If it read that way, it was not at all my intention. I apologize. And I understand the vast majority of club members probably do not want to pay a steep fee hike, even if only for one year. I also agree that the hobby is in better shape than the club, but even the hobby is in much worse shape than it was 10 years ago. I, like you, will keep collecting in any case. I love it. In any case, I merely meant to say the hobby could be at the crossroads, not that it was. I have no idea what an ED could possibly do for us, but I am still open to hear what they think they can do, and what it would cost, and how long it would take. That's all I really meant.

If a proposal came in to do the job for $10 per member for one year, then, after grants were secured that would pay for the ED, the ED's salary would rise to $70,000 for the year, would you still be against it? I'm not sure how I would feel, so my answer is I won't know until I have information on actual proposals. I would hope the board would feel the same. So, at this time, my answer is that I don't know.

Michael Siskin