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From: KSC_ADMIN (IDS.NET!KSC_ADMIN)
Date: Thu Oct 17 1996 - 15:34:10 EDT
Dunno. With success and growth comes polarizing demands from the
membership.
The old timers want the younger members to "pay their dues"--always a
vague and shifting standard. The younger folks fulfill the
requirements and then are frustrated because no old timers
(Commodores) will sponsor them and they have to remain Associates.
To be fair, Commodores do complain that they've never seen some of
the people who dinghy up to their boat looking for a sponsor. On the
other hand, they also complain that they are just "over whelmed" by
the onslaught of Associates seeking Commodore status -- a symptom of
the success of the SSCA in promoting its goal of promoting the
cruising lifestyle.
Or, Rick, is it to fly the red Burgee? - A human need to be "one of the Elect"???? (I KNOW I'm gonna get flamed on THAT suggestion, but a significant percentage of those who asked US {and others} to be sponsors admitted it was to get the implied STATUS more than for idealistic or altruistic reasons.. :-(((... )
Solutions?? - I'll kick out a few...
ELIMINATE Membership levels, and paid Administration.. (No, i am not naive <G>), a Volunteer-run organization with paid CLERICAL folks, can survive, albeit without a nice Ft. Lauderdale Office, and it's associated costs. Do a Sub-Chapter S Corp., Issue shares to ALL contributing members in equal amounts, purchase supplies at wholesale, and re-sell at cost plus 5-10%, re-distribute remaining funds to the Stockholder's purchasing accounts at year's end (after costs), and start all over again Jan. 1..
Idealistic? - Yeah - it is.. But so was SSCA at the start.. Can we not learn from their story??
The growth of the Associate Membership of the SSCA and the associated
dues have made much possible (including increasing the size and
quality of the Commodore's Bulletin) but Associates wonder why they
are treated like second class citizens by many Commodores -- a
backhanded repudiation of the principles the original SSCA was
founded on.
Why??? - Perhaps the "inner circle" RESISTS dilution??? (Only a suggestion, not an opinion)
Old timers are miffed because a goodly number of people join to get
access to the insurance and don't seem as "committed" to the SSCA the
way they, the old timers, are. On the other hand, it is the volume
of Associate Members that SSCA can provide to insurers that make the
policies possible (while SSCA only sponsors the insurance programs,
the rates are only available to SSCA members and the SSCA does get a
small premium for each policy written).
Observation: When i got quotes for our Insurance, it was WAY above our current insurer's rates.. (Ocean Underwriters).. Maybe they went down later , but the next quote, later that year, from their insurer was even HIGHER than the first one (by a good 40%).. I passed, and stayed with OU until SYRINX sold a few months ago..
While we were running SSCA Cruising Station - Guam we went to a great
deal of trouble and expense for SSCA members (loaner
vehicles--including one small wreck--tons of mail accepted, stored
and delivered to the beach, long distance phone calls to report the
status of a voyage, keeping radio skeds when we'd rather be doing
something else, innumerable runs to the store, soaking baths, and
tons of wash run through our machines, updating the port information
for Guam).
Been There - Done that - Although not to the depth you experienced, Rick - they musta left YOUR CS listing active!.. :-))
We enjoyed it, we did it all voluntarily and we'd gladly do it again
for the wonderful people we met. But it would have at least been
nice to have gotten a certificate from the SSCA for our trouble or a
cut in our dues or both.
Ditto.. Didn't hold yer breath, Didja?? <ROTFL>
In truth there are two SSCAs: a SSCA for Commodores and an SSCA for
Associates and the gulf is widening, which is the challenge of the
present administration.
God bless 'em - hope they can rise to said challenge.. A revised, kinder, gentler<G>, SSCA would be much more desirable than anyone trying to build a NEW version with the OLD philosophies that we miss so much.. ;-(
ART, GINNY, . . . . : Where ARRRRE yooouuuuu?? <VBG>
Tom..
Rick - nh2f
Xapic, Westsail 32
Annapolis
nh2f-abs.net
>
> So Rick, whats the answer? I was an Associate for 4 years and got
the
> 2nd hand treatment from Commadores I met along the way. I thought
it was
> just a few individuals, but if I hear you correctly, you're saying
the
> entire organization has a dual agenda?
> Sorry to come in at "Chapter 3" - I'll watch my mail closer
for
> more on this.
>
> Fair winds,
> Bruce Lockwood
> "SHADOWFAX"
> 36' Tung Hwa ketch
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