Clearly there is a huge amount of resisistance in paying for an organization that does not give you immediate benefit.

This sounds like the same calculus when it comes to paying your national OD class dues.

I wonder how many racing sailors pay their national class dues. (Every sanctioned Hobie Regatta requires NAHCA membership.... Every CBYRA YC requires membership in your Class....)
So do you join... Why or Why not?

At the Annapolis OD symposium, a 505 sailor said... well... 505 sailors only seem to pay their dues when they come to the nationals. no nationals... no dues collected.

If you are a local sailor who will only race regionally, why belong to your national class association?

I could make the argument that the my class dues should NOT go to running a nationals. Those costs should be borne by the sailors who attend not the general class. Class dues should be used for services that benefit all members of the class. Eg News magazine. web site, admin eg members list. Why should I join a class that spends most of the money on the small group going to the nationals.

I don't know the details of the NAHCA budget. But they clearly deliver a great magazine to all class members and they offer money for a guest expert program. I would guess they pay some dues money to support their nationals as well.

The Tornado class was completely different. I don't think they even sent out a single email (other then the one asking for class dues). They used the class money to pay their international dues (for worlds) and the rest to make two of the three Tornado regattas happen.

The F16 class doesn't collect any dues.

So, What is your position on joining your national class?