[tlug] TLUG Funding (was: Feisty Upgrade, USB issues and other oddities)

["Josh Glover" <jmglov@example.com>]

On 04/04/07, Shannon Jacobs <shannon.jacobs@example.com> wrote:

> My oddity comment regards the club funding... This auction-based thing kind
> of bothers me. In my current technical and non-programmatic state, I don't
> feel like I'm likely to make any significant technical contributions. That
> leaves non-technical contributions, including funding--but auctions sort of
> leave me out. Partly I feel I have too much junk already, but mostly it
> bothers me to feel like some people seem to be taking significant financial
> hits for the fractional benefit of the group. I'd rather just pony up a bit
> at each meeting and let it go at that.

There is nothing stopping you from making a donation. Or bring in some
of the junk that you have and donate it for auction.

> From that perspective, I'd rather invert the problem. I suggest the club
> decide on a budget and let the members discuss it and vote on it. Having
> decided on how much money is needed, just divide it up by the number of
> meetings and the number of people at each meeting, and ask for donations of
> the appropriate amount, perhaps defrayed by auction proceeds or any other
> revenue sources. I don't know what the budget has been, but considering the
> meetings I've attended over the last few months, if most people gave a
> hundred yen at a meeting, that would probably generate rather more revenue
> than seems to be needed...

Nah. If TLUG has gotten along along without charging dues--even
quasi-voluntary ones like you propose--until now, I don't see the need
to change.

I think that charging a fee at meetings would keep some people away,
and the general idea is that we want more geeks, not less.

-Josh