Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / November 2003

No, we only do it when you join and then we strive mightily to keep our
membership database up to date.  We lost a member in January and his
daughter finally told us when we began to dun him for his club renewal in
July.

I think most do (at least the formal clubs, anyways.)  Mine (HCAM)
certainly does.

They also require that you give them a photocopy of your AMA card, to
prove that you're a member (mostly because of the insurance, of
course.)

Porta-Potti Pilots requires all of that info.

We have all members (new and old) fill out an application form each
year. As club secretary, I designed a new from last year that makes
record keeping a snap. Each entry on the form appears in the same
order that it will appear in our roster. There are boxes for each
letter/number to be written (encourages clearly PRINTED information).
We ask the usual name/address stuff, and Xmtr freqs. and email
addresses as well. With folks changing modes of communication these
days it is a good idea to keep current on cell phones, email, etc. We
also include AMA numbers and the members status (Novice, Pilot,
Instructor). The back side includes an agreement for the member to
sign that documents his/her willingness to follow  AMA rules, club
rules and our safety rules. This agreement is renewed each year.

I type the info into a table using Microsoft Word. It is easy to
change the info each year this way. There are spaces for club officers
to verify AMA membership and payment of dues. I make up a graph of the
freqs. to help members choose a less used xmtr. channel when buying
new equipment.

Tom

Most clubs only require you to fill out an application once.  However, your
idea is a good one.  As you state; many people move, change phone numbers,
change, add, or delete e-Mail contacts, etc.  Keeping the database current is
always a good thing.
Dr.1 Driver
"There's a Hun in the sun!"

Absolutely, and have had for as long as the club has been in existence.

We get the name, all phone numbers, email address, their AMA number, the
frequencies that the member has radios on, and even have them sign a
"release" that holds the club and it's officers blameless for careless acts
that cause damage by the member.

MJC

We changed our membership application a couple of years ago. Like a lot of
clubs, we are in a situation where 90% of the work is done by 20% of the
membership. (85 to 90 member club, 15 to 25 members attend meetings and show
up for work parties or just help with field maintenance.) but everybody pays
the same dues. (100.00 initiation fee, 50.00 per year) One new member, when
asked to help out with field maintenance, stated that there was nothing in
the membership application concerning work, and since he paid his dues, he
felt that that was his only obligation. He was, of course, right. So, we
added a line on the membership application that says something like:
"Membership in this club is dependent on paying dues, helping with field
maintenance and helping with revenue generation events that the club hosts."
This has helped a little in getting the work load redistributed, at least
when we ask someone to help, he can't say he wasn't warned. We still find
that the same 20% do 90% of the work, though.

we started doing that last year, there was some balking at the idea
in the end everyone filled out a new application
it is a good idea to do this
ch