New Dues Structure for 2008

Tue Sep 25 15:16:53 MDT 2007

I joined STC this year for the first time because I am a Grad student at
Minnesota State University, Mankato, working toward my MA in Technical
Communication. My membership dues will jump from $40 to $75, which is a
94% increase!

Even though the student members constitute a minority of STC members, I
think that this kind of increase will just worsen the enrollment
numbers. Frankly, I cannot afford to renew my membership, which is a
shame, since I have been a member for only 5 months and I did enjoy the
forums and reduced-rate opportunity for conferences. 

I also wonder what impact the posts about this topic will have, if at
all. Is there any chance that the dues will be reduced next year?

Vanda Heuring

________________________________

From: bounce-stc-ac-345517 at lists.stc.org
[mailto:bounce-stc-ac-345517 at lists.stc.org] On Behalf Of tashuff at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 4:05 PM
To: stc-ac
Subject: [stc-ac] New Dues Structure for 2008

WOW,

I certainly have seen some interesting discussions going on from my
post.

Personally, I don't think there should be any differentials is pricing
for the organization. If it costs the organization X dollars per member
to run the organization, then that cost should be aggregated across to
all members equally. If it costs more to run international programs,
then pass on the additional costs in an appropriate manner.

I think there is a fundamental problem with ANY organization that has
needed a 15% (more or less) annual increase over several years. The
annual dues increases have contributed to a 10,000 member loss from 2000
through 2007. This tells me that the board is unwilling and/or unable to
control cost and increase membership--and this is leading to the dues
increase. 

Bells and whistles might be nice, but I went to a chapter meeting last
night with 12 member present. I don't remember when the last time was
that I actually read the Intercom. I really like the Lone Writers SIG,
but I really need to decide if their is an acceptable return on my
investment.

Rather than working on the DOL to change a job classification, it is
time that the organization re-establish the membership, look at cost
cutting measures, and re-evaluate priorities. The business plan of
making large dues adjustments every year is not producing the desired
results. The trend is that the organization is weakening.

I do agree that members discussing forming a new listserv with another
provider is in bad form. This is not the forum for this discussion.

But, discussing the dues issue is important to many lone writers.

Teresa Trujillo
Book Workshop/Mighty Designs
1501 E. Orangethorpe Avenue
Suite 130
Fullerton, California 92831
Phone (714) 525-0882
Fax (714) 879-7156
Cell (714) 926-8343

-----Original Message-----
From: Bonni_Graham at scantron.com
To: stc-ac <stc-ac at lists.stc.org>
Sent: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 10:05 am
Subject: [stc-ac] RE: Fwd: STC: New Dues Structure for 2008

I just want to make sure I'm following the logic of this thread of posts
here: 

We *don't* want US/Canada members to subsidize/underwrite the dues for
International members, but we *do* want nonacademic members to
subsidize/underwrite the dues for academic members? We don't want to be
"taxed" so STC can provide services to offshore counterparts, but we're
all in favor of nonacademic members being "taxed" to provide service to
academic members? "Cost-shifting to your membership base" is not a good
idea for growing internationally, but it's a fabulous idea for growing
academically? 

Hmmmm. 

Although my employer currently pays my dues, I pay the dues for my two
staff members, and paid my own dues for 16 of the 17 years I've been a
member. I believe in demonstrating to the various entities for which I
and my staff work (my clients, UCSD, UCR, etc.) that I am committed to
and serious enough about my own profession to be a part of its
professional society, above and beyond any other benefits I get from
membership. I would continue to be a member even if I had to resume
paying my own dues again. 

My 2 cents (not even adjusted for inflation...)

________________________________

Bonni Graham
Product Management / Marketing: End-User Documentation 
Lecturer, University of California (San Diego Extension, Riverside
Extension, and Riverside Main campuses)

Scantron Corporation
110 West A Street, Suite 800
San Diego, CA 92101
[ T ] 619.578.5261
[ C ] 858.349.9488
[ F ] 619.615.0522 
www.scantron.com <http://www.scantron.com/> 
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