Subscriptions

Are you one of the 180-plus who still haven't paid their full subscription for the current membership year?
If so, then you may be at risk of having your membership suspended.
Various pleas were made throughout the latter part of 2006 and consistently over recent months to remind members to change their standing orders.
In spite of all that effort we had 260-plus who were default.
Since June there has been an ongoing effort to try and get those in default to pay up.
We've had some success, with 80 paying either their full sub or the difference between what their standing order had paid out and the new membership rate, £52 for full members and £26 for those granted retired status.
Council members have been given the task again of pursuing those that remain in default ahead of the council meeting on August 31, where a proposal is likely to be put asking for approval to implement the Guild rules that should have been instigated months ago.
The rule quite clearly states that where members are in default they will be written to by the secretary and given seven days to pay. If payment is not then made membership is suspended.
This is a route of last resort as far as I am concerned. Have we been asking too much in getting people to make a simple switch or to write us a cheque for the difference?
Anyway the day of the standing order are over.
I am absolutely determined that membership subscriptions move to direct debit from the start of 2008.
That way we in future avoid this situation where we have to persistently chase people.
The message from today is, however, clear. The time has come for the 180 who remain in default to pay up; your subscription is now six months late.