Levels of Membership

[Bettamorris]

Okay so obviously chartering ourselves is our first priority.
But after that we have several issues we are looking at correct?

Now I understand that some members do not want to pay dues. However for us to succeed money is an issue. So I came up with the idea of a structured levels of membership, now the monetary values I am just spit balling. I am not sure exactly how much we want to charge but this could be a rough idea. These values would be a yearly fee like the IBC

Basic - Membership, access to most part of this board(Not required to be an IBC member)
Bronze - $15 also must be an IBC member. This gives you access to the entire board, voting rights and the right to run for executive positions
Gold - $25 must be an IBC member, Not sure what other benefits we can give here... anything you guys have in mind?

I might be totally out to lunch here, and if I am let me know:P But I just thought I would get the ball rollin'

[leafgurl115]

It could have potential?.

I am not currently and IBC member. And really I?m not going to give them my cash if the BBC is not getting any help. So I do like the non IBC membership cost idea. I was to know that my $ is going to the BBC. http://209.85.62.26/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /> Do we know if there is any chance the IBC will help us or not? That?s really my only deciding factor in getting an IBC member ship? I?m still relatively new to betas and have not had a successful spawn yet.

 

[Bettamorris]

I'm not sure where the thread discussing the benefits of an IBC membership went... but we strongly encourage you to join the IBC. For the $25 it is really worth it. Considering we are a chapter OF the IBC it kind of makes sense that our members are their members.

[crazy4bettas]

Sounds like a good idea.  As a member of ECAS, I have access to all the society functions, all parts of the forum and also receive certain discounts at the LFS in the Maritimes (like 10% off all fish supplies and 15% off all FW fish etc).  For my $20 per year, the membership has paid for itself more than twice already just in savings from the LFS.  Plus we get one or two "shopping sprees" per year where members only get special discounts (like 50% off FW fish and plants, 15% off everything else in the store) for a set time during the night.

I am not adverse to being a member of the IBC, however, being out here in the East Coast, I am not likely to be able to take advantage of opportunities like betta shows in Ontario....  

How about a free membership for people who just want to be part of the forum (with an option for donations of course), a membership fee for those who want to be members of BBC and a third level which includes a slightly reduced fee for those who are also members of IBC?  This would also encourage people to become members of the IBC as they'll get a slightly lower membership fee to BBC as a result.  

[baycitybettas]

Mike- Have a little faith in yourself!  Your idea are great and valuable.  The IBC is always going to be the IBC.  From what I understand they started as an American club, and thus that is most likely where their interests will stay.  Makes total sense really...  Besides the benefit of receiving "Flare!" magazine you are elegible as a member to show your fish in an IBC sanctioned show.  For $25 dollars a year it is an excellent value really.....  

[Bettamorris]

Kim - I appreciate that! I agree that the IBC has its priorities set and we aren't high on them. But I also think if we prove we can be valuable contributors to the hobby we may get more support.

Crazy(Sorry I don't remember your name http://209.85.62.26/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='ohmy.gif' /> ) I agree that shows in Ontario don't really benefit anyone not in Ontario. However as I am sure you understand we have to go with the majority for now. I also strongly agree with your idea of a reduced membership cost for IBC members.

I still do not believe that non-paying members should have the rights to vote on executives/ key issues once we get into collecting dues. Of course for now we need all non paying members haha

[jawfish]

Ok here is my imput...

To post in certain section of the forum you dont need to be a member of Betta Breeders Canada Club, you just need to register on the forum.

Posting on the show, for sale and breedders listing should only be available to members ( Membership has to have privileges)

If your going to be a member you have to pay dues... It's just natural... Being a member has privileges beyound the the forum.  Once the Club rules will be ratified only member are allowed to vote to approve it. Members have a say in the administrators of the club and the administration and general direction.  The  board is then in charge of making things happen.

Now In my mind it's really to early to trow number's out here... Yes they can be suggested, but your going at this the wrong way.

First:  We need to determine what's the yearly cost this club will face.
Second: Then we need to see how many members we can get.
Then:we can put numbers.
Can we get than many people at that price ?

We need to evaluate all of the clubs expenses and then see how we can pay for them... If not who is going to cover the deficit !

There should only be one membership level. In my tenure as secretary for my club,  I got rid of the various membership levels. Your either comitted or your not. I don't like creating second class citizens. In the end it's more problems then it is worth... Remember someone has to manage the different membership rights...

Fred

[Rayman86]

Just a thought ive noticed that ECAS has posters in some local shops. What if we tried to get ourselves out there by making little business cards (kinda like the idea that a few members on UB had) and maybe a couple posters. See if local shops would like to promote our name to people buying bettas from the stores that maybe will become obsessed with them as much as we have. Ive tried a few times to link people to UB ive seen buying bettas but most of them are just cup keepers that give a "Oh. Sorry im really busy and dont have time" or "Ahh we dont have the internet but thanks anyways." Chain shops or bigger shops probably have more to do than hand out little business cards with their fish. The little shops would probably be ok with it and we could probably draw some new members in that way.

Of course the down fall to this would be the forum would become a betta hospital. People showing up with sick fish and not that that would be a bad thing when we are trying to get more people to join. Though we would probably get some without brains unfortunately but im sure the staff here would be able to keep a tight ship.

I took a couple semesters of marketing in college and what I think is we should have something that sets us apart from other forums and betta sites. One forum really doesnt accept non ISP e-mails. So everyone goes to UB. UB is a great forum and has great people. Unfortunately most are from the US (and its a piss off because of borders. Ive been offered fish and even had one girl who wanted to trade some of my x-mas moss for a little change. Will the Yanks ever learn that a little betta is not a threat to national security?). Bettatalk is a fortress of advice however she charges for her time. It sucks when you have a sick fish BUT im sure it saves her tonnes of "maybe fin rot?" type inquires. It kind of sucks but im sure if she didnt do this she would get nothing but 24 hours a day 7 days a week phone calls. So what I think would really help us get wind under our wings (I know im a noob but im just trying to help) is if we had something like a site that is Canadian, with bettas in mind. We dont have half the access to stuff our friends in the US have. In fact many fish stores here have their fish stuff next to the horse stuff...

Do we have a site? I know ive heard tell when reading the archives some members have a site for the BBC. If we had advice or information or just something to really compliment the forum we could draw in people that way too. Though it should have a Canadian approach. Of course not O Canada playing in the back ground and Canadian flags all over the place, but there to help Canadian betta keepers by showing them what weve used and done, how weve improvised (I mean I cant get good BWE I have to use Tetra brand and only one shop in Fredericton carries it), provide Canadian breeders and transhippers contact information. If more Canadian people do like us, start to take their bettas more seriously than wine glass fish, we could be there with information, links, and even as ive already experienced a helping hand and a network of people this side of the border who know what its like to try and keep bettas here and links to stuff like plants and even some of Kims and Zenas more exotic bettas (of course we would have to keep this relatively on the dl for the reason some of the stores might see this as promoting sales of fish that are not theirs but maybe we can convince some of the better shops out there to carry more exotic bettas and actually be enablers to the hobby in Canada). Aquarank well... unless we all clicked once a day I dont know if we would be able to make the list.

Just throwing an idea I had in the shower out there and believe me folks I have the most genius ideas in there!  http://209.85.62.26/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' />

[Ian Turkstra]

hey.  the executive so far have been coming up with ideas for this.  It's still in the works, and nothing will be mentioned specifically until we are fully chartered.  Those are great ideas though and hopefully you'll like what we come up with too http://209.85.62.26/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' />  We'll consider what you mentioned ...

-Ian  

[Allie]

I don't support ECAS they have treated some people like they have the plague. A very snobby un helpful bunch on the forum.  We've met maybe a few people who weren't all competitive & judgmental. Some people didn't renew their memberships b/c of the way we were treated by them.
I hate to say this but betta as much as we like them aren't as popular as other fish species around here.   There not really that much $$$ in them.  I think IF you can get the pet stores to put up posters, it would be a good idea. Put the word out.
I know someone who is in the process of getting money and what not to set up a local fish only store/breedery.  It could take up to 5 years but in the end it WILL be better than the local fish stores (disease mines), concentrating on the fish health and growth.  Quality not quantity.  Personally I cannot wait to get it is up and running, I am so tired of getting sick fish from all of the places around here.  http://209.85.62.26/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='rolleyes.gif' />

[Ian Turkstra]

Hi Allie.  I understand your frustration with some people/groups who think like that.  

I don't know if I'm 100% correct or not, but most of us here aren't in this for the money.  Personally, bettas are a hobby of mine, and I am trying to breed because I like the excitement of it, the challenge, and seeing the fruits of my labour in all the nice wonderful (and varied) fish I can get out of a spawn.  I don't generally even sell my fish because I have never had huge spawns before.  

I have been known in the past to give away my babies just to free up room for the next generation of fish!  Just because there isn't a ton of money in bettas doesn't mean it's not worthwhile to breed them and to try to promote the hobby!

-Ian  

[ClaireMcH]

Just a thought in regards to membership of the IBC and BBC and access to this forum.

There are people in Canada who are not fully fledged betta enthusiasts, who don't know yet if they will become betta addicts (we all know they will, but they don't yet http://209.85.62.26/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /> ) and who need a bit of help understanding these gorgeous fish and perhaps help with their first spawn etc.

I agree there should be levels of memebership:
- there should be a basic free level so that newbies to the hobby can get to meet some of the enthusiasts, who can perhaps help them on their way.
- a level for people who want to breed and not show, who want to be able to make a monetary contribution, but can't commit to showing for whatever reasons they may haved. And
- a fully fledged membership

I also think that the free level should have a time limit of about 6 months, you know after that long if you are interested in bettas and how much time, money and effort you have to dedicate towards it. The reason I think that there should be a free "introductory period" (with limited access to site features and club benefits) is that otherwise the BBC will miss out on a lot of potential members - if I had to join the BBC and IBC and was not already completely addicted I would not join http://209.85.62.26/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' />

Just some random thoughts http://209.85.62.26/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' />