That stupid surcharge

["chuck graves" <chuck_graves@mail.hq.faa.gov>]

     Greetings, all.
     
     Since I've been playing autocrat again, I've been forced to trip 
     across that ridiculous SCA tithe--$3 non-member surcharge. I've been 
     listening in on a couple of other lines and gathering some opinions. 
     Now, I'd like to know what the considered opinions of Atlantia are--at 
     least in this forum?
     
     Personally, I think it's stupid--and should be summarily revoked. 
     Unfortunately, I don't have the authority to do that--so I'm looking 
     for alternatives. While it's too late for this event, I wonder what 
     you would think of some alternative approaches:
     
        1)      Make event donation only--no surcharge is collected;
     
        2)      Make event donation and dinner fee--again, no surcharge;
     
        3)      Put a bucket out for non-member fees--they pay into bucket;
     
        4)      Establish a "typical Atlantian ratio" and write a check;
     
        5)      Just keep doing it the same old way--pay through the nose.
     
     The first two options could be rather risky--so I'm not convinced they 
     should be used. I would be willing to *try* an event using #2--but 
     only with consensus approval of my group.
     
     Number 3 is rather novel. Put a helm beside the troll, and leave it up 
     to the non-members attending the event to pitch in *their* 
     contribution to SCA, Inc. No money--we must not have had non-members 
     in attendance.
     
     Number 4 would be set by the Great Officers of State--probably Master 
     Thomas. Poll the groups--find out the ratio of members to non-members 
     at most Atlantian events--assume it's good and pay SCA, Inc. Of 
     course, that's assuming that groups would just take that out of profit 
     but my normal numbers are running about 5% of total attendance--that's 
     about $15 for each 100 folks.
     
     Number 5 is just status quo. I've already noted I don't like that--I 
     never did. I believe Duke Anton referred to it as "blood money". That 
     title probably sums it up well enough.
     
     So what do you folks think?
     Tadhg