[D-Space] Contributing

[Alex King]

On 04/12/10 12:02, Paul Campbell wrote:
> On Sat, 04 Dec 2010, Blair McBride wrote:
>    
>> On 04/12/10 11:49, Paul Campbell wrote:
>>      
>>> I can imagine a
>>> 'gold coin donation every time you come' sort of thing being more workable
>>>        
>> I like that idea.
>>
>> There's also the option of "user set amount"/"pay whatever you feel its
>> worth" - which could naturally scale to whatever a person feels is able
>> and willing to contribute.
>>      
> I was thinking of that as more for Uni and highschool students - getting those
> of us who can afford it on some form of regular dues helps give us the financial
> stability that we need if we're going to stay around
>
>    
The disadvantages of gold coin are:

Administrative hassle (someone has to collect them and bank them)
People end up getting in without paying, and those who get in free often 
don't align with those who can't afford to pay.
Students have to have a gold coin on them when they want to go.
As a pay-per-session method, it may discourage them coming a lot (this 
may be a good or a bad thing)

Advantages:
No big up-front and some people prefer to do it like that.

In general I prefer a rate sheet, set so that 70% or more of the target 
group will be able to afford it, and with the rider "We don't want 
ability to pay to exclude anyone.  If you can't afford the dues talk to 
person x on the committee."  Person x, who is approachable and keeps 
that personal information private, then sorts out a reduced rate and 
no-one else needs to know about it.

Just my thoughts.

Another option is to have a choice between an annual rate and gold coin 
donations, although that makes administrative hassle even more of an issue.

Cheers,
Alex