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[firedog]

Dwight, thanks for the breakdown, of the membership fee, much appreciated.

[Mud Dog]

(By the way, I think there's a clause in the Blue Book that says you can't resign while there is a grievance in process against you.)

I wonder how that would be enforced?  Force the member to pay dues, to participate or perhaps by expulsion.

Bill

Here's the rule, Article V Section 1 (pertaining to grievances)

"A member may resign at any time upon written notice to Headquarters provided that such member be in good standing and that there are not then pending against him any charges of the nature elsewhere set forth in this article. (7/5/93)"

And as to how they are going to enforce it. . . hey, nobody ever said these rules had to make sense. . .

[Dwight]

Here is a little more detail on the Projected Budget 2009 -2010 from Cindy at Jackson Center.
Income: membership dues $360K, Blue Beret adv. $75K, Merchandise Sales 32K, Intl. Rally Ser. fee $40K?? , Interest $25K  misc.$?? Total Income $544K,  Expenses:  Blue Beret $52K+ 31K postage, Directory $15K + 5K,  Salaries $167K, Officer (Intn. and Region) Expenses $125K, Insurance $37K, Employee Benefits $28K, all other individual expenses are less than $20K each. Total Expenses $370K. This does not reflect the $103K loss in Madison since that come out of the reserve account.

[firedog]

Does that make 174k for plus side for fiscal 2009-2010.Do you subtract the loss for the international rally 2009?  Oops subtracting the  174k- 103k = 71k profit for fiscal 2009-2010. a poor year for the leadership.

[RickDavis]

Here is a little more detail on the Projected Budget 2009 -2010 from Cindy at Jackson Center.
Income: membership dues $360K, Blue Beret adv. $75K, Merchandise Sales 32K, Intl. Rally Ser. fee $40K?? , Interest $25K  misc.$?? Total Income $544K,  Expenses:  Blue Beret $52K+ 31K postage, Directory $15K + 5K,  Salaries $167K, Officer (Intn. and Region) Expenses $125K, Insurance $37K, Employee Benefits $28K, all other individual expenses are less than $20K each. Total Expenses $370K. This does not reflect the $103K loss in Madison since that come out of the reserve account.

I add up  those expense numbers to $460K with out allowing anything for the individual below $20 k expenses
The budget passed at Madison allowed for a deficit of $81 k.  with out the 5k marketing expense passed yesterday.

The rally budget is seperate.  I have heard break even figures of 700 to 750 attendees.
As of yesterday there were 620 signed up.

As of  jan 31 2009 there were  717 signed up for madison ,188 of which were three amp.
I suspect if they had not eliminated 3 amp they would have their numbers now or be mighty close.

[Dwight]

I must have missed some accounts when I added up.  I know they projected a loss of  $80K for the year at Madison but, I heard numbers low as 52K loss when listening to the streaming audio from the Mid winter IBT.

My major point is we have too many leaders, who are traveling too much, given the reduced size of the club.  We had the same leader overhead when we had 28,000 members and now we are less than 6,000 members.  I am not sure a marketing budget of $15K can turn it around, unless we start giving more and better international paid for benefits to the younger working members. I do not think we can just depend on the local's benefits to justify the $65 dues.

The locals only get $6.08 worth of paid insurance per member from the International.  If there is a claim, that insurance is not actually paid to the member, unless he files a suit against the unit and its leaders.  If you have an accident of your own fault at an event, it is presumed that your insurance company is your first recourse.  If you can prove that the leaders did something wrong, then the WBCCI insurance comes in.

[65GT]

I received JL's comments as a clip, along with the apology.  The whole thing leaves me wondering about a whole bunch of things.

The boycott statement raised my eyebrows, but the next 2-3 sentences put it all in clear context.  JL was using sarcasm, point a finger at dissenters to his leadership.  Nothing wrong with that, he's not accurate, but the use of sarcasm can be effective in the right instance. Of course it helps if your premise is factual to begin with...

The apology.  What's up with that apology?  No apology was required if anyone was simply following along.  It was obvious by the mere sarcastic attempt that the Mardi Gras Rally is of great value, to those that can take advantage of it.

The numbers of members that take advantage of that Mardi Gras Rally are minimal.  The PIP is way off target.  These folks continue to ignore the obvious -- you need to target the majority of members when you contemplate TAXING members for failed leadership.  The far majority of members in this club experience is with their local unit.  You mess with those folks with unjustified, and unwarranted dues increases based on their experiences, and you're playing with fire.  Dues increases can only be justified with increased member benifits, something this group hasn't contemplated in the 5 years I've been a member...

If the membership has to put up with ineffective leadership (and we don't have a choice), then the burdens, the TAXES should be paid at THEIR level, not ours.

Take all that pain and suffering that is the direct result of their failures (membership, operational finances, Int. Rally finances) and make the corrections anywhere but at the unit level.  If Regions are running in the red, then add fees to Region Rallies.  If they fizzle and fail, then no more region rallies, no more region.  If International Rallies are failing, then add fees there and apply the same.  When International Administrations fail, resign en masse and turn it over to a new group of leadership that will make a difference.

We should have had 3 consecutive en masse EC7 resignations as of 2010.  Yet these folks that fail us year in and year out remain.  We have to find a way to fix this -- we have to find a way to toss them out.  It's apparent that no matter how great their failures are, the Great North American Tour will continue, regardless of the costs to this club, and the negative impact on our membership.

THROW THE BUMS OUT!

[firedog]

Yes ,I agree but who will say the Emperor has no clothes and put their. head on the WBCCI chopping block