http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/ AERCMembersForum Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:59:49 GMT Karen http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26598 http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26598 ... wow, Joe that really sucks. I'd be kicking myself forever if I missed the opportunity to ride the Tevis on a horse that I wanted to do it on. I started Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:11:14 GMT Joe Long http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26597 http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26597 ... The problem comes when we tell others that it's a "privilege" to ride in one of "our" rides, that they have to pay extra for. Especially considering that Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:28:53 GMT Ed Hauser http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26596 http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26596 "...daughter and husband who we dropped from membership due to costs will be able to ride with no day fee paid in the next season?..." My proposal was that Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:21:59 GMT Jerry Fruth http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26595 http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26595 As a suggestion I'd offer the following. If a ride fee is late, then a substantial late fee should be charged. Double the fee and I'll guarantee you that there Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:47:25 GMT Patrick Perkins http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26594 http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26594 Carla- If the ride was not sanctioned by the AERC but by the BCHA and was strictly non-competitive but followed AERC protocols, would you attend? For this Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:20:50 GMT Patrick Perkins http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26593 http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26593 Joe- I agree with you. It is far better to pare the current activities and to do anything we can to encourage more ridership. It is incorrect that the Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:20:12 GMT Truman Prevatt http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26592 http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26592 It's been a long time since I heard the phrase "eating out seed corn." Takes me back to my days of my childhood. However, that is smacking the nail right on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:10:22 GMT Truman Prevatt http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26591 http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26591 ... If you historgram the starts by number of rides per person - you will find most people do between 2 and 3 rides a year with a small number doing quite a Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:52:12 GMT Carla Richardson http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26590 http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26590 Wow, I've never been called a bully before. :) Actually, I think it's a privilege that ANY of us riders can ride at an AERC sanctioned ride. Whether you're a Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:29:11 GMT Joe Long http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26589 http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26589 ... Indeed it does. For example, if you play golf and there is a country club in your town that owns and maintains a golf course, and you want to play there Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:07:49 GMT Joe Long http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26588 http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26588 ... That's exactly why the Board imposed and then raised the non-member fees. The AERC needed to balance its budget and it was easier to stick it to the Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:57:53 GMT Joe Long http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26587 http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26587 ... There are three reasons why I consider the steep non-member fees the worst thing that the AERC has ever done. The first is what it did to our character as Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:29:29 GMT Joe Long http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26586 http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26586 ... The attitude you express is that of a bully. That because a ride sanctions with AERC, it is a "privilege" to ride it only for AERC members, and anyone Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:11:43 GMT Patrick Perkins http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26585 http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26585 The problem with a dues only approach is that is does not help the RM, the true heart of the sport. Most AERC members would mentor for free anyway. I just Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:46:14 GMT richardson.carla@... http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26584 http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AERCMembersForum/message/26584 NATRC charges non-members a fee to enter a ride, in our region it is 16 dollars. I assume it's the same in all the regions. The first NATRC ride I entered, I