Hi it's the financial guy again (ARSC Treasurer). Yes you are right about $. And $ means MEMBERS.
We know by statistics that there a lot more (I mean a LOT) more posters subscribed to ARSC-list than there are currently PAID ARSC members. ARSC offers this listserve as a service to anyone - as it does older Journals and Conference Program. Need I ask how many folks who regular converse here on the list are Paid members? (No I'm not asking you to reply. You know who you are.)
Last year ARSC put in place a DIGITAL membership for those outside the US. Because Journals and Newsletters cost $30/year in postage (and that was the air surcharge) the member saved $30 and ARSC saved $30. They still paid full membership. There are many fixed costs to both the Journal and Newsletter and reducing the print run doesn't save a lot. So we cannot offer that to US members.
Of course if those former members (we call them "lapsed members" would rejoin or those here on ARSC list who were never members would join, that could be a consideration.
There are also contributors here who have never served as an officer of ARSC. If you are interested you should let Nathan Georgitia know. The next Elections are in February 2019.
Steve Ramm - ARSC treasurer
In a message dated 4/29/2018 8:04:09 AM Eastern Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes:
I’ve been a member for many years. I think you’re on exactly the right page – the critical question is whether going open access would lose a significant amount of money.
I believe printing and mailing is expensive. One thing that might save money (or it might be too much trouble to implement) is offering members the choice of receiving the printed journal or a PDF of it. I enjoy reading the journal, generally on my lap in bed, but I feel a little guilty that it just goes in the recycling pile at the end of every month.
Loftus Becker
25 Orchard Road
West Hartford, CT 06117
(860) 519-2655
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