NatOrg Discussion Week 6 – July 9- 15

Well, this week saw the revisit of some favourite topics, i.e. the membership debate. But surprisingly there were few emails this week.

• We discussed again how we are telling people to pay to do things, such as vote for future natcons etc when they have been free to do this in the past. It will depend on what the fans want us to do really. James was concerned about people who would be unhappy about having to join the NatOrg (which they may not like) simply to be able to vote for the next con.
1. James suggested that the membership not cost people anything, but be a transaction between natorg and natcon, but that the attendee is aware of what is being done.
2. We make the payment between natcon and natorg for the voting, but if people want access to newsletters, discounts etc in the future, perhaps we could then ask attendees to pay?
• But remember, to vote at the NatOrg business session, you have to be a member of the Natorg in a legal sense, i.e. pay money.
• It was suggested that only NatOrg members have the right to vote for the fan awards and future natcons, but we raised more concern that attendees have been able to do this in the past. We will have to consult the fans on this.
• Norman called a vote based on a list of questions that Barry and Celia drew up. Norman has the results. There were queries about the phrasing of some of them. A side note: voting on the list can be initiated by anyone who feels there is need for a vote, and votes will have a cut off date listed on them so people have ample opportunity to do so.
• Martin suggested that we put explicit information on con registration forms stating that some events, such as awards voting, are restricted to NatOrg members only.
• It was mooted that we should talk to fans about our propositions at this point. Meetings to follow.
• We need to make a distinction when we are talking about voting. For the NatOrg incorporated society, all voting must be done by members of the natorg for things like election of officers etc. For voting for natcons it will only be exclusive if it’s written into the constitution as such.
• The membership fee debate also came up, with concern again expressed that people may not be getting value for money at $5 until we have things like discounts set up. But it has been pointed out that in order to vote people must be members. And we do have expenses which will need to be covered.