North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["S & E Hills" <ehills7408@wowway.com>]

I like the idea of different levels of membership where a reader could access recent discussions, but not the archives.  Or where conversely material over one year old could be accessed, but not the more recent stuff (which would crimp a non-member being able to get all their questions answered, thus giving them an immediate personal reason for wanting to join).  I’m pretty neutral on the Pomona issue (I would prefer to retain paper copies, but I also see the ease which being able to search for a topic that an electronic version would give).

 

Where I wanted to put my 2 cents in was on an issue we have discussed previously, the idea of simplifying joining or renewing a membership. Being able to do this directly online (through Paypal or directly by credit card) would encourage participants in NAFEX.  I knew about NAFEX for over a year before joining (and I didn’t know one could join the mail list without having been a member) but the hassle of printing out a form, filling it out, making out a check and then mailing out the whole thing was just too much bother when I was looking for the answer to why my pawpaws (or whatever) were doing whatever was causing me to go searching.  I wanted immediate gratification and the feeling that I was addressing the problem I was trying to solve at that moment.  Also I’m looking at Fall 08 as being the end of my current membership, do I need to go through the whole process (form, check mail) again to renew….As of right now it seems as though I do.

 

 

Scott Hills

Saint Clair Shores, Mi

Zone 6b

 

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From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Jwlehman@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 10:14 PM
To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Membership, focus, journals, etc...the face of NAFEX

 

In a message dated 2/13/2008 12:36:31 PM Eastern Standard Time, list@ginda.us writes:

I like the idea of putting at least some of the archives on-line, but only
allowing members to post.  That would provide bait for potential new
members without giving all our content away.  Perhaps the most recent month
of so of content could be on-line?

Ginda,

You have an idea worth discussing. But maybe allow three months of open posts viewing. But must be a member to post questions and read all posts over 3 months old. This could even be a different level of membership price. Say $9.00

Then if we have an electronic Pomona membership we could wind up with three price membership levels. That could be a record keeping headache.

Setting here thinking about this, it could actually increase US membership. Here is how. Someone learning of and reading the 3 month chat net could decide to join at the $9 level. Then he considers for a few more bucks he could get the electronic Pomona membership, say $14. The he realizes for a few more bucks, $5, he would be a full member and get hard copies for his library shelf.  However $19 shouldn't be prohibitive in the first place.

In a past life when I huddled with my employees and would say to them, "I have an idea," they would say we are in trouble now!  Sometimes we were!!!

Jerry






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