[Hidden-tech] Membership Proposal to be discussed tonight

[A - Z International]

Hi all,

I am hoping many of you will be attending tonight's annual meeting and 
provide input on this proposal. If you can't attend, we can accept input 
via the list through this Friday.  Please note that some of these changes 
are being made to meet IRS requirements, though YOUR CONCERNS AND NEEDS are 
foremost. This proposal is the culmination of a number of queries to the 
discussion list and input from last year's annual meeting.

best,

Amy Zuckerman
Hidden-Tech Founder, Co-Chair


Hidden-Tech Membership Proposal

June 2006



The following is a proposal the Hidden-Tech Steering Committee has 
developed reflecting the predilections of individuals who are involved in 
both the cyberspace and ground organization.

This is an estimate of the types of people utilizing Hidden-Tech services:

    * About 50 percent of the 1,500 on our network are Network Users (AKA 
the general public). This group appears to want to utilize HT services, but 
not be involved in the organization;

    * Another estimated 48 percent  attend meetings and participate online 
to varying degrees. Some of this group have requested that we charge 
membership dues;

    * An estimate 2 percent are actively involved in building and governing 
the organization.


A key concern is to allow free entry to the network for all, while allowing 
people to choose the level of service they want to provide and/or financial 
assist. The following is a three-tiered system that offers two tiers of 
membership:


THE PROPOSAL:


Category 1:

Network Users (the "general public"):

Services:

-- Free access to on-line services that are not reserved for general, 
voting members or the board.

Fees: Pay fee for programs attended.




___________________________________________________________

Category 2:

Hidden-Tech General Member:

Services:

-- Free access to on-line services except those reserved for voting members 
and the board

-- Free admission to programs.

Membership Fees: Pays $150 annual dues or performs five hours of in-kind 
service. (see list of projects for in-kind services)

______________________________________________________________
Category 3:

Hidden-Tech Voting Member:

Services:

-- Free access to all on-line services except those reserved for board 
members;

-- Free admission to programs

-- Voting rights

Membership Fees:  Pays $500 annual dues and 10 hours of in-kind service, or 
25 hours of in-kind service (see project list).

________________________________________________________________

In-Kind Service Examples

To earn 25 hours as a voting member you can:

* Serve on a HT committee such as Web development or PR/Programming and 
actively participate;

* Develop and run two board-approved programs from soup to nuts

* Act as a back up person for all HT programs being willing to run the door 
and help close the location

* Edit all Web content

* Serve as one of the sponsor ad program managers for one year

* Serve as the Blog coordinator

* Develop PR for all programming

* Develop signage for all programming

NOTE: For those who wish to devote five to 10 hours annually to Hidden-Tech 
you can either cut back the time allotment recommended above or propose an 
alternative project to the Steering Committee (AKA board).