Would you pay $5.00 to be a member of MCC (read first, then answer)

Organizing and being in charge takes alot of time and effort along with fees of running the group. It is worth the amount you decide to charge however you decide to do it. I appreciate what you are trying to do by hosting the group, you time and concern for all of Michigan. I am in agreement of the fee. Thank you for letting everyone know and voice both sides before you make a decision.

PS I would hope for more breakfast or after 5 meeting, as the live meetings are at lunch time and I am busy serving lunch.

I am not opposed to the fee. However, I think there needs to be more breakfast and after five events. Lunch time events are often hard for people to attend as businesses are becoming more strict on the time that employees take for their lunch which may only be a half hour or hour.

I've been participating in MCC since the very beginning. I've been an Advisory Board Member, and an Area Connector. I've been deeply involved as MCC grew from a handful of colleagues committed to helping each other and changing the world to a list of 4,000 people. 

I have some things to say.

Terry has invested his time, energy, and HEART into building this network. This discussion wouldn't be happening if he had not had a dream and followed it through.

He is the "voice" of MCC in the email blasts because CollectiveX, like other sites, requires a group to have an administrator. Most of you have no idea how many spammers and hackers have been stopped in their attempts to send malicious "stuff" through the MCC board - thanks to Terry and Stephanie's diligence in monitoring everything.

$60/year is a pittance for those of us who are in business or employed, but it is very reasonable when balanced against the value of Motor City Connect - when you work it.

As in any organization, your benefit is equal to the value you GIVE (or as the Beatles put it all those years ago, "...in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.") If all you are doing is putting up your profile and expecting people to come to you, you will gain nothing. If you complete your profile, start and participate in discussions, attend events, and do all that you can to assist other MCC people, you will gain immensely.

It wasn't a big deal for Terry to manage this group and orchestrate the meetings when it was 30, 100, even 300 people. But today, at 4,000 "members" and close to a dozen events each month, the logistics are extensive - and Terry has his own business to run.

I'm 100% behind the $5.00/month concept. Terry has done something exceptional for Metro Detroit in creating and managing Motor City Connect. I am grateful, and willing to participate in helping him achieve his dream - - which is helping the rest of us achieve ours.

Correct me if I'm wrong Terry and Charlie, but MCC wasn't set up to just be a social networking site, it was created with the hopes of doing much more, a 'vision' if you will.  It might help if in here you posted the original vision for MCC and what could be done with fees collected, the thought process on a fee may change a little.   People tend to buy into a vision (no pun intended).  If someone is participating and gaining value, I think that $5 isn't too much to ask.  And for those that are opposed, what could not paying $5 a month cost you?  You might miss out on something with much greater value.  If the cost would make you drop, I would recommend going to a seminar hosted by these gentlemen (I use that term loosely ).  I understand that you would incur a cost to do so, but there are no free lunches. 

I would pay, but would recommend that free trial period for future people who want to check MCC out.

I agree with Debbie as well, there's a charge for just about everything else - live events, lunches and breakfasts. I don't mind the fees for events, but I don't want to have to pay to join the discussion online. $60 a year isn't that bad compared to other networking groups but the reason I have been active in MCC is because of the low cost. When I graduated from college and was looking for a job it was one of the only groups I could afford. I can definitely see both sides, but I think it just depends who your willing to exclude.

While I don't have a preference I would be open to paying the $5 fee.  However, I believe that it would be to assist with operating costs.  MCC has done a great job about limiting advertising on here and when it is present, it is relevant. I can appreciate that.  However I don't believe that the $5 fee will weed out the inactive.  There are some that have more unlimited resources and will pay to say they are a part but will remain inactive while there are others with limited resources but may be a valuable part of the organization.  I know my comments don't offer a solution but I wanted to share my support for this great organization and commend you for trying to keep it relevant for the users and continuing to push us forward!

Charlie, I would be happy to host any meetings.

Linda, Totally agreed with you.

Great job Terry and Charlie for all you do.

5 Buck Chuck??

The equivalent whine (sic) at Trader Joe's is considered to be some of the best value around.

The first online community I ever connected to was using a UNIX emulator and and a TimeNET dial up to a host at 1200 Baud.  It was using the Internet but before the Web.  Text based and all UNIX.  That was something like 20 years ago.

You know what?  This same argument was had there.  And again and again and again, over and over, since.

Legit arguments can be made.  More importantly, arguments will be made with wallets.  But one argument that I find pretty darn ARROGANT is a sense of entitlement to a free community.

There is nothing free about running a community.  I can assure you that exactly 11 people in 20 years made any significant money doing it.  Most are lucky to cover hosting costs.  What I find even more interesting about this situation is that nobody is even trying to make money, really.  5 Bucks?  That doesn't even cover beer and cigarettes. 

I think the question was:  Will MCC lose participants over $5 a month?  Maybe, maybe not.  (I'd pay $5, for the record)

Maybe you wouldn't pay $5.  Maybe it isn't worth it to you.  Nothing wrong with that, it's your call.  But what are you collecting at your free profile social networks out there? 

Maybe we can all ask ourselves how much business we've done at Plaxo and compare it to the number of stupid e-mails they send reminding that Joe Blow (who I've never met, but they think I'll really like) has a birthday coming up, then compare it with the amount of real economic impact that MCC has had. 

My own answer to the Danny Ocean quote:

"Hey, you're Jerry Cauldwell's kid"
"yeah.."
"You live in Chicago?"
"Yeah"
"Is it nice there?"
"Yeah it is"
"Good, get in the god damn house"

I think everyone who joins MCC should have to provide their business product and service to Terry for free.

People think that because MCC is online then it should be free? Maybe...  But, Terry's time, intellect, energy, and insight to make our businesses better shouldn't be free.  Anybody want Terry's MCC job with Terry's MCC pay?  I don't!

Terry maintains MCC, provides us insights and guidance, coaches us through the tough stuff, teaches us how to be better at business, leads by example with a giving heart, reminds us everyday to "Be Great", and keeps the issues in Detroit in the forefront. 

Really?  5 bucks is too much? 

Can we start a discussion topic called, "Everything I spend $5 a month on that is useless"?

PS.  The $5 is a write off...

PSS.  Sorry for the sarcasm...  Some posts got me fired up...

I understand the desire to increase funding availability for the organization and to increase the value of the site to all members. Having a "free trial" would be beneficial as well if you do go to a pay model. But, since the question is would "you" pay, I will answer from that perspective.

Whether I would be willing to pay $5 and whether I would be able to pay $5 are two different questions. Like most organizations, mine has gone through significant budget cuts. One effect of the cuts is that I have to pay out of pocket for any membership fees, networking events, etc. I am already having a difficult time choosing the one or two professional organizations that I can put my money into joining. I would not be able to sustain $60/year for this group as well, although I do think this group is amazing.

I appreciate that this has come up for debate and discussion. Open dialogue is absolutely key!

Terry,

Thank you for putting this topic up for discussion. Most people here do appreciate what you do and I like to think of myself as being included in that group.

Even though I hold my objections to the mandatory fee, I would pay it as Motor City Connect is worth it to me. I may just have to do without my Starbucks to pay for it though.

I have two questions to put out there.

How would the $5 fee affect the LinkedIn Motor City Connect Group?

Can anyone write off the $5, or do you have to be a business owner to do so?

Thanks,

Chris

I think that this is an interesting idea.  When you join other networking groups there is always a fee.  When the financial commitment is made, there is also a time commitment made as well.  If the goal is to find entrepeneurs that are serious about growing their business and connecting with other professionals that are just as serious, the $5 charge may narrow down the group to those that want to make Motor City Connect an important part of their business system.

A number of people have made some very good points.  I want to add my two cents.  (I couldn't resist joining in!)

I joined MCC in September of 2007, back when it was a Yahoo group.  I lurked for 5 1/2 months.  (What can I say - I'm shy???  Now, THAT'S a hoot for the people who know me!)  I met some MCC folks at an event, was really impressed by the caliber of members, started posting - and the rest is history.  I'm a lunch host, an Area Connector, and who knows what else.  I've been deeply involved with MCC for over a year now.  I love this group and its mission.  I'm really, really committed to it.

And I'm one of the people who's been pressing Terry (for months now) to charge $5 a month.  I don't pay for ANYTHING, so for me to encourage him to do that says something!  Here's why:  I'm serious about my business.  I'm serious about your business.  I'm serious about our community.  And I'm serious about having fun with quality people that I like and respect.  I don't want 4,000 names.  I want 4,000 people I can go to bat for and make amazing things happen with. 

If you want to lurk on the site for awhile, that's fine.  I did, after all.  But I have noticed that as the numbers of people who don't have pictures, full profiles, last names even (!) goes up, the number and quality of discussions goes down.  And the number of people attending events goes down. 

I really don't care if we go from 4,000 to 1,000.  Because I think we'll be going from 4,000 names on a "piece of paper" (you get what I mean) to 1,000 REAL people REALLY participating (including you lurkers).  I'm interested in people who are really invested in this thing - "this thing" being growing my business, your business, the health and wellbeing of our community, and giving back. 

I know Terry has heard your comments about how to include people and allow people to get a sense of us before they officially join.  He'll have to figure out how to do that in the simplest method possible - we don't want to turn that into his full-time job!  There are lots of ideas about what we could do for new people floating around, so if you've got one, please do let him know.

And I think we should all bow down at the feet of the guy who had the vision - and the chutzpa - to not only envision something like this, but to make it happen and keep it accelerating.  Thanks, Terry.

Natalie, You Rock.