[NAFEX] Reply to Bruce Hansen
list at ginda.us
list at ginda.us
Thu Oct 28 19:28:34 EDT 2004
On Oct 27, 2004, at 8:55 AM, Bruce Hansen wrote:
. . . What a bunch of tight-wads.
> Shame on you!! I even had one person state "I do not know anyone who
> would
> want a membership". Egads!! Use your telephone directory. Pick three
> people
> at random who have fruit-like last names and buy them a membership. .
> . .
I am the person who wrote this to Mr. Hansen. The full statement (in
context) was:
"Well, personally, I'm the only one I know who likes to plant and eat
unusual fruits. That's why I joined NAFEX - to meet other people who
share this interest. I can't imagine to whom I would give a
membership. It would make more sense to just give NAFEX a donation
outright. If NAFEX asks, I probably will, but I think I will wait and
see how the discussion goes, first. I suspect we need higher dues, but
I'm not sure what the best level is. It's nice that the dues are cheap
enough that you don't need to think too hard about them."
I wasn't going to reply on the list serve to Mr. Hansen's remarks, but
now that he has insulted me by name, too (in his note at 6:05 this
evening) I can no longer restrain myself.
I second the request from for more information from the board on
NAFEX's financial difficulties. My understanding (which might be
wrong) is that NAFEX has enough cash, but has had considerably more
outgo than income in the last few years. This is a structural problem,
not an urgent one. As such, I believe it should be solved
structurally, not by frantic random fundraising.
The idea of donating grafted trees is a nice one, although there are a
number of reasons individual members might not respond to the offer
(limits on money, space, time, or interest). The idea of putting old
"Pomonas" on a CD and selling it to members (or others) is also a nice
one, although it certainly must be done under the auspices of the board
and with some attention to copyright law. (If individuals want to
convert their own copies of Pomona to electronic files for their own
use, with the possibility of later donating their work to NAFEX, that
is also a nice first step and should be within the realm of "fair
use".)
I don't think the idea of buying random memberships is a good one.
While it is certainly positive to buy a gift membership to a friend who
might be interested, and might become an active member, buying
memberships to strangers with "fruit-like last names" is likely to do
more harm than good. First, it's rude as the unfortunate strangers are
likely to consider "Pomona" to be unwanted junk mail. My neighbor
might want to support his local bowling league, but I don't want to
read their newsletter! Second, it probably hurts NAFEX. NAFEX has two
major expenses: Running the annual meeting and producing and mailing
out "Pomona". If we currently have negative cash-flow, the odds are
that the price of membership doesn't cover the cost of mailing out an
additional subscription to "Pomona". (The fixed costs are fairly
small, since it is written and edited by volunteers. The variable
costs of paper and postage are large.)
I guess I wasn't explicit enough to Mr. Hansen, but I was serious about
giving money if NAFEX asks for contributions. I am still formulating
my ideas, but I wonder if one way that NAFEX might address its
structural cash-flow problem is by having a low-key fund drive once a
year. It might be a compromise between raising dues, and possibly
driving away some of our members (who value membership, unlike my
random neighbors) and slowly going broke. Those of us who could easily
afford higher dues might instead send in a donation in addition to
dues. It might be very low-key (and not too annoying) if it were part
of the dues form. Something like "membership dues: $13/year, voluntary
contribution: $10, $20, $30" Who knows, we might even qualify for
tax deductible status (although we could ask for contributions whether
or not we do.)
I do not plan to give money just because Mr. Hansen tries to bully me.
I will certainly not buy a tree from him, even as a gift. I care
deeply about NAFEX, but I would prefer a polite request for help from
the board.
Actually, the board did ask for our help. We got a note from a board
member asking us to come up with ideas. Several people have tried to
address this constructively. That's not "just talk", it is the first
step towards action as an organization, that will help the
organization.
Sincerely,
Ginda Fisher
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