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  • From: Jwlehman@aol.com
  • To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [NAFEX] NAFEX question
  • Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2011 12:14:27 -0500 (EST)


> Now that NAFEX has been fragmented, how does a potential new member
> >join? If a potential member attempts to join, will he be directed to the
> >new listserv or to this one?
> >
> >Jim Fruth

I forwarded Jim's question to NAFEX President Dr. Ethan Natelson and here
was his response:

I would not agree that Nafex has been fragmented, but simply put into a
fiscally responsible position.   Nobody is forced to join or participate in

any particular social network and whether one joins the original list
serve,
which is not under the control of Nafex, or the newly-created one, which
is, or neither, is their choice. End
quote

Many organizations such as NAFEX, NNGA (Northern Nut Growers Assoc.), state
nut grower organizations are experiencing great membership decline. These
organizations were established by growers for growers with common interest to
share information. NNGA celebrated their 100th anniversary two years ago.
Membership has declined by about 75%, NAFEX isn't far behind. The main reason
is massive amounts of free expert information made available by the
Internet, FREE. The motivating force for paying any membership free has
changed
from obtaining information to social comradery.

Maybe 10 years ago at a NAFEX board meeting someone (prior to Dr. Parmar)
said any organization that doesn't have a web site will fall by the wayside.
NAFEX has had a web site for years. It has often been suggested POMONA be
published entirely on the web site. Most people will not voluntarily pay for
information by joining when it is available free. The free Internet is the
downfall of many special grower interest organizations. Not many will pay for
the cow when they can get the milk for free

Smaller associations such as MIDFEX (Mid America Fruit Explorers) in the
Chicago area and INGA (Indiana Nut Growers Assoc.) have done better due to
the
physical nearness of their membership. Scion swap meetings and grafting
demonstration meetings for example promotes purchased memberships.

INGA membership has been fairly steady at 300 due to membership interest
meetings and the very low cost of membership, $7.00 annually or $100 for
lifetime membership. Half of INGA members have purchased Life Time
Memberships.

Every subscriber of this free LISTSERV who elects not to pay for membership
contributes to NAFEX decline. And every time we paying members answer
questions on this net we also contribute to the end of NAFEX. This situation
is
the by product of the free information age similar to the US postal service
demise.

Jerry Lehman
Diehard paying NAFEX member since the mid 1980s.


>From alandhaigh@gmail.com Sat Dec 17 13:40:07 2011
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I am also a 2 decade NAFEX member and still a fan. Lately I haven't made
the annual meetings just because my wife is not interested in a midwest
vacation- we can't afford a lot of vacation time so it has to please both
of us. Has to be either west or east coast for us to make it. I wish
they'd stop having most of them in the same general region of the country
just because I miss attending.

Because my involvement is now limited to this site, I'm not even sure that
I'm currently a member. I'm so out of it, the split being discussed here
is new information for me.

I can't complain about the current direction of NAFEX, even if I had
complaints, because I'm too busy running my business to contribute enough
input into the organization to give me the right. Viva la NAFEX!




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