During these struggling times, some breed clubs are facing losses of memberships because members have to make choices whether or not to pay this years membership or loss of interest. Gas prices and showing our birds takes a toll too.
That is why our club remainded FREE for a couple of years and this year, we had a huge jump of members because they wanted something for free and everyone contribute, swapping information and BYC is an added bonus to have members joining us as well as educate people both in HERE and the clubs. Many of our members originally came from BYC or Google search or the word of mouth. Now one our member wants to start charging membership to get incicentives to get people to show their Welsummers and pay for the trophies and what's not. We would vote on it but we had a month to vote on it. Granted, it was a good idea but with only seven people voting for it out of 102 members, its a very poor outlook for charging membership. We might end up suspending the plan of charging membership and asking for donations for trophies and such things for the breed. Or no membership fees at all until the economy improves. No need to drive our members away when they are already financially strapped. The LEAST we could do is to list their farm names under the Breeder's listings and give them a bit of money. Even the breed is getting popular, we will find the RIGHT time to get it going for the membership fees.
With internet, emails, and using FREE websites, and a bit of my time, I would like to pass on the savings to my members as well. If majority voted on having shows and so forth, then we will bring it up on the next quarterly e-Newsletter and blast emails to our members for their inputs, comments and so forth.
If BYC decide to charge members or any lurkers to pay to gain access to BYC, you bet people will go elsewhere!
If the American Sussex Association wants to charge their members, they have every right to do so. If you don't like it, you can find another club with membership you are looking for and which one would give you the most in returns as a member. Some clubs would do an associate member which they do not have voting rights or can not be listed in the breeder's list, etc. than a paying member would have.
That is why our club remainded FREE for a couple of years and this year, we had a huge jump of members because they wanted something for free and everyone contribute, swapping information and BYC is an added bonus to have members joining us as well as educate people both in HERE and the clubs. Many of our members originally came from BYC or Google search or the word of mouth. Now one our member wants to start charging membership to get incicentives to get people to show their Welsummers and pay for the trophies and what's not. We would vote on it but we had a month to vote on it. Granted, it was a good idea but with only seven people voting for it out of 102 members, its a very poor outlook for charging membership. We might end up suspending the plan of charging membership and asking for donations for trophies and such things for the breed. Or no membership fees at all until the economy improves. No need to drive our members away when they are already financially strapped. The LEAST we could do is to list their farm names under the Breeder's listings and give them a bit of money. Even the breed is getting popular, we will find the RIGHT time to get it going for the membership fees.
With internet, emails, and using FREE websites, and a bit of my time, I would like to pass on the savings to my members as well. If majority voted on having shows and so forth, then we will bring it up on the next quarterly e-Newsletter and blast emails to our members for their inputs, comments and so forth.
If BYC decide to charge members or any lurkers to pay to gain access to BYC, you bet people will go elsewhere!
If the American Sussex Association wants to charge their members, they have every right to do so. If you don't like it, you can find another club with membership you are looking for and which one would give you the most in returns as a member. Some clubs would do an associate member which they do not have voting rights or can not be listed in the breeder's list, etc. than a paying member would have.
Last edited:
