If people can't be arsed to stump up a tenner to save the club they'll be about as much use as a chocolate teapot.
Alan, I agree with your earlier post that paid membership means something and Im not disagreeing that a tenner is reasonable I was trying to suggest a method by which paid membership could be increased. While I appreciate that membership is increasing and from that income admin fees need to be paid it is clear that the membership level is nowhere near what it should be.
I dont doubt that there is a degree of apathy amongst the support but I dont believe that membership take up is (relatively speaking) low due to ignorance. There will be a considerable number of people who agree with the Unions aims who wont or cant commit to paying a tenner (as mentioned earlier this was demonstrated by MUST). This group might be prepared to make some form of financial commitment thereby increasing the number of members while generating some further funds that otherwise wouldnt exist. I guess the barometer for this will be the take up of free child membership by non member parents on behalf of their kids.
I wouldnt dismiss it out of hand on the basis that a tenner = worthwhile support otherwise dont bother. To people sitting at a computer in far flung areas of Britain / the world the ten or fifteen quid is essentially a donation to a cause that you support. People support all kinds of different charities (I know this isnt a charity) but my guess is that most dont drop ten or fifteen quid into a collection tin as they pass and therein lies the problem.
I hope Im not talking nonsense or being flippant I am hoping to make a helpful suggestion