X-Message-Number: 1894
Date: 05 Mar 93 03:15:25 EST
From: MICHAEL RISKIN <>
Subject: CRYONICS: C. Platts interesting comment

     Charles Platt brought up a very interesting point, namely that Alcor
calls its dues paying population" members" instead of policy holders or
subscribers. I would like to add that Alcor calls the revenues received
"dues" as compared to fees.
     I believe members is used instead of subscribers specifically because
Alcor does not philosophically or operationally, see itself as a business.
In a business, the subscribers would be paying an amount that would cover
expenses and create an excess for perhaps, improvement of services. And
that is consistent with calling the revenues  "dues" instead of "fees",
because "dues" are what a club or charity collects. And clubs or charities
often rely on donations to cover expenses which of course is exactly what
Alcor does.
     So, to have a " fee paying subscriber" is to have an organization
that is self supporting and free to raise its' fees  without  the kind
of uproar that comes from a "dues paying member."
     Also consistent is the concept of volunteer labor. Its' a laughable
concept to a self sufficient organization to count on volunteer labor,
while it is of course common for a charity or club to susbstantially rely
on volunteers.
     When Alcor members call for volunteers to do the work necessary to
provide services, or suggest salary cuts, while resisting appropriate
dues increases they are essentially saying:
"I DONT WANT TO PAY FOR THE TRUE VALUE OF WHAT I AM RECEIVING. WHAT I DO
PREFER IS FOR OTHERS TO PAY IT FOR ME , BY THEIR FREE LABOR, OR THEIR
FINANCIAL DONATIONS."
     This has been an inherent weakness in the entire financial structure
for many years. I do of course appreciate that radical dues increases would
cause serious harm to those unable to afford them, and subsequently,
serious harm to everyone. As I have said many times before, I look for a
more rationally based revenue philosophy that eventually includes an
appropriate fee base.

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