Hi,
I want to comment on a statement that Tom made earlier and then elaborate on
it a bit. It has to do with membership in the Chapman Family Association.
Tom said:
"I've been a member twice, but always forget to renew."
In fact, he has only been a member once. When a person joins the CFA they
are a member forever. Just because dues are not kept current -- folks are not
dropped from membership. Tom joined in February 2001 and was assigned member
#427. From what he said he apparently did not pay his dues on time and was
classified as inactive for a time and then he sent in dues (joined the 2nd time
to him) and became active again. He had the same member number and the same
membership files.
It would be great if CFA did not have to charge dues but someone must pay to
cover the expense of printing and mailing the quarterly publication. This is
really a big publication with over 100 pages in each of the recent issues. It
is indexed (well partially anyway) and is commercially printed and bound.
That takes some money and then they must pay UPS to move the boxes of printed
quarterlies to the members who mail it and they put out hefty a sum to buy the
stamps needed. And that is why there are dues.
When one does not pay dues and becomes inactive they are still members and
they may continue their subscription to the CFA PartyLine, a Yahool list similar
to the Rootsweb L lists and to the CFA Monthly OnLine Newsletter. They have
complete access to all parts of the website, but then that is true for all
persons - members or not. Inactive members can get and do all the things an
active member can except get the quarterly, and vote at the annual meeting.
At present there is a livlier discussion of DNA going on on the CFA Party
Line than there is here. There I have heard of others who have or are getting
their DNA done and several others who are interested. Of course, by the time
you get there the DNA talk may have subsided, but it you would like to give it a
try (if you are a CFA member) then just send an email to:
CFAPartyLine-subscribe(a)yahoogroups.com.
Subscribers of the party line have no idea who is active and who is inactive,
and they really don't care as it makes no difference.
.. Gil Alford, CFA Corresponding Secretary