Linux/Unix Group structure

[richard at aoi.ultranet.com (Richard Royston)]

JABR writes:

>I met with Jerry Feldman yesterday, and we discussed some ideas for
>reorganizing our group (Boston Linux/Unix). One of the ideas Jerry
>proposed was to have multi-tiered membership types:
>
>* Basic membership: free, open to all
>We'd require that people actually become members, but at no cost
>for the basic membership.
>
>* Sponsoring membership: an annual fee
>Sponsoring members would be listed on our web pages. We could provide
>other perks for sponsoring members, such as email forwarding, and/or
>space
>for a personal web page.
>
>The main revenue source for the group would be classes. It might make
>sense
>to also have a "Corporate Sponsor" class.
>
> .....

Since I got the news about the demise of the BCS I have been wanting to come
to the volunteer meetings to try to do my bit, but what with rather extensive
business travel and some unavoidable personal commitments, I have been unable
to make it so far, including tomorrow.

My main interests are the technical meetings and this mailing list.  I would
also have liked to take some classes, but the full time nature of my work
makes it infeasible to attend during the day (except, possibly, at week-ends),
and my advancing age makes it infeasible in the evenings.

I feel that what I get out of the group has real value, and if there are any
doubts about classes being able to generate enough money, I would be willing
to pay a membership fee just for membership in the group, but I'm not sure
what you had in mind for the Sponsoring membership, or whether that would be
appropriate, or within my means.  I'm not really interested in getting my name
on the group's web page, let alone having my own, although I suppose email
forwarding might be useful when I retire (in the not too distant future).

Do you think "active" (or "associate", or "auditory", or ...) membership might
be feasible, at a fee less than Sponsoring membership (let alone the ordinary
BCS membership!).  I would certainly be willing to pay my share of any of the
reasonable costs associated with keeping the group going.