[chapter-delegates] New Membership Level

[EJ Preston]

Chapter Delegates and Polish ISOC,

We support the ideals of democratic discussion and member-organizing, 
calls to action are the best way to resolve this situation.  Please let 
us know how we can help.

All the best from Texas,
Ed

EJ Preston
VP - SalsaNet, South Central Texas ISOC
512.658.5201
ejpreston at salsa.net
www.isoc.org

On Mar 4, 2005, at 2:32 PM, Jacek Gajewski wrote:

> Dear Chapter Delegates,
>
>      let me inform you that in a situation created by the recent 
> announcment of introduction of $75 membership,  which is regarded as 
> posing a serious thread for the integrity of ISOC, the Board of Polish 
> ISOC Chapter called today its extraordinary meeting. During this 
> meeting  the Board has taken unanimously the following decisions:
>
> 1. to inform its membership about the recent discussion trigerred by 
> the introduction of paid membership and the fact that they are no 
> longer the members of ISOC but only its 'Associate Members'
> 2. to take part in the redaction of a joint protest statement with 
> other chapters
> 3. to encourage its members to send the text of the joint protest (if 
> they agree with it) directly to the ISOC CEO with the cc to VP of 
> Chapters and Director of Chapters
> 4. to encourage its members to take part in a survey of the opinions 
> re. paid membership, if ISOC HQ decides to poll the opinion of its 
> world-wide membership
>
> With the best regards,
>
> Jacek Gajewski
> ISOC-PL
>
> Narelle Clark wrote:
>
>>> From: James M Galvin [mailto:galvin at elistx.com]
>>> Sent: Friday, 4 March 2005 8:28 AM
>>>
>>> I am concerned that some people believe that we
>>> have some expectation of the Chapters with
>>> respect to the availability of the new membership level.  So, I want 
>>> to say clearly that the new
>>> membership level is a benefit that ISOC is
>>> offering and it is completely separate from the benefits that 
>>> Chapters offer.  In fact, we do not
>>> expect Chapters to actively sell ISOC memberships.
>>>
>>
>> This "new" membership class poses a few problems for our
>> chapter (Australia). Our board is yet to discuss it so
>> the following points are my assessment of the sorts of
>> things that our chapter will have to wrestle with.
>>
>> - what are the benefits of this paying class?
>> As yet, it seems that this class is to get the
>> benefits that existing members are not properly
>> getting - voting access, standards participation -
>> mainly for us due to the tyranny of distance, or
>> mailbox overflow when our nominations disappear.
>> I rather liked the list of specials someone
>> came up with as an alternative to making
>> voting exclusively paid (sheesh folks!).
>>
>> - will our members see this as another example
>> of the rest of the world paying for the US Internet access?
>> The fibre links across the Pacific have been
>> paid for by the people on this side of the
>> Pacific. Thus we pay for US access to content
>> in Japan, China, India, Australia, the Pacific
>> nations etc etc. Now we are to pay for the
>> privelige of participating in standards
>> development? Hmmm.
>>
>> - will consideration be given to better
>> chaper representation in this new way?
>> I'm still wondering.
>>
>> - why the name change?
>> With existing members turning into "associate"
>> and the "new" ones becoming [real] "members"
>> it is difficult to not to see a dubious intent.
>>
>> - how does this fit with our own charge?
>> Our chapter currently charges an approximately
>> equivalent fee, with student and pensioner rates.
>> I assume we will have to recognise the ISOC
>> members as local members with a nominal local
>> fee on top. This represents a loss of revenue
>> for us.
>>
>> - why no chapter consultation?
>> This seems to have been a less than diplomatic
>> approach IMHO. The free membership approach was
>> a sudden and underconsulted change also if my
>> memory is correct.
>>
>> - why not a 'capitation fee' from the chapters?
>> We could possibly have funded some amount as
>> was done in the past.
>>
>> - why such a large fee?
>> An Australian joiing both the local chapter and
>> this new class will be paying something of
>> the order of an IEEE fee. Only Internet
>> professionals are likely to do that, and many
>> of them will have to look at the comparative
>> benefits and join the better value one.
>>
>> - who joins what?
>> An Australian wanting to join ISOC may do that
>> and ignore the local chapter (which happens
>> now) but will we be informed of people
>> joining this new class? With this paid class
>> there is now competition for members with
>> our chapter.
>>
>> - status of chapter members vs ISOC members
>> The international affiliation is very important
>> to our chapter members. Is there going to be
>> a cost effective way for chapter members to
>> join this new _special_ class and get what
>> they want ISOC for? Is there a genuine way
>> for our members to participate in Internet
>> standards development, when frankly it's hard
>> enough now?
>>
>> These are just a few issues on top of the other
>> ones people have mentioned. I also personally
>> agree that the fee is a massive impost on
>> many people!
>>
>>
>> All the best
>>
>>
>> Narelle
>> vice-president at isoc-au.org.au
>>
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