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

A couple of years back when there were less than 300 people we mounted a very successful campaign for the play center for Childrens Hospital. With not much more people we had an excellent turnout for Blightbusters. We also had a successful blood drive. I guess the quality of the people may trump the quantity of people. We do have one delema though, many members are in trannsition and even $5.00 might be a strain. How do we account for this without abandoning those in distress? For some this might be their only networking opportunity. Just a thought, but I've had some hard times and it saddens me to think that this could happen. Any thoughts?

I would have no problem paying, but I like Pat's idea of allowing newbies a free trial run for a few months...

I find the tenor of your recent email a little disturbing: "We're serious about "culling the group". Those members who have not spent any time on their profile and some who have only put little information will be receiving a note from us. The note effectively says "You're either in or you're out. Right Now". (Thank you Danny Ocean- Ocean's 11). If your profiles are not up to snuff by 8/1/09, you will be out."

Personally, I'm a little gun-shy about posting too much information about myself online, but have been easing into social networking. I would guess other members share this concern.

I have enjoyed the events I have attended in Ann Arbor, but probably would not agree to a membership fee. Perhaps you should charge more for the events to create a revenue stream.

 In sharing this Terry, I haven't seen you indicate what the $5 per month would bring. Are we paying for access to this on-line community or are there addtional benefits that would come through this payment. If there are real costs to this, then that is an important part of the equasion. I  don't want to assume anything. I know you have offered an enhanced package of membership of which several have taken advantage.

 I am always pleased for you by the acceptance in the networking landscape for MCC and the respect it has gained in a relatively short period of time. For our Third Thursday events, RP&P recently comissioned a survey about our events and the networking climate around town in general. Over two thirds of those who responded said that they considered themselves members of Motor City Connect (the single highest measured response) and no one said that they had 'left the group' for any reason. This was unlike groups like LBN, BNI, Chamber BRAG and professional groups; which had a cumulative departure of well over 50% for various reasons.

Many of the postings I've read indicate that the person posting doesn't agree with the idea based on a principle of access - they want to have the ability to access this community and interact in ways which they as individuals choose. One compared it to LinkedIn, but in that site and many others ... I can control to whom I connect at any time. Here, I am always in the courtyard with Terry, Charlie, Mary, Jennifer and the other 3986+ subscribers.

This group is also defined by a geography - Most members are found in the six county Southeast Michigan area, which makes it quite powerful and unique. I still wonder why someone in Oregon or Georgia would want to be a member, since their participation would be seriously limited. But they seem welcomed with equal measure.

I do favor a requirement that your professional profile should be completed to a certain standard of information within a set time period. Many of them still hang empty from the first days when MCC came here from a Yahoo group. I think that giving people that participation requirement would let those who want to step up, those who want to lurk get their fill and move on and those who see the value to truly flex their muscle.

Terry and Charlie, you always have all my support ... always!

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Anything of value needs an "energetic exchange."  Money is a form of energy.  Time is valuable and NONE of us can work for FREE (even though it FEELS that way at times;)).  I'd rather have half the members and have them be able to afford $5 of "energetic exchange" per month to help raise up Michigan.  Go for it!

I am curious as to what "up to snuff" means with regard to a profile.  Does it also mean if we pay $60 a year, we can let the profile sit as it comes? 

$5 a month is not an outrageous amount.  There have to be administrative costs even if they are peoples time.  If money is needed to keep the group going and compensate for fees, etc. then ok to $5. I believe the founders should be compensated.

If it is meant as a hammer to force participation, then it is a waste.  No amount of $$ will make that happen. 

There is a thought that free items are taken for granted.  Air, water, etc. in the US are those kind of items and look where they are headed.  $5 would make membership a thing of value and bring with it a different attitude.

I don't post as often as I should nor do I attend the events because somehow they always conflict with my schedule.  However, I would pay the $5.  I own a women's networking group and know exactly how much time it takes to just do the basics to keep it going.  I also have a collective x site for it with less than 100 members.  I boot people probably twice a year (with warning) that if their profile isn't filled out I will delete them from the group.  How am I suppose to network with Susie Q if I 1. don't even know her name, 2. don't know her business or type of business. 

I know it takes money to run this site not to mention the time it can take away from your personal business to keep it going.  Do I make money off of my members? NOPE!  Would it be nice to get a kick back every now and then, absolutely!   Until you have run a group of this magnatude you really have no idea (and that's probably about 3985 of MCC's members). 

For those that call this an "arrogant" move, are most likely the people that sit back and wait for the phone calls to roll in while they do NOTHING!  And YES the Macomb County Chamber DOES work if you leave your desk and work it....hence the word netWORKING.

Thank You, Bridget, for confirming the reality of managing a groupsite and what netWORKING is all about...

Managing anything takes Alot of time-your business, charity events, school functions, coaching. I have been in charge of charity events, school concessions, school hot lunch programs, events, a fruit market, and of course a restaurant. 

In charity and schools it is volunteering-loving what you are doing and caring for the organization.  Sometimes putting out your own funds to do so, sometimes not being appreciated.

This is a group that is well managed and all of the members should show appreciation for what has been done. Knowing what it is like to manage multiple categories, it is hard work and dedication.

I commend the founders on the dedication they have. They are trying to help everyone and in return we should be willing to help them. Belonging to three networking groups, it is not just for ourselves and what we can gain, for me it is about trying to connect people to help them grow.

I think what makes MCC so special is that it is a celebration of people joining together to achieve their own personal goals. It is a wonderful experience. And that will be different for each one of us. To me wandering through here is akin to walking around Chicago and experiencing a little of everything.  Although a $5 fee could be considered incidential I believe that the magic of MCC is in its freedom.

I do not see that a fee will accomplish much in the way of increasing board participation. Because someone does not post does not automatically mean they are not communicating with others, just that they may not yet have a comfort level with social networking or literally do not have time to post. I do agree that a complete profile should be mandatory, complete with photo!

Please think of other ways to generate dollars needed to keep up this wonderful experience you have created.

I just updated a couple sections of my profile and see that out of 3902 members on the site less than 300 have listed connections and less than 800 have listed their objective.

I can see where incomplete profiles are creating an issue.

I would propose an incomplete profile "fine" of $5.00 for each month it's not filled out with a 90 day grace period for new members. 

For those of us who are already members, no fee for the internet based site and the same fees already in place for live events seems appropriate.

If there are plans for the approx. $10,000 per month increase in revenue, please share them with us. 

Another alternative might be to charge an annual fee of $25-50 as opposed to a monthly fee.  I'd still like to know what that fee "buys" for the end user.

It is interesting to read the number of comments from people about the number of people who lack profile photographs...comments made by people who do not have profile photographs!  ???

I find MCC valuable, and would like to participate in it more actively, but already it is expensive.  One lunch is $20...that's a substantial amount of money for me.  I can't even afford to do that once every month.  Some events are cheaper, but are too far away or at times that don't work for me.  

If there was a $5 monthly fee charged, that would be a hard decision for me whether or not to continue.  My business hasn't made any money this year, so I have to be very careful that whatever I spend along this line will be beneficial for business.  A $5 monthly fee PLUS the fees for lunches and other meetings only makes things more expensive, without adding value.

As some others say, if you need the money to compensate for hosting costs and time devoted to it, please say how much you need for that.  But I don't see the benefit in charging just to supposedly make people take it more seriously.  It can hurt those who need the networking opportunities but can't always afford the money to put into them.

I do support requiring people to post a certain degree of information in their profile.  But please consider the needs of those who have fears about exposing themselves on the internet.  Though I think the fears are unfounded, these are very real fears for some people, and should be accommodated.

Ha, now I see the reason why people who talk about the lack of profile photographs don't have photographs by their comment.  I have a profile photograph, but it is not showing up when I post a comment.  I wonder why not?

Since I decided that it was a good business choice for me to pay to join another networking group. I guess I would be willing to make the same business decision about MCC.  Although I would seriously consider the value of continuing the membership after the 1st year based on ROI.

Now if it is a question of asking me to invest my time to the cause, I don't believe a membership fee is the encouragement of choice. Instead Leaders with commitment and drive and inspirational choices work best there and from where I stand, MCC has a boat load of that.