TIGHAR
Amelia Earhart Search Forum => General discussion => Topic started by: Ric Gillespie on February 23, 2016, 03:41:35 PM
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Three weeks ago I announced an experiment, our first Forum Membership Drive. I posted:
“Like nonprofit public radio and television, this Forum is freely accessible to everyone and free from advertising, pop-ups, and other commercial distractions. And like our counterparts in the broadcast world, our ability to provide this service depends upon funding generated by tax-deductible membership in the parent nonprofit organization. Borrowing a page from the NPR playbook, we'll periodically take a time-out from our usual "programming" to ask for your support.
There are currently 1,296 people registered to this Forum. Only a small percentage are members of TIGHAR. If you use and enjoy this Forum we're asking, not requiring, you to join TIGHAR. Our goal for this our first Forum Membership Drive is 50 new TIGHAR members. Until we reach that goal I'll be responding only to questions and comments posted by currently paid-up members of TIGHAR, so please include your member number (as most of you do anyway) at the end of your post.
The sooner we reach our goal, the sooner we can get back to regular Forum action.”
During the three weeks since then, three things have happened:
• Exactly one Forum member has joined TIGHAR.
• Postings by non-TIGHARs have dropped dramatically.
• The productivity of the Forum in valuable research through the postings of TIGHAR members has skyrocketed.
The lesson is clear.
Effective March 1, free participation in the TIGHAR Forum will become a benefit of membership in TIGHAR. The Forum will still be free for all to read but only TIGHAR members will be allowed to post. You do not have to agree with TIGHAR’s opinions or conclusions to be a TIGHAR member. Spirited debate has always been one of TIGHAR’s greatest strengths. All of the other Forum rules and standards will remain unchanged.
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Have fun! I will miss that "spirited debate!"
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I was hoping we'd get a few new TIGHAR's.
Oh well. I'm in for life. I've gotta see how this turns out.
Alfred Hendrickson 2583R
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Have fun! I will miss that "spirited debate!"
There's sure to be plenty of spirited debate and you'll still be able to read it. You just won't be able to add your two cents worth unless you pay your two cents - or fifteen cents to be exact. A year's membership in TIGHAR is $55 which comes to 15 cents per day.
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By the way, why doesn't my # of posts ever change lately??
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By the way, why doesn't my # of posts ever change lately??
Dunno. Neither does mine.
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Yes it does. Just takes a while to catch up.
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I don't know, Ric. Somehow my thick head is preventing this to compute. Does the new rule that you can't post unless you are a member mean the word " free" is a misnomer and the Forum is really free only to members who have paid??
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I don't know, Ric. Somehow my thick head is preventing this to compute. Does the new rule that you can't post unless you are a member mean the word " free" is a misnomer and the Forum is really free only to members who have paid??
Ric wrote, "Effective March 1, free participation in the TIGHAR Forum will become a benefit of membership in TIGHAR. The Forum will still be free for all to read but only TIGHAR members will be allowed to post."
You seem to have missed that the free part is "to read" while posting will become a benefit of TIGHAR membership.
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Just beware the Law of Unintended Consequences as you move forward with this plan.
LTM,
Monty Fowler, TIGHAR No. 2189 EC
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I'm not a member and don't see a TIGHAR membership in my retired income budget. I've contributed to the sextant numbers thread. Guess that has come to an end.
I understand a reticence to engage folks who submit questions to the forum that do not seem useful in advancing the search. That has already been implemented. I do not see the new rule attracting new memberships. It seems people become engaged first and then become a member. If a person cannot post they will not do independent research - or so it seems to me.
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To get more members it might be worth asking what made the existing ones join. I saw the Discovery Channel documentary. Then months later came across the forum, lurked a while, then joined the forum, then joined TIGHAR. Months between each stage. The more I learned, the more I became interested and convinced it was worth it.
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As a long time lurker, non-member, and occasional poster I have an idea. Create a special class of member that has only on-line access to Tighar, not any of the printed materials. They can access online member-only images and links and electronic copies of Tighar tracks, and include forum posting privileges. Call it a "Virtual" membership and only charge like $25 a year. I'd be the first to sign up!
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As a long time lurker, non-member, and occasional poster I have an idea. Create a special class of member that has only on-line access to Tighar, not any of the printed materials. They can access online member-only images and links and electronic copies of Tighar tracks, and include forum posting privileges. Call it a "Virtual" membership and only charge like $25 a year. I'd be the first to sign up!
There would be costs in creating and administering a new category of TIGHAR membership and a bargain-basement price might encourage trolls to join just to make trouble, but if it generated lots of new members it might be worth the hassle. So let's take a poll. If you're currently not a TIGHAR member and would join TIGHAR at a "Virtual" level as described by Gary for $25/year please drop me an email at ric@tighar.org.
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To get more members it might be worth asking what made the existing ones join.
We did that. Back in January, as part of planning for a major membership drive, we took a survey of TIGHAR members. We asked:
"Here’s your chance to participate in a poll that has nothing to do with politics.
We’re gearing up for a major membership campaign and we need your help in designing the materials we’ll use to solicit new TIGHAR members. Please take a moment to answer this question -
I joined and remain a member of TIGHAR because:
A. I want to know what really happened to Amelia Earhart.
B. I support TIGHAR’s approach to historical investigation.
C. I enjoy participating in research and/or field work.
D. I enjoy reading TIGHAR publications.
E. All of the above.
If you have another reason for being a TIGHAR member or you would care to comment further please send your thoughts to Ric@tighar.org.
Thanks!"
We got an excellent response and the overwhelming majority chose "E. All of the above."
Several members sent comments. None were negative. Here are a few examples.
"I have never known any group to so publicly follow the scientific method even at cost to their own egos and pet views. A great example of what searching for the truth should be about. And the broad base of experts used to bring the facts of the case to light."
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"Proud to be a member of such a fine organization.
I enjoy reading everything.
Keep the good stuff coming, please. I read and re-read all the material."
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"My wife and I are both private pilots and have been for over 30 years. I am also a certified licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic as well as a Ph.D. registered professional engineer involved in the medical device industry. We are both very interested in all of TIGHAR's historic aircraft recovery and specifically for Amelia Earhart. We appreciate very much the methodical, scientific, and technical approach taken to evaluate artifacts, rather than emotional responses. In addition, my 9 year old granddaughter has given several presentation projects in her 4th grade class regarding Amelia Earhart and derived much of her material from the TIGHAR website. She is also very interested in aviation.
Keep up the great work and good luck in soliciting new TIGHAR members."
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"I joined because I wanted to learn new things and practice my research skills. I figured someone would soon realize that I'm clueless about aviation and throw me out. But that didn't happen.
I soon figured out that TIGHAR isn't just for experts and I could contribute both money and expertise (on the one or two things I actually understand, but that's another issue!) I also met many TIGHARS and learned that everyone is very nice and helpful and interesting.
Big Question: How many world-famous mysteries are investigated by a non-profit that accepts anyone and combines rigorous science with fun and laughs? TIGHAR rules!"
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I saw the Discovery Channel documentary. Then months later came across the forum, lurked a while, then joined the forum, then joined TIGHAR. Months between each stage. The more I learned, the more I became interested and convinced it was worth it.
You're a bit unusual in that you joined as a result of participation in the Forum. Most new members learn about TIGHAR, as you did, via media coverage of our work. They then go to the TIGHAR website, like what they see, and join.
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Many people have developed an interest in the disappearance of Amelia Earhart. Some just KNOW they have the answer, some have written books, some have gone off searching, some have theorized crazy things, some have spent millions of dollars. All have lost interest and faded away - except TIGHAR. Did you know that TIGHAR, led by Ric Gillespie, has been in pursuit of this for twenty eight years? Yep. Since 1988! How's that for stick-to-it-iveness?
Read Ric's book. No one else has written anything about AE that is even remotely like it in its detail and documentation. Read other books about AE, and you will come to see what I mean.
Some day, this mystery will be solved. And it will happen largely because of the efforts of Ric, TIGHAR, Pat, and all of the others that contribute here.
Make a contribution to TIGHAR. Whatever you can. Support this work. Become a TIGHAR member. Join the Guild, so Ric can finish writing the second book.
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As a long time lurker, non-member, and occasional poster I have an idea. Create a special class of member that has only on-line access to Tighar, not any of the printed materials. They can access online member-only images and links and electronic copies of Tighar tracks, and include forum posting privileges. Call it a "Virtual" membership and only charge like $25 a year. I'd be the first to sign up!
We've decided to follow your suggestion and accept "virtual" memberships on a case by case basis for an annual membership fee of $25. Virtual members will be full members of TIGHAR with all of the privileges of membership except they will not receive materials by mail. All out-going communication - renewal notices, receipts, TIGHAR Tracks, etc. - will be electronic. If you'd like to apply for virtual membership please mail a check for $25, payable to TIGHAR to
TIGHAR
2366 Hickory Hill Road,
Oxford, PA 19363
On the memo line write "Virtual Membership."
Please also include your mailing address, email address, and phone number.
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A promising first step at responding to a legitimate query, and one that may help bring in more new members by lowering a potential financial barrier.
Except for the case-by-case basis thing - that sounds subjective and raises the question of how and by who that will be decided. Is that why the virtual membership isn't listed in the TIGHAR store yet as a membership option?
LTM,
Monty Fowler, TIGHAR No. 2189 EC
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Except for the case-by-case basis thing - that sounds subjective and raises the question of how and by who that will be decided.
All applications for membership in TIGHAR are subject to acceptance. Acceptance of new members is, by definition, subjective. We invite and encourage people to join TIGHAR but no one has a "right" to join TIGHAR any more than they have a right to join any other organization.
Like all decisions at TIGHAR, decisions about who will be accepted as a virtual member at the reduced annual fee will be made by the organization's Executive Committee - the Executive Director (me) and the President (Pat Thrasher). That's the job the Executive Committee is hired to do. All decisions and policies set by the Executive Committee are subject to review by the board of directors.
Is that why the virtual membership isn't listed in the TIGHAR store yet as a membership option?
Nor will it be. Changing the store is expensive. We're only able to offer the less-than-half-price virtual membership by eliminating costs such as printing, stuffing, postage, and joining via the TIGHAR Store.
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I see.
That certainly clarifies things in an very unambiguous way.
LTM,
Monty Fowler, TIGHAR No. 2189 EC
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Ric, can you accept other means of payment for the virtual membership (debit cards, credit cards etc) or is a check the only option? Thanks.
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To get more members it might be worth asking what made the existing ones join.
A related question just as or possibly more important is asking those who haven't joined or chosen not to renew "why not?" Comparing current activities to those desribed in the early years of TIGHAR Tracks, the organization has certainly changed over the years. Could those have impacted retention, or should changes be entertained that would make TIGHAR more appealing to new demographics?
The recent poll appears to consist of leading questions that may not give a very complete perception of what is working or not working.
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Ric, can you accept other means of payment for the virtual membership (debit cards, credit cards etc) or is a check the only option? Thanks.
Yes. You can send your credit/debit card information in the mail (sending it in an email is not a good idea) or you're welcome to phone it in. The office number is 610-467-1937.
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The changes to the TIGHAR Forum will be put in place tonight.
• If you are an un-registered lurker NOTHING WILL CHANGE.
• If you are a registered forum user and a dues-paying TIGHAR member in good standing NOTHING WILL CHANGE.
• If you are a registered forum user but not currently a member of TIGHAR, you will still be able to read postings and receive notifications of new replies and new topics but you will not be able to post, send private messages, or report postings to the moderators.
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It will be instructive to see what this does as far as meaningful contributions that move the debate forward.
LTM,
Monty Fowler, TIGHAR No. 2189 EC
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Ric, have you given any thought to making TIGHAR membership or virtual membership a monthly thing? Maybe $5 a month done by automatic withdrawal is easier to do rather than $55 all at once. Just a thought.
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Ric, have you given any thought to making TIGHAR membership or virtual membership a monthly thing? Maybe $5 a month done by automatic withdrawal is easier to do rather than $55 all at once. Just a thought.
That's an excellent thought. We're going to look into making all levels of TIGHAR membership payable monthly via automatic PayPal or credit card payments. It seems like a win-win for all concerned.
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Automatic payments are great, in that they provide TIGHAR with a level of certainty about that type of funding over a fixed period of time. The down side is that the credit card company or PayPal get their cut off the top, which decreases the amount TIGHAR ultimately receives. Which is why I cling to giving by check (among other reasons. Yeah, I'm old school.)
On another note, how is our members-only experiment working?
LTM,
Monty Fowler, TIGHAR No. 2189 EC
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On another note, how is our members-only experiment working?
Great! I wish we had done this years ago.
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Great! I wish we had done this years ago.
TIGHAR did do it years ago, if I remember correctly.
I think that one of the mailing-list versions of the Forum was "for members only."
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TIGHAR did do it years ago, if I remember correctly.
You're right. Long ago in a galaxy far, far way.
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As promised, I sent in my $25 and may be the first "Virtual" member! Thanks everyone for considering my idea and running with it.
- Gary
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Welcome aboard Gary.
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I have to think that one of the unintended consequences of this new policy is that we are cutting ourselves off from a great deal of enthusiasm to do a variety of research, all of which is important to varying degrees.
Just one example is The Knob that Wasn't, http://tighar.org/Projects/Earhart/Archives/Research/Bulletins/39_KnobThatWasnt/knob_idbulletin.html (http://tighar.org/Projects/Earhart/Archives/Research/Bulletins/39_KnobThatWasnt/knob_idbulletin.html). Positive identification of the "knob" as part of the top of a can of oil or something similar was only possible because all TIGHAR members were free to trade ideas, speculation and information.
LTM,
Monty Fowler, TIGHAR No. 2189 EC
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...was only possible because all TIGHAR members were free to trade ideas, speculation and information.
All TIGHAR members are free to trade ideas, speculation and information. That's the point of the recent change and it has been a huge success. The forum is more peaceful, more efficient, and more productive. It is, perhaps, less entertaining for those whose primary interest is gladiatorial combat, but the quality of research is excellent, the discourse is civil and, with an occasional exception, nobody posts just to complain or push a personal agenda.
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OK, even accepting all that, with fewer forum participants, because there are fewer TIGHAR members than there were forum members, it seems like a lot of ideas will go by the wayside because they never get a chance to be heard.
LTM,
Monty Fowler, TIGHAR No. 2189 EC
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OK, even accepting all that, with fewer forum participants, because there are fewer TIGHAR members than there were forum members, it seems like a lot of ideas will go by the wayside because they never get a chance to be heard.
That's very true and, based on experience, it's not a bad thing.