Salty
2011-10-19 15:39:42
This could be the worst news for our salmon fishery since the Grand Coulee Dam.
Once and Future
2011-10-20 02:15:15
Dale:
I'm not well organized. Is there an easy way to tell if my dues are current or not? (I'm thinking of something like how magazines used to display the expiration date on the shipping label.)
I could look in the checkbook ledger, but that means I'd have to speak with my wife. :shock:
Hi ...!
I'm real glad to see you're concerned about your dues status, but I have to know your name to check. ;) And, if you're a bit behind, I sure wouldn't want to bust you here online in front of your buddies, so shoot me a private message and sign your name.
And, while I am not one to promote failure to communicate between spouses :!: , an easy way to tell, at least when you get a billing, is that I put your due date above your name. Used to do that on newsletters, but for awhile the postmaster at the bulk mail office frowned on that. We can always try it again and see what happens.
OK, this is way off the fish farm/ISA topic, but since I'm writing about membership processing, I should confess to all our loyal ATA members who may be confused about what's up that I have been taking the quickest route on dues notices lately. Meaning, I'm billing by quarter - sometimes even a bit beyond. Also, when my schedule is particularly hectic, like now, I only send postcards. What I prefer to do is send a letter first, with some info; followed by a postcard reminder, if necessary. Unfortunately, I have no staff, so often need to cut corners with time.
Money is also a factor, and materials and postage are going through the roof - plus, it takes a lot of time to prepare packets for mailing (I'm not that expensive, but I'm also not that cheap by clerical help standards). I am puzzling over the best way to get updated information from members at billing time, using a more streamlined/less expensive system. Not everyone has the 'online' thing down pat, like you all, so it's a little premature for that... anyway, just be aware that I'm attempting to find the right mix to ultimately save the association a few bucks to apply towards our issue work. Early billings aren't my way to harrass you into paying early if you don't want to.
So, on those quarterly mailings, look at the label - your due date will be on there as long as the USPS allows it. If I billed you before your due date, and you need to hold off, no worries - please just pay when you're due (get your buddies to throw their checks in the envelope, too, and split the postage savings)! If you want to pay early, but fear you're getting shorted, also no worries! Here's how it works. If you are due Dec. 31, but pay Oct. 15, 2011, I would post you as being due again DEC 31, 2012, not Oct. It's always 12 months from the month of your original payment. If that time frame isn't convenient on an ongoing basis, just give me a call and we'll work with you to find a better date. Point is, if I can help it, I don't let you or the association get short-changed.
Last reminder: We take cash, checks, credit cards. Our webpage has a link to Paypal, or you can check to see if your bank will just do a one time a year auto pay - mine does.
Alrighty then, the way my week has been going on the fish farm front, this has almost been a nice break - now I best get back at it.
Hope hear from all you folks - including those who are sitting on the membership sidelines. There's a lot to be done and your help and support are the only things that give trollers a fighting chance. Thanks again to those of you who do your part!
No surrender...
Dale
ATA