How would you like to see the NHC evolve?

[Eoin]

No worries, it was more that I was just thinking of why there can't be a paid section and a non-paid section, let the payment show it's value and then see who joins up, that simple.
I'm thinking the architects section is more like a mod or admin area, not the same really.
just put some perks with payment, I see it working on other forums where there is zero to no real life interaction so it could surely work here with real meetings and events etc from which non-payers would in some cases be excluded.

[Rossa]

Maybe if people want to get involved in the buys they should pay the fee. Having said that most Ntaional clubs have a fee system. ....AHA is $38, CBA in the Uk is £15. They do come with a magazine and are much bigger but we are only beginning. Perhaps a fiver is right but a tenner would mean we could  nearly have enough to run a national competition every year without a huge sponsor ...if everyone paid up. It is a tricky one. Anyone a member of a Gaa club or rugby club? How much are they paying there?

[Eoin]

I'm thinking the architects section is more like a mod or admin area, not the same really.

Oops, that's not the message meant to be conveyed. The Architects are really the steering Committee. There is no mod or admin discussion there.

Otoh the mods are known as Master Brewers, but we're not organised labour

No oops, I've not paid much attention so more down to me I'd imagine.

fair enough but I think there should be some benefits of being a paid up member, as said anyone can join a free club, there is no commitment.

[newToBrew]

My 2 Cents worth.... I have no problem throwing a tenner into a pot - I did the same on the other site, really not for any actual return - but I figured I was (and still am) getting a lot from it, and to throw in the tenner to help support it was in my mind a good investment, likewise here,  I know it's free but if an optional members fee of a tenner was put out there with or without members discounts/incentives   - I'd probably have no issue with joining, of course things like the discounts and what not  are an added incentive - but at the same time if you were to restrict access to members only and this 90% drop rate occurred - it would be to the detriment of  everyone and the site/club itself
I reckon for every group buy - you could have a members - non members price and the same for the merchandise and what not and that in itself gives visibility

I would also think that if the price of membership was to go above a tenner - then I would have to give real consideration to the incentives and perks that came with it  before I signed up  ( I mean to say that would be eating into my monthly brewing budget then !!)

[Eoin]

I would also think that if the price of membership was to go above a tenner - then I would have to give real consideration to the incentives and perks

What if it was €20, but entitled you to €5 discount per bag of malt in the group buys, and a discount on basically everything else brewing-related you bought?

How would you work the discounts, I think you complicate the group buys massively by giving seperate discount levels, it'll become an administrative nightmare, and the fee would subsidise the difference or what? I think that's a hard one you're considering, hard to admin and hard for it to be fair.

[Rossa]

What if we got a few sponsors on board with banner ads at the top and charge less for membership and those who are members pay one price and those who are not pay a euro or two more per group buy item...or something along those lines...

[newToBrew]

What if it was €20, but entitled you to €5 discount per bag of malt in the group buys, and a discount on basically everything else brewing-related you bought

probably - yeah  - I mean at that point it is the  discounts that are the reason for subscribing - based against the cost of membership - - the tenner in my mind would have been just viewed as something like a voluntary donation to help keep things running. but like Eoin said:

the fee would subsidise the difference ?

would you really pull in that much money to subsidise a fiver for  each group buy for members
there seems to have been an explosion of Group Buys since the launch of the site !!!!

Anyway - I should probably not be sticking my nose in here - one of the reasons I haven't signed up for Architects Role is I'm not a very organized,driven,imaginative  or financially minded person   that and I don't always have the time !

I do  know that in my job the S&S club always have a members & non members price for any events they put on and subsidize the members price, but they have volume on their side if you get my meaning

anyway -  I guess even having this out in the open  for discussion is quiet a positive step !!!

* edit *  not pushing for the tenner price - at 20 quid with the higher discount than the tenner would get its not a bad offer I guess - I suppose going over the score- then for me it's getting into pricey territory

Also - how are you getting the name & time into your quotes from posts??)

[Rossa]

What if we got a few sponsors on board with banner ads at the top and charge less for membership and those who are members pay one price and those who are not pay a euro or two more per group buy item...or something along those lines...

This sounds good to me.

We already have Another 9's logo at the bottom of the Wordpress site (and we'd have it on the forum too if it were that simple), and in exchange for that we get world class hosting. There's a cost that the members don't have to pay.

Time to hit Diageo for some €

[Eoin]

What if we got a few sponsors on board with banner ads at the top and charge less for membership and those who are members pay one price and those who are not pay a euro or two more per group buy item...or something along those lines...

This sounds good to me.

We already have Another 9's logo at the bottom of the Wordpress site (and we'd have it on the forum too if it were that simple), and in exchange for that we get world class hosting. There's a cost that the members don't have to pay.

Time to hit Diageo for some €

You reckon they'd pay us to stop?

[newToBrew]

Also - how are you getting the name & time into your quotes from posts??)

Press the quote button. The bit after

is important.

ahh that bloody quote button !!!!!! Ive been using the little one on the Reply box !!!

[Spud395]

Anyone a member of a Gaa club or rugby club?

Local GAA club is €40 basic membership.

That will cover insurance for the year as well .

Talks of €20 are frighting me. You would really have to see what you were getting for it. I paid Beoir a tenner with a nod and a wink to the "benefits" to be had, I wont be doing it next year.
This could be dangerous territory for something so new

[Snuff]

I've had more value out of my NHC free membership than out of my Beoir paid membership.
No problem with a NHC paid membership.
Like the idea of both free and paid, with the latter getting a few more benefits. 

[Will_D]

It is a tricky one. Anyone a member of a Gaa club or rugby club? How much are they paying there?

Not being elitist here but the Malahide Rugby Club is reckonned to be the MOST expensive club in .ie

Social membership €80 !! Full member €300

I think a tenner is about right

Will

[Will_D]

Should we do a family membership rate?

That'll set you back €330 in MRFC

No effin wonder we are struggling for members!

Will

[ColinC]

I like newToBrew's idea of a group-buy price for members and non-members or a discount off merchandise. Shows something tangeable for your money I think.

Same thing works in my work social club. When something good like paintballing or go-karting comes up loads of people sign up for their fiver a month and don't go to anything for another year or 2. They spent more than they saved with the member/non-member price but feel like they got a good deal.

Not sure how practical that is with group buys though as sometimes the price is fluid depending on the up-take & splitting delivery costs....but I'd be fine with contributing to the NHC. Like some people have already said I reckon I got more from here for free than my tenner elsewhere.