Jim; Charles T. Rodgers has been performing this valuable service on the club's behalf for many years ... for free. Another valued club member, Belinda Hixon, just went through a similar excersize; voluntarily soliciting many ads for the terrific 70 page, "Official Convention Program" booklet that was distributed free to all visitors to the recently concluded convention.

The comments that I read constantly from club members is not the amount of ads in the magazine .... but of the lack of articles, or "meat". Articles must also come from volunteers as well.... or does the club pay writers too for articles submitted for publication.? In order for the club to justify the expense to pay someone to do the job that CT has been doing for nothing, would involve a tremendous amount of increased advertising revenue to pay for his/her commissions..... or less revenue for the club if the increased advertising does not materialize.

In addition, I don't believe that the club is interested in publishing what would amount to a yellow pages advertsing directory without an equally balanced amount of print stories to go with the increased advertising that a paid advertising solicitor would/should generate. Then, an Editor in the future, may decide that if the person soliciting advertising is getting paid, maybe the Editor should be getting some renumeration from the club for his/her valuable services as well.

Another example is; Mark Lighterman has been the club's official convention photographer for many years. To the best of my knowledge, Mark has never submitted a bill for his services. This club is blessed with a core of volunteers, that in my opinion would go away, once the club began paying for things that are presently received for free from folks who want to make their voluntary contributions on behalf of the club's development. When some of these voluntary posts can not be filled at some point in the future, is when some key paid positions should be considered, in my opinon.

Please don't misunderstand my response to your well-meaning post Jim. I'm not attempting to be argumentive on this issue, nor am I attempting to throw cold water on some of your innovative ideas. I think that suggestions such as you have made have much merit, but the alternatives or results from introducing such measures should be accorded equal weight and be taken into serious consideration.