The boat repair articles by Rick Buchanan that have been highlighted in the past few issues are alone worth about 5 years of dues in my opinion.

Mark,

My responses were honest, neither petty nor ignorant. I wasn't hiding what my problem is, it's right there in black and white.

Throwing insults in my direction is not giving me any reason to doubt my original take on your intent. If you didn't intend to offend us with your original post, now would be a good time to just say that and we can move on...

Mike

And the winner of the Trap Gear is?

TBD...

I'm still getting paper forms in the mail that are postmarked before Jan 31.

We'll announce next week.

Mike

BTW...

When you click on the link to the renewal page (www.hcanamembers.com), you will see this, before you get to anything that mentions money:

How do we use membership dues?
Class Promotion
Guest Expert Programs
Youth Programs
Standardized Racing
NAs event support
Racer support programs
Regatta materials for fleets and divisions
Racing Seminars
Regatta Insurance

EDIT: It also lists the benefits of the online system.

This info was omitted from the paper form to allow space for the critical renewal data.

Does that answer it?

Surprisingly, the Hotline isn't on that list. Begs the question, what else do we do that you (our members) find valuable?

I ask the same thing in every article that I write for the Hotline: Please send me ideas on how we can improve our value to our members. I rarely get responses...

Mike

Just a suggestion,(I have made it a few times).Why not do like the Laser Class and give the option of a two year membership at a slight discount.Seems like it would be a win win situation.

That does seem like a good idea. I can bring it up to the board.

I think we've discussed that in the past, and the concern was how to manage it (annual dues to IHCA, etc.), and how to remind people that they're due again (especially now that we don't have cards).

Mike

For the 2 year renewal just do it like california boat regestration. Every odd year dues are up. 01,03,05,07,09,11,13,,,,,ect. You could use even years but we are an odd bunch.

OK, so if someone wants a multi-year membership to start on an even year, we charge for three years?

Mike

No if you join in the middle its one year charge. So Jan 09 I pay my family membership for 2 years. Due again in 2011, If someone joins in 2010 they pay one year then are on the same cycle as everyone else.

I'm a member and I do not race a whole lot. I have yet to participate in a strictly Hobie race. But getting the hotline is worth every penny of the membership, especially when its cold out and the sailing takes the back seat.

What is this about a calender? I never recieved one and I was paid up in 2008. I'm pretty positive anyway.

Hi Rich,

I don't know if I fully understand how that would help us. What Mike is suggesting is an OPTIONAL two-year membership, what your state is doing sounds mandatory (i.e. everyone pays for two years at a time).

Mike

James, send me an email with your full name and membership number (if you know it) so I can check on your status for 2008.

Mike

hobiemembership (at) gmail . com

its just the option to renew at 2 year intervals. Not mandatory but keep it so 2 year memberships are always on the same even or odd years. It will help in the long run on paperwork.

Sorry, but I'm still feeling pretty dense about this. Is this what you're saying?

All two-year renewals can only be started on odd-numbered years. (The same logic would apply if we chose even-numbered years.)

If someone wants to pay for a two-year membership in 2009, they can, and will be due again in 2011.

If someone wants to pay for a two-year membership in 2010, they can't, they can only pay for one year, and will be due again in 2011. We have to hope they want to pay for two years when 2011 comes around.

I hope I'm missing something here.

Mike