"Family Plan" for Club Membership?

[Isambard]

Does any club offer a "family plan" featuring a reduced membership rate per family member e.g. where both spouses are members? Or for that matter, where a parent and child are members. And if so what are club voting rules?

[:)]

[retsignalmtr]

my club charges each member $7 a month for dues. new members pay $10 for the first month. $7 for dues and $3 for initiation. we had a family plan which was $10 for the whole family per month but it has not been enforced as there are not too many members with family that participate in the club. also members under 16 can belong to the club as associate members with a reduced dues but have no voting rights at business meetings.

[Texas Zepher]

Our club just approved a "family member" category. Basically they pay dues and accumulate stock at 1/2 rate. They have a normal vote just like everyone else, but if something comes to a stock vote that is where they don't have as much say.

[Isambard]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher

Our club just approved a "family member" category. Basically they pay dues and accumulate stock at 1/2 rate. They have a normal vote just like everyone else, but if something comes to a stock vote that is where they don't have as much say.

How does your stock/stock vote system work? What is the value of stock? Does each family member pay the same monthly/annual dues but each family member accumulates stock at 1/2 rate?

Our club members pay dues either annually or monthly, those paying annually receive a discount equal to one month's dues. Junior members (ages 12 to 17) pay 1/2 the regular member rate and do not have voting rights.

We've been asked whether a husband and wife team (both keen model railroaders) would pay full rate for each of them, hence my query.

[:)]

[cacole]

Yes, we have a family membership at our club -- $10 per month for a regular adult membership, $5 for a Junior membership (under 18), and $15 per month for a Family membership regardless of how many family members there might be. We have had families as large as six members and as few as two.

[Isambard]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole

Yes, we have a family membership at our club -- $10 per month for a regular adult membership, $5 for a Junior membership (under 18), and $15 per month for a Family membership regardless of how many family members there might be. We have had families as large as six members and as few as two.

How about voting rights for all those family members? Wow, six members from one family! The family that plays together stays together!

[:)]

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Isambard

QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher
Our club just approved a "family member" category. Basically they pay dues and accumulate stock at 1/2 rate.

Does each family member pay the same monthly/annual dues but each family member accumulates stock at 1/2 rate?

No the first member pays full dues the "family" member pays 1/2 dues. $15 and $7.50 month respectively.

QUOTE: How does your stock/stock vote system work? What is the value of stock?

There are many things but mostly 50 hours of work = 1 share of stock. If something comes to a loggerhead any member can call a stock vote and it is simply one vote per share owned. Constitutional Charter changes are always a stock vote. We are a non-profit organization so the stock has no value other than voting. It cannot be bought/sold only earned.

[Isambard]

Thanks Cacole and Texas Zepher for your responses. The stock for work idea is interesting - sounds like it could be an incentive but also contentious e.g. what qualifies as work.

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Isambard
The stock for work idea is interesting - sounds like it could be an incentive but also contentious e.g. what qualifies as work.

We have a short list of what is considered to apply toward this count. One thing that is included is chatting with the public and potential members while at the club facilities. We found that if we didn't include this, then members were reluctant to just talk and seemed not so friendly. As a result our membership began to drop through attrition. Every club needs at least one "gabber". We have only had one instance where we had to tell someone not to work so much on the layout. Their "work" wasn't up to the quality level we required. Unfortunately because of their "work" we had to replace about 20 HOn3 turnouts.

[jrbernier]

Our club also has 'stock' shares. They are accumulated at a rate of 1 share for each dollar of 'assesment' that the club member pays. Our club is new, so the need for cash is far in excess of the dues. We have quarterly 'assessments' that each member pays(approved by a 2/3 majority vote of the members in the quarter before the assessment) is charged. The only 'value' of the shares is if the club should disband and we need to disperse the club materials. Also no member can 'sell' their shares unless approved by the same 2/3 vote, and no member can hold more that 25% of the shares. The shares have no voting power.
We have no 'Family' membership, but a 'junior' member(12-18) can join for 1/2 dues(no assessments) as long as their parents are 'full' members, or another 'full' member 'sponsors' them(and is responsible for their actions). This was done so that we would not become a 'baby sitting' service.....

Jim Bernier