General board meeting news - Page 3

The rate increase can be caused by increase for magazine expense.  The printing, paper and ink may have increased.

  A decrease in sponsership money from dog food companies etc.  USA is a non profit organization any increase would be to pay for expenses.

Like I said I can only remember one increase in 18 years.  I think it was 45 then to 60.

I will stay my current course - not join any org until I'm more ready to trial and at that point I'll probably just chose based on costs and whatever trials are local (there are a LOT of WDA trials very convenient for me).

For me it's not so much about the actual dollar amount but what it is going towards.  I've had limited experiences with UScA thus far but unfortunately they were not good.  Things like getting very rude responses (or no responses) to legitimate questions, rudeness on the phone, etc.  I work in a call center in customer service so I know how it is, there's no excuse.  It's not the end of the world but those types of things matter to me, how people are treated that are not the big name breeders and competitors but people who just love their dog and love to train.

I actually don't mind paying extra at all, the cost of living changes. But USCA doesn't want my $100 or my participation. I'm really disappointed with the outcome. Oh, well.

"If you break it down the increase comes to 3.33 dollars per month or .77 cents per week."

Or only .11 a day or less than 1/2 a cent an hour!  Rationalize it any way you'd like but it is still a 67% increase that is an unavoidable consequence of having burned off a significant portion of the membership and it was predicted months ago.

You might as well get used to the idea because simple economics dictates that as more revenue is lost from those who are unable or unwilling to pay the increase, the dues will either have to be raised again for those who remain or services will need to be cut.  You can expect the magazine to suffer as well since decreased circulation will mean a drop in advertising revenue which will necessitate eithr a drop in quality, frequency or both.

Dove tailing off Keith's response, this is why I'd like to see an accounting of where the money is going.   

Membership down 140 or so, really not significant considering the poor economy. 

The budget is published every year in your USA magazine.  You will find everything from postage cost, rent and utilities etc...

.......and a new state of the art little office set up like a mountain chalet, and sending the hierarchy to Germany for numerous yearly trips,,,,all in the name of keeping the income @ zero.  What a country.  Maybe NObama can learn something from UScA.

LOL, you are so right, 
New state of the art training field, that only the elite will get to see and use.

Thanks Phil!

Ha !  membership dues increase because of the rising cost of magazine publication!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Magazine publishing  costs should be offset by the fees charged for advertising! and membership down by 140 or so! shoot dude what are you smokin!we lost at least 8 people  last year and that would make up quite a bit of those 140 lost members! LO LLOL Usca is  cutting their wrists and asking where the blood is coming from!