Membership fee for the NHBC

[Rossa]

It has been talked about since the inception of the club that a membership fee is required to run the club, competitions and help local clubs develop.

After a lot of heated debate membership for year one will be €10. Anyone who entered the competition was offered a 50% discount on this. That still applies.

Members will have a direct say in how their club is run.  They will also have :
Access to club group buys.
Affiliate discounts (to be announced).
Discount entry fee for the National Brewing Championships.


We hope to be up and running and offering membership by May but we are migrating the forum to a more user friendly system and everything is dependent on that.

If you have any suggestions for membership or affiliate discount ideas now is the time to put them down.

[delzep]

What about a small charge per person at tasting evenings? Even say €2 per person per tasting night with all money going to the club. Would work out at €250 to €300 per club per year being raised.

[Bubbles]

What about a small charge per person at tasting evenings? Even say €2 per person per tasting night with all money going to the club. Would work out at €250 to €300 per club per year being raised.

A good idea in principle, but a pain in the arse for those organising the tasting evenings, having to lodge (or hand over in person) 20 euro. I'd rather see a higher annual subscription rather than attach a fee to events like this.

[Padraic]

What's an "affiliate discount"?

Examples are the best way to go:
5% off at [Homebrew shop]
€0.50 off vounchers for [Pub Group]

What about a small charge per person at tasting evenings? Even say €2 per person per tasting night with all money going to the club. Would work out at €250 to €300 per club per year being raised.

I don't think this would be unreasonable to ask? Everyone has €2 to spare for a good night out.

[Padraic]

What about a small charge per person at tasting evenings? Even say €2 per person per tasting night with all money going to the club. Would work out at €250 to €300 per club per year being raised.

A good idea in principle, but a pain in the arse for those organising the tasting evenings, having to lodge (or hand over in person) 20 euro. I'd rather see a higher annual subscription rather than attach a fee to events like this.

Didn't think of the admin side, very good point Conor.

[delzep]

Not everyone can afford to pay a higher annual fee. It's not 2007 anymore

[Bubbles]

Yes, brew days are a different kettle of fish, where there is an actual cost attached to the event.

[Bubbles]

Not everyone can afford to pay a higher annual fee. It's not 2007 anymore

True enough, but charging people to turn up at every event might discourage people from attending. I only suggested the possibility of a higher subscription charge to show that I'm aware the NHC needs to be funded somehow. I just don't think a "per event" charge is the way to do it, as it's a logistical nightmare for everyone involved.

[delzep]

€2 to get your brews evaluated and the opportunity to sample many other quality beers is very reasonable and I don't think it would put people off. Would a monthly bank deposit be a big deal?

[Stitch]

I am just a bit confused. There are plenty of other homebrew forums that are free to use. There are other clubs that you can go to for free to have your beer evaluated.

I am confused on the discounts??? Which homebrew shops have agreed to give us a discount or is this just been thrown out there???

Once you start to ask people for money they may want to see more transparency on the accounts!!??


Did tube not just say a few days ago that anyone is free to join to have their say??? Now money is being spoken. I am confused and seem to be getting a mixed message here??? Anyone else?

[Partridge9]

I am just a bit confused. There are plenty of other homebrew forums that are free to use.

Indeed there are - but I think the idea is that this is much more than a forum.

There are other clubs that you can go to for free to have your beer evaluated.

There are - currently we are free - also I'd imagine that you will always be able to go to a meet with your beer - even if your not a paid member.

I am confused on the discounts??? Which homebrew shops have agreed to give us a discount or is this just been thrown out there???

A number of shops have been approached and its not 100% nailed down - but suffice to say - a discount is what is being sought.

Once you start to ask people for money they may want to see more transparency on the accounts!!??

Slightly harsh - a suggestion that the accounts are not transparent -
of course accounts should be 100% visible to PAID members and annual statements showing what was taken in and spent shown.

Currently everything is free - did you see the scale of the national brewing competition ? Entry fees covered <25% of the costs.

Did tube not just say a few days ago that anyone is free to join to have their say??? Now money is being spoken.

Proof in point - you are having a say and you haven't paid.


Charging for membership has been talked about for a long time.

[Shane Phelan]

Edit I see James has covered a good bit of this but I will leave it as is... 

My understanding is that you don't have to pay anything if you don't want to. As a free member you will have access to 95% of the forum which is pretty much the way it is now.

Membership would entitle you to:
Access to members section of website (I assume there would be more policy talk rather than brewing talk here)
Access to participate group buys
Access to discounts (To be agreed and that is kinda the purpose of this thread, ideas for this)
Etc..

Personally I don't like the idea of being charged to go to a tasting night especially if you are already brining your own beer every month.

[newToBrew]

whats a tasting night ? - do you mean the monthly meet ups ?

[JimmyM]

Charging for tasting nights is not a goer lads. So dont worry about it.

For starters its probably ilegal (who do i sound like?).
Then the pub involved might be a bit pissed off if we're gaining from it.
People have been doing this long before the NHC was around.
NHC adds no value to these events - so who are we to charge for it.

[JimmyM]

Wasnt having a go at you there Derek - just trying to get this thread back on track
Its been prety much decided there will be a 10 euro charge to be a member of this club. Thats a fact - see OP.

You wont have to be a member to view the forum.
You wont have to be a member or pay to go and have a pint with other fellow home brewers.

First question people ask is "as a member, what do i get?"
Fair question
The purpose of this thread was to answer that question and come up with ways we can make it more attractive for perspective members.
From OP

If you have any suggestions for membership or affiliate discount ideas now is the time to put them down.

So as a member you will get;
- Access/Priority on group  buys facilitated by the NHC.
- "affiliate" discounts - there are various things being worked on by various people to organise a discount for NHC members in certain relavant establishments that a homebrewer may frequent. Nothing finailsed yet.
- Discounts on entry fee into the annual competition or any other events organised by the NHC.
- Will have a vote electing people to positions within the club and any other issues that are deemed necessary of a members vote.

Anyone have any more suggestions on how we can make that list look better to someone we are asking to "gimme 10 euros"

Back on track.