[STERLING'S REPLIES INTERSPERSED BELOW BETWEEN DOUG'S COMMENTS:]

From: "Sterling D. Allan" <sterlingda@...>
Subject: [rs_public] proposed: VOTE: Guild Membership Fee
Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2001 21:32:47 -0700

========BEGIN PROPOSED BALLOT========

Please review the entire ballot before voting.

Re:
http://www.remnantsaints.com/private/guild1/voting/results/founding/consecration\
.htm
(email will chop this url in two)
Inasmuch as volunteer donations are not materializing to meet guild expenses
as agreed upon in the "Remnant Saints Consecration" document voted on by
guild members, a monthly membership fee shall be required of all guild
members except those serving in part or full-time guild capacities, who need
compensation from the guild in order to serve in that capacity, as ratified
by the guild.
[x ] Yes
[ ] No
Comment:


At this time, there is one individual serving in such a capacity
(full-time): the current facilitator. This has been implied in the past and
herewith is acknoweldged explicitely.
[x ] Yes
[ ] No
Comment:

Salary should be decided on by seperate vote

To begin, the monthly membership fee shall be:
[ ]* $55.00 (with present membership base this would cover about half of
current guild expenses)
[ ] $100.00
[ ] $25.00
[x ] $10.00
[ ] $5.00
[ ] zero
Comment:

I would encourage also "one time" donatations to catch us up. I have
already agreed to $50.

[STERLING'S COMMENT: The reason I proposed an amount as high as 55.00 a month,
is because this way the entire guild could help carry the financial burden of
operating the organization, including compensating the full-time staff's
financial needs. Think about it this way, that amount is around a 25% tithe of
a poverty level income; and if what we are doing is what we say it is, then it
warrants at least this level of support. I like the idea, too, of having guild
members help each other out to come up with their monthly membership fee. This,
in my opinion, approaches the ideal of "they had all things in common." While
this membership fee approach is a lower level than free-will donations carrying
the financial laod, the method we propose here still has some consecration
elements to it.]


This ammount can be adjusted up or down in the future by the guild.
[x ] Yes
[ ] No
Comment:


Eventually, if/when donations become sufficient to cover guild expenses,
this membership fee can be removed all together.
[ ] Yes
[x ] No.
Comment:

We need to have a continious flow of operating income. I don't want to have
"up and down" management.

[STERLING'S COMMENT: We would only discontinue the fee if the donations were
consistent and sufficient and committed. I personally feel that the donation
approach is a higher approach, requiring more faith and committment.]


In the case that a guild member is unable to make such a payment (there are
some members currently in this position), they may approach other guild
members or associates to help carry their fee. When there is someone who
cannot pay, that can be mentioned at rs_admin (private; names need not be
mention; this can be done through Doug, for example) then another person can
volunteer to chip in to make up the difference. Or the person lacking the
funds can find donors through some other means. This way, the burden is
shifted among more people, and made less heavy to bear by one.
[X ] Yes
[ ] No
Comment:
Or the individual can provide hours of service as "sweat equity" equivalent
to the fee IF such person has needed talents and is short of cash.
[PREVIOUS COMMENT BY DOUG:
First, where your money is that is where your heart will be. I see this as
a need for capital BUT also a "test"
Second, for those truly needy, I think the amount should be made up by
agreed upon hours of work (sweat equity. Don't make it too easy to be a
member. Remember that JS or BY (?) said that any religion which didn't
require sacrifice, isn't to save one.]


Part of guild membership will be a willingness to both (1) ask for
assistance when it is needed, and (2) render assistance when able. No one
should be removed from membership because they are not able to meet the
monthly membership fee. If there came a month that collectively we were not
able to come up with the amount needed, then collectively we would be
willing to bear the debt burden.
[ ] Yes
[x ] No
Comment:

Sounds too much like giving an excuse escape.

[STERLING'S REPLY: ??? I do not think poeple will take lightly to having to ask
another member of the guild or another acquaintance to help come up with the
membership fee. There are indeed individuals who flat out do not have the money
to pay; and they should not be restricted from membership because of that. I am
confident (hopeful?) that other members of the guild will be willing to help out
when asked, if they are able.]

[snip]

Membership fees can be paid in advance with a 1% discount subtracted for
each number of months paid in advance, up to a full year's advance payment
receiving a 12% discount.
[ ] Yes
[x ] No
Comment:

No discount.

[STERLING'S REPLY: It is beneficial to both the giver and the receiver to have
payments made in advance. We should provide incentive to do so. Less
paperwork, less headache.]


If an individual has not been able to make full payment by the due date,
they will have a 15 day grace period in which to petition other members of
the guild or other sources to make up the difference.
[x ] Yes
[ ] No
Comment:
I would recommend 30 days with a notice sent out and then another 15 days.

[STERLING'S COMMENT: shouldn't be more than a month, or things would start
stacking up on themselves and get confusing.]


Membership fees shall either be paid online or be made out to Remnant Saints
Inter-Continental Congress and mailed to guild treasurer Douglass P. Schell.
(Doug does not yet have this set up, so this statement refers to such a
time as this is set up.)
[x ] Yes
[ ] No
Comment:
We need to decide what type of checking account which ties back into the
decision to be or not to be a tax exempt organization. I move that a vote
be taken on this issue ASAP. I will first have to get an account number
from IRS no matter what tupe of org we decide upon.

[STERLING'S REPLY: Doug, could you please compose a proposed ballot to this
effect that we could then present to the guild for revision before bringing it
to a vote?]


The proposed membership fee amount (except the $100/month option) is not
sufficient alone to meet guild expenses, but it will help substantially, so
we still call upon your sense of shared responsibility for the guild's
successes and accompanying financial burdens to donate in excess of the
minimum fee as you are able and feel so inclined.

Suggest that a summary of revenue and expenses be posted NLT Dec 31. Also,
a budget for the next three months beginning Jan 1, 2002


========END OF PROPOSED BALLOT========


Dr. Douglas W. Schell
70 Mission Church Rd.
Pembroke, NC 28372
(910) 522- 7652 (Voice Mail and Nondedicated FAX)
douglas.schell@...


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