Re: [Alpacasite] Re: F&R Guide / Alaca Magazine

Tim,
It would seem to me that AOBA should bite the bullet and raise the
membership fees to accurately reflect the operational costs of
servicing the members at the very least.
It follows then that I would support the concept that advertisers pay
for distribution costs of the FRG and the magazine. To charge people
enquiring about purchasing from advertisers seems to be in conflict
with the whole idea of advertising and marketing in general.
For members to have to pay for their association magazine beggars
belief! - especially when it has been part of their fees forever.
How must advertising supporters to the magazine feel when something
they have supported with hard earned dollars is suddenly taken from
the mailboxes of every AOBA member and only delivered to those that
pay a whopping $75? I, for one, refuse to pay for this "service" as I
do not believe that it reflects value for money for me or my business.
I believe it is high time that a serious look at the future of AOBA,
the industry, its promotion and its print business was looked at in
an objective and innovative way - we already have the excellent
suggestion by Rick Horn about putting the magazine on line, why not
seriously consider that as an option and look at the FRG in the same
way? Similarly, the success of AlpacaNation cannot be denied and
would, I would suggest, warrant a very close look as a model for AOBA
to consider if it wants to keep up with the changing face of
electronic marketing.
I do not understand the reluctance of AOBA to raise fees, to charge
the distribution costs of publications against advertising revenue
and to implement both an industry and AOBA development study as
matters of priority.
I must admit that I am unmoved by the concept of reviewing the effect
of charging for delivery of print material after the horse may have
bolted. Whatever happened to the concept of sampling the membership
as to its reaction to the magazine surcharge, before implementing the
change, for example?
Is there an element of fear in being upfront and open with the
membership about financial problems and cash flow imperatives?
Is everyone afraid of some honest, forthright and perhaps heated
debate about these things?
It seems to me that there is an element of political correctness gone
awry here and I think you are seeing it in the dissatisfaction being
voiced on this site.
Could I suggest that the time is right now for a change in this
approach to the distribution of both the FRG and the magazine and
that some serious research be done within the membership to find out
what they might feel is the best way to cover the financial
shortfalls that this whole thing is all about?
Kindest regards - and NO personal attacks to you and your group
intended!!
Ian Watt
On Dec 8, 2005, at 8:44 PM, Tim Wilson wrote:

> Susan,
>
> I appreciate the fact that Alpaca Magazine is so well received, we too
> cannot wait until the next issue arrives. Like when you used to
> receive
> the Sear's catalogue.
>
> Please note that your membership dues do not even begin to touch the
> cost of marketing. The dues do not even cover the cost of running the
> association much less beginning to cover the cost of marketing. The
> single largest source of marketing dollars come from the F&RG. With
> the
> ever increasing cost to print and mail the publication it was
> decided to
> implement a S&H charge to help recover these costs (printing and
> shipping) so that more dollars could be left to advertise alpacas
> to new
> prospective alpaca farmers (in support of those that chose to
> advertise
> in the F&RG).
>
> I would agree that we all hate to consider that costs increase and we
> all hate to pay more for services rendered but unfortunately costs
> rise
> and we have to recoup those costs somehow.
>
> I pose the following question: "Since our membership dues are set
> in our
> Bylaws, and history has proven that it is VERY DIFFICULT to change the
> bylaws and thus very unlikely to change the membership fee, how many
> would be in support of raising the fee for the F&RG ad to $1,000 and
> making the AM magazine as part of the benefits of placing an ad in the
> F&RG"?
>
> If there is resounding support I suspect that the Marketing Committee
> would consider such an approach.
>
> Tim Wilson
> Sterling Forrest Alpacas
> Chagrin Falls, OH
>
> Susan Retzer wrote:
>
>> I too was very dismayed to learn that "Alpacas Magazine" would now
>> cost members additional funds. I know, I know, we pay AOBA dues to
>> pay for and benefit from the marketing of alpacas in general...blah,
>> blah, blah. But, it sure seems that we are getting less and less
>> for our money. Everything that is a tangible benefit, listing in
>> F&R Guide, web site listing, and now "Alpacas Magazine" costs a fee
>> outside of dues. If indeed the price is now going to be $75, that
>> seems rather much considering that this year, subscriptions for NON-
>> AOBA members was only $35.
>>
>> Okay, I feel better now and will go back to pressing my nose against
>> the mailbox door anxiously awaiting the next A.M issue :-)
>>
>> Susan Retzer
>> Singalong Alpacas
>> If you don't know the words...
>> just HUM!
>> Jacksonville, IL
>> http://www.singalongalpacas.com
>>
>>
>> --- In Alpacasite@yahoogroups.com, "rchczc" <Radched@a...> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> I've also heard that Alpaca Magazine is no longer included in the
>>> membership price, but can't find anywhere about how to keep it
>>>
>>>
>> coming.
>>
>>
>>> Could someone fill me in - it wasn't in the boxes I found on the
>>> associate/farm member renewal form. Also, is it really $75?
>>>
>>> Heidi Christensen
>>> Graham WA
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --- In Alpacasite@yahoogroups.com, Tim Wilson <tpwilson2@a...>
>>>
>>>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>> Pat & Sheila,
>>>>
>>>> It is a change in the program for 2006 (not required for those
>>>>
>>>>
>> in
>>
>>
>>> 2005
>>>
>>>
>>>> like yourselves).
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
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>> alpacas@alpacaweb.com
>> http://aaalpacas.com
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
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