the promotion service, cool!

Suits me. I figure, what they are paying for is for me (or whoever) to 
contact them once a month or once a quarter to ask them what's coming up. I 
will initiate communication instead of waiting for them to remember that 
we're here. Then I can update the web site or post to the AGA-announce 
list. So it's not that they couldn't do it themselves, it's that I will do 
it for them.

> Likewise, if it takes a local club paying money to get one of them to 
> help make decisions and do work for the AGA, even better -- this could 
> be a brilliant Tom Sawyer-ish way of getting more volunteers...have them 
> pay!

Volunteerism did come up in my conversation with Jeff. This could be a 
bonus for the AGA--closer contact with agreeable workers for certain tasks.

"Promotion" can mean more than just a list published in TAG or news posted 
on the web site. We could also "promote" by allowing Premium Club members 
to include flyers in the welcome packets at the convention. Give each club 
5 minutes on the mike. Write a monthly e-mail newsletter and include blurbs 
in it. Create joint publications to be distributed at local fish stores in 
the sfbaaps area. Etc.

Cheryl

--
Cheryl Rogers, Membership
Aquatic Gardeners Association
http://www.aquatic-gardeners.org

_______________________________________________
AGA-sc mailing list
AGA-sc@thekrib.com
http://lists.thekrib.com/mailman/listinfo/aga-sc