pipeski
Member
This is the first year that the six-monthly pro rata system for AGB membership has been in force. Where previously, new members would only pay a modest fee to join in July/August/September, they're now being asked to cough up half a year's fees. Added to this, our county and region (Notts/EMAS) didn't previously collect any fees for the last three months, reducing the cost further; now they do, because they'd be losing six months of fees from every new member, something I'd imagine they can't really afford.
Have other clubs found that people are now deferring membership for several months and waiting until October to join?
Our club has a couple of ex AGB members looking to come back to archery, and a number of new archers fresh off beginner's courses we've run over the summer (we have another course ending this week). Almost without exception, these people are choosing to wait until October to pay fees and join the club. My feeling is that a number of these will be lost to us between now and the new archery year.
I've moved the payment deadline this year, in the hope that I can get those people to pay next year's fees well in advance, which is one way to ensure they come back. But we've never had this problem before. In the past, I used to suggest that people didn't join in September, unless they felt very flush. Now it seems like joining any time from July onwards is a bit of a rip-off.
I'd be interested to hear whether other clubs are having any issues around this area, and how they're dealing with them.
Have other clubs found that people are now deferring membership for several months and waiting until October to join?
Our club has a couple of ex AGB members looking to come back to archery, and a number of new archers fresh off beginner's courses we've run over the summer (we have another course ending this week). Almost without exception, these people are choosing to wait until October to pay fees and join the club. My feeling is that a number of these will be lost to us between now and the new archery year.
I've moved the payment deadline this year, in the hope that I can get those people to pay next year's fees well in advance, which is one way to ensure they come back. But we've never had this problem before. In the past, I used to suggest that people didn't join in September, unless they felt very flush. Now it seems like joining any time from July onwards is a bit of a rip-off.
I'd be interested to hear whether other clubs are having any issues around this area, and how they're dealing with them.