Thinking of moving the SubRon sections to members only

[scott t]

The things that should be

The things that should be in a members only section:
Current year issues of SCR in a PDF. Remove after years end.
Donated blue-prints.

Things not to put in members only:
Build threads.

If things must be put in members only sections try starting at the
fith (sixth, etc) entry of the thread so those interested in the subject will
have reason to join to continue the thread.

Scott

[cnutting]

One thing to consider Myles,

One thing to consider Myles, the two (website and SCR) do seem to be tied together. At least to me they do. To get full access to the site, you need to be a member. Seems fair, membership dues help pay the cost of running the site. You also get the SCR with membership.

In my case, I decided when the dues went to $36/year that it was no longer worthwhile to be a member. I don't go to Carmel (and probably never will) and the report just wasn't helping me anymore. I had already learned enough where I could build my own boat and WTC. I also run locally with a great bunch of guys, so why should I join?

I outgrew the magazine. I have a stack of back issues at home that I never go through and am actually looking to sell to someone that could benefit from them.

Now, I *do* get a lot of info off of the internet. For example, my $20/year at SubPirates gives me access to timely information that is more applicable to my current projects. The same would hold true for a membership *light* option with SC that would allow full access to the site, but doesn't include the SCR.

Not trying to disrespect the SC or the SCR. This is just my opinion, but I suspect that there are more people out there that think the same way. Look at the recent rash of newspaper bankruptcies.

Print is static, the internet is a dynamic medium that allows for additional content as Dan pointed out. People can then print what they want.

Something to consider when charting the future of the organization.

[gerwalk]

Hi I'm a former member

Hi I'm a former member (BTW: for some reason my status still shows me as a member). I joined while in the States because of the SCR. Then after returning to my country I kept my membership for a while until membership due increment, currency devaluation and the eternal waiting for the snail mail to bring me that wonderful magazine convinced me to leave.

I found the Members Only sections very sad. In some way I feel it is like considering us non-members as leechers while many of us have contributed by sharing knowledge and material in many threads that are now behind the Members Only wall. With this policy you are not only keeping free riders off but also non-mebers who post rare photos, head ups, wise comments, blueprints and so.

Just an example: A friend of mine that cannot afford the membership due (he can't even read English) used to post in the U-boat Pen section using on-line translation tools. He started very interesting discussions and brought some topics that even Dougie Martindale got actively involved (BTW: Dougie doesn't seem to be a member either! If so, missing his input would be a real lost for the U-boat pen).

Giving access to pdf versions of the SCRs to members, for example, is a much better idea than closing entire sections. It would be a possitive move: offer more to members not less for non-members.

Maybe, my last dos centavos...

kind regards,

Pablo

[myles yancey]

I guess some of you

I guess some of you miss this information about the rules that guide us as a non-profit organization so i will post it again.

Tthe taxes laws that make us a non-profit organization based in the St. Ct. will not alow us to have two different types of membership
they clearly state all members must pay the same membership dues.
this information can be found under Publication 557 Tax-Exampt status for your Organization
Sub title Limited Membership.

Myles

[cnutting]

Guess that settles it then.

Guess that settles it then. Can't argue with the regulations.

I would still poll recent registrees to get a feel as to what would encourage them to join.

[myles yancey]

Chris your suggestions are very

Chris your suggestions are very good and well taken but what is need here is the impute of the complete membership, because what we are doing is making a major change and if everyone dose not give there adivce My officers and I can not fix the problems we are facing so again I am asking for everyones adivce.

I don't care if you agree with us just give us your imnpute and ideas so we can start doing something to fix the problem.

I will keep the poll in mind.

Myles

[roedj]

I don't care if you

I don't care if you agree with us just give us your imnpute and ideas so we can start doing something to fix the problem.
Myles

Myles,

Sorry about wandering off topic before. It would help me to offer advice if I knew exactly what problem you're trying to solve.

Dan

[PaulC]

Myles,

We are currently offering different

Myles,

We are currently offering different price levels for membership, which includes website access and the SCR, based on delivery of the magazine. This must be within the rules you've quoted.

Why can't we offer an international membership rate that provides website access and electronic delivery of the SCR in pdf? The content provided is the same, it would just cost less for the magazine delivery. I don't see how that violates the rules.

[myles yancey]

Very good question Paul.

1) I

Very good question Paul.

1) I am assuming the Non-Profit rules were check into when the they established the two dues rates.

2) If we create an international rate as you suggest you will also have to talk it over with the SC Rreport Staff they are the ones that will have to due the additional work needed to do this, you will also need to talk with Pete to find out what help the staff will need if they agree to do it
frist thing to ask
A) Will the Sc Report Staff agree to do it?
B) will the SC Report Staff agree to create a Report in the PDF forum?
C) who will help them if they will agree to do it?
D) and most important will our non-profit status allow use to do it?
I will check into this one for you monday.

just some things to think about

Myles

[cnutting]

Myles,
If you are planning on

Myles,
If you are planning on doing a poll, might I suggest an on-line service? Our school system uses www.surveymonkey.com to do classroom surveys, etc. I just looked at the pricing and for $200/year the service appears to be more than adequate for our needs. Coupled with an incentive (draw one respondent for a free membership), this might help get the info you need.

[JWLaRue]

I am not in a

I am not in a position to answer all of Myles' questions, but I can state that the SCR is already created as a series of PDF files that are at the very least used for the proofing process.

There shouldn't be any additional work required of the staff on that point. Distribution, if done electronically, is where additional work would be required.....though the process could be automated to a degree.

-Jeff

[myles yancey]

Thank you Jeff for your

Thank you Jeff for your impute it dose help answer part of my questions.

Thanks Myles

[Guest]

Mr Yancey, If it's a

Mr Yancey, If it's a response by all members that you are asking for, well then here is my 1-cent worth. Moving the Subron sections to a members only section has become obviously a sensitive subject. While of paramont concern to the organizational roll should focus not only on maintaining current membership #'s but to increase those numbers. It's my understanding that other forums have instituted a membership only section, as its staff felt this was necessary to maintain some sort of status between paying members and those who may be interested in the subject matter, but who had chosen not to become active members. In these economic times obviously that has been of increasing concern not only to the organization but to all alike. With the above thoughts in mind, I feel that in all fairness only a small portion of the web site should be isolated and restricted to paying members only. Cost cutting measures should be as always at the forefront of organizational objectives, and while the SC Report is certainly informative it has become an expensive venture and probably one of many items which has caused a jump in annual membership cost and by the same token has developed into a loss of SC membership. By that reasoning I would agree that the Report be presented in PDF format, and experiement with the idea of having the report offered at an additional cost to any and "ALL" wishing to purchase same as a means of revenue.

[myles yancey]

Thank you AL for your

Thank you AL for your impute because it iis very important, but I must clear one thing up for you I have already stated that I intend to leave the SubRon sections open to public viewing because it is a very good recruiting tool as many SubRon commodores have pointed out.

Part of this discussion is about what to do to maintain the current membership and what can be done about increasing the memberships ranks..

Thank You
Myles

[Guest]

Mr Yancey, I don't want

Mr Yancey, I don't want to appear repetitious, as I clearly understood the question, however I probably wasn't making myself very clear. I'm affraid many of the active members don't really have a handle on the SC financial expenses so it would be difficult to determine exactly where to make cuts to any such expenses if possible, but my thoughts were first directed to eliminating the formal SC Report magazine that is mailed out to members throughout the world and possibly made available by a PDF file. This along with any other possible avenues to reduce the overall budget MAY help cut membership cost, which appears to me as one of the reasons some members felt it was not in their best interest to continue on with their membership. You have a lot of competent folks serving there with you in the executive committee and more than likely you will get a lot of input in ways and means to accomplish this difficult task. I have no problem with trying to further help in any small way that I can. I would further like to clear up a point you have made about retaining the status of the Subron's. My comment to that regard simply stated that I thought that a portion of the SC forum should be isolated from non members, not particularly those of the Subrons, as I felt that members should have some small advantage with accessing specific info. compared to that of Non Members. Regards,