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[Alfred Hendrickson]

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.

[Ric Gillespie]

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.

[Monty Fowler]

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

[Ric Gillespie]

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.   

[Monty Fowler]

I see.

That certainly clarifies things in an very unambiguous way.

LTM,
Monty Fowler, TIGHAR No. 2189 EC

[Kurt Kummer]

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.

[Jeff Scott]

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.

[Ric Gillespie]

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.

[Ric Gillespie]

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.

[Monty Fowler]

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

[Kurt Kummer]

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. 

[Ric Gillespie]

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.

[Monty Fowler]

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

[Ric Gillespie]

On another note, how is our members-only experiment working?

Great!  I wish we had done this years ago.

[Martin X. Moleski, SJ]

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."