An idea for paying dues

Since Karen and Jason have indicated this gets discussed regularly, this has probably been discussed and discarded for similar reasons, but insurance companies will invoice twice a year, and charge a bit more for the privilege of splitting the payment.

I suppose another option would be to change the month dues are payable, but that would put NCRA in a position of having cash-flow issues for the gap.

Theresa

 

I know we looked at this 10 years ago when I was president of our state freelance association, and the fees absolutely killed it.  We'd either have had to raise our dues, assess a hefty convenience fee for those who chose this method, or nix the idea.  We chose the last option.

The problem is the monthly taking incurs 12 transactions, and the per transaction charge was too expensive, as I recall, to pursue it much further.

 

Mitz 

I just know we need some new thoughts to bring reporters to the fold.  Economics is definitely a problem, especially with gas prices.  Sometimes an old idea can have a few new twists and will work.  I know there could be problems of how you would drop them from the roll if they didn't pay among other things.  Well, Karen, you've been hired for this high paying job LOL so I'm sure something can be worked out.  It does seem to be there would have to be some penalty if you had to pay it out so a minimim of reporters would use it -- only those that really needed it.  I suppose it could be tried on a trial basis to see if it would work, much like you give new members a cut-rate sometimes to bring them in.  It might not work at all.  I was just trying to think of ways to up the membership.  Maybe y'all can put your heads together and come up with a spectacular idea.

Good luck this year, Karen, in your new beginning.  We are looking forward to a new  successful direction.

I absolutely agree with Shirley.  After the new dues increase, I think we really need to examine some alternate ideas.  Michigan's Association, MAPCR, began allowing three payments on their dues.  We set it up through Paypal, and it's been a very easy process.  Of course, our membership is a fraction the size of NCRA.  But something should be considered.  Either twice a year or some sort of a monthly plan.

 Joe

If the object of the exercise is to increase the size of the treasury, how about offering five years for the price of four--paid in advance. We build up the treasury in short order, lock in membership for five years, and make the member proud that he or she has helped solve the problem while saving himself or herself some money.

I like that idea, it would be one less thing to worry about for a few years. But, of course, there would have to be an option to pay installments. MJ

I agree with installments of a large amount, for instance if our dues were $2,500.  But $250 over a year's time isn't all that much money that you should need to make installment payments.  Just my opinion. 

 

Anyone can pay their dues in installments -- just put it (the whole amount) on your credit card and pay it off as quickly or as slowly as you like. (Get a NCRA affinity credit card through Marsh, and help NCRA with some non-dues income while you're at it.)

But for NCRA to bill monthly or process credit card transactions monthly is cost prohibitive.

 that's a nice idea for those who have credit cards. :)

Lillian,

I just wanted to say hello to my rich friend.  $250 is a lot to young reporters with childcare, etc.  It is also a lot to older reporters on limited income.  Now I'm not worried about my dues because I know my buddy Lillian will come across and loan me the money -- no interest of course.  LOL 

 

Adam,

It is possible to use the credit card but often these are 12% to 18% interest a year.  I never encourage reporters or anyone to use those cards unless absolutely necessary or unless they can pay them out in 30 days.  All financial advisers always recommend against doing that and tell you the first thing you should do is pay those off.  That's why I hope another way can be worked out.  It looks as if y'all are trying your best but I did want to bring that fact up because y'all might not have considered that in your thinking.

Hello there, Shirley.

Now I'm not worried about my dues because I know my buddy Lillian will come across and loan me the money.

Oh, something tells me, Shirley, that $250 is an amount you would have no problem whatsoever paying yourself ;)

To put it in more real-world terms:

I run a small agency. I plan much of my business activity on the expectation that I will get paid, on average, X days after I send out the invoice.

NCRA budgets on an expectation that it will receive X level of dues at the start of the dues year.

Now, rather than billing and sending out 30-day notices, I could give all my clients the opportunity to pay with credit cards in monthly installments over the next 12 months. However, that would have a devastating effect on my business. If a number of clients decided to go that route, I'd be giving them a grace period of 12 months, being paid in inflated dollars, and getting soaked on merchant fees. And what if a case settles, and a guy decides the transcript wasn't important and stops payment? A whole new headache.

NCRA is in the same boat.

And it's true that $250 is worth a fair chunk of change to a lot of people. It is to me. A month ago, I spent $630 for four new tires for my car, and it kinda bites. But I will also say, just looking at Engate alone, not to mention the 80 other issues going on, the $250 is an excellent price and a simple cost of doing business.

- Jason 

Shirley Houston:

Adam,

It is possible to use the credit card but often these are 12% to 18% interest a year.  I never encourage reporters or anyone to use those cards unless absolutely necessary or unless they can pay them out in 30 days.  All financial advisers always recommend against doing that and tell you the first thing you should do is pay those off.  That's why I hope another way can be worked out.  It looks as if y'all are trying your best but I did want to bring that fact up because y'all might not have considered that in your thinking.

 

Shirley, I'm not saying it's a good idea to put your dues on a credit card and pay interest on them.  But TANSTAAFL (there ain't no such thing as a free lunch).

I'm not being insensitive.  It's just that money costs money.  If dues are not paid at the beginning of the year, it would cost NCRA money by not having that money on hand at that time and a lot more money to both bill for and process payments multiple times a year.

The Board and NCRA staff hear and understand that many members want this and have been looking into ways of making it doable.  But in tight fiscal times, such convenience has to be revenue-positive.

Adam,

I wasn't sitting on the Board and did not have the benefit of hearing all the discussions.  I was just worried about the loss of members in the associaiton and thinking this might just a way to get them in.  That is all I was getting at.  Obviously, lack of money is one of the problems and I was just trying to think of a way to help solve the problem.  It might not solve it but I thought these ideas should be put forward.  Like I say, they might have already been put forward.

There are different types of members in NCRA.  Many wouldn't let their membership elapse because NCRA is one of the first things in their life and is a priority.  Then you have the majority that do not fall in that category.  We don't hear from them and have to try to think like they think.