So, maybe this question has been answered before but I have only recently started paying attention to this issue, so....
If all the state surveying organizations are going to add NSPS membership dues to their state dues, do I get a discount for belonging to multiple state organizations or do I get to involuntarily pay NSPS dues at each organization. I may have second thoughts about maintaining my out of state memberships if that is the case.
I've yet to see anything about this, but I've been wondering the same thing. I don't really want to pay the $40 x 4! Not sure how they'd work it, as many people might say that they're paying in another state to avoid it. I hope not, but they might.
It's my understanding you only pay the NSPS $40 in your home state.
Dave is correct, my understanding is you will only pay the $40 in one state of which you are a member.
I asked that question and was told that you will only pay, in the state where you live.
i've been pondering this extortion request/action. somebody answer me this...
if someone wanted to sell you something that you don't want for $200, and then they lowered the price to $40...are you going to buy it?
fire away!!
> i've been pondering this extortion request/action. somebody answer me this...
>
>
> if someone wanted to sell you something that you don't want for $200, and then they lowered the price to $40...are you going to buy it?
>
>
> fire away!!
Yes, There is value to NSPS membership beyond the walls of my state. I could not afford to allocate $200 in the past and just hoped for the best, but at $40, to me it's a no-brainer decision that allows me to help my profession on a national level.
I would like to hear about what value is provided.
> So, maybe this question has been answered before but I have only recently started paying attention to this issue, so....
>
> If all the state surveying organizations are going to add NSPS membership dues to their state dues, do I get a discount for belonging to multiple state organizations or do I get to involuntarily pay NSPS dues at each organization. I may have second thoughts about maintaining my out of state memberships if that is the case.
You don't get a discount in Kansas. You have to pay regular dues plus 40 if you reside in Kansas. You pay regular dues plus 240 if you do not reside in Kansas. BAD either way.B-)
> ... do I get a discount for belonging to multiple state organizations ...
I understood the deal was that your state organization was to be the NSPS member, not you.
> I would like to hear about what value is provided.
I think that the virtue of a national organization is obvious, whatever the performance of said organization might have been in the past. Clearly the ACSM/NSPS has underperformed and there are a variety of reasons for that.
What would you like to see the national organization do?
What I'd also like to know is if/when that value may decrease.
If one looks at this objectively, right now the NSPS has to strive to provide value so that it can continue to attract paying members at over $200/year. Right now, they are competing for a limited resource.
If a large number of states fall into line and require/mandate NSPS membership, that creats an income stream that the NSPS will no longer have to compete for. I just worry (I'm not accusing anyone of anything) that sometime in the future the NSPS will take the thousands of members that are forced to join at the state level for granted. I sure hope it doesn't happen, but it is an inarguable trend for bureacracies and organizations to do so.
The other worry I have is that the state organizations may suffer reduced membership, not only from the dues increase, but an increase in cost and a potential perceived decrease in value.
Again, I hope this works out for all of us, as it appears that the powers that be in our state have already decided the issue for us. I just hope everyone has thought this out thoroughly and it doesn't become a decision we may regret in the long run.
Why doesn't the NSPS lower its voluntary membership fee? It would seem logical that membership would increase significantly if the price is significantly reduced and the return (value) to the members remains the same.
I'll start
> What would you like to see the national organization do?
- ...provide financial support to some well used survey oriented message board
- ...model standards of practice (already there, needs updating / polishing)
- ...model CAD Standards
- ...model Field to finish Coding
- ...support for state convention organizing
- ...supply regular articles to the various magazines
I'll start
doesnt really sound like anything I would support willingly, no wonder they are trying to turn it into a backdoor tax hike... I think supporting this board is great but I will be damned if I will support a tax on people to do it.
> ...Clearly the ACSM/NSPS has underperformed and there are a variety of reasons for that.
If that is true (and I ain't saying either way) what would be their motivation to start performing at a higher level with essentially a guaranteed income stream from the state level?
> > ... do I get a discount for belonging to multiple state organizations ...
> I understood the deal was that your state organization was to be the NSPS member, not you.
From what I have read, if you pay the $40 mandatory fee, you are an individual member. Your state society will then become an "affiliate member", and will have a voting seat on the Board of Directors.
I'll start
> I will be damned if I will support a tax on people to do it.
This is voluntary. You don't want to pay, you don't have to. Just drop your membership in your state organization. Nothing like a tax.
I'll start
what are the discussions above about mandatory fees and making membership mandatory all about? If membership in NSPS is mandatory then we are talking about a tax.
quoting Brian from above
"If a large number of states fall into line and require/mandate NSPS membership, that creats an income stream that the NSPS will no longer have to compete for. I just worry (I'm not accusing anyone of anything) that sometime in the future the NSPS will take the thousands of members that are forced to join at the state level for granted. I sure hope it doesn't happen, but it is an inarguable trend for bureacracies and organizations to do so."
I'll start
From the last state level board of directors meeting I attended, it appears the "mandatory" portion of that will depend on a decision by your state surveying society. In Kentucky, it was decided to present the concept to the general membership for discussion prior to moving forward with either a yes or no on participating.
From that meeting, it did not at all appear that we are talking about a state licensing board making this a required fee, only the state professional society.
If KAPS decides to move ahead, then the 'mandatory' comes into play by the $40 fee being incorporated into the states dues. If your state decides not to participate, then there is no "mandatory" fee added for NSPS membership.
In Kentucky, it is not required that a licensee be a member of the state professional society. So, if KAPS moves ahead with the initiative, then it would be a simple matter of not renewing membership if the extra $40 membership was so undesirable to you.
If you are a member of your state society, I guess it would be a good time to take the matter up with them and voice your objections. If you are not a member of you state society, then you have nothing to worry or complain about.
> do I get a discount for belonging to multiple state organizations or do I get to involuntarily pay NSPS dues at each organization. I may have second thoughts about maintaining my out of state memberships if that is the case.
I don't know about all states, but in the four states I have a license, each state society has different levels of membership.
I am a full-fledged member of the state where I live (and perform most of my surveys). I pay the full annual dues ($475.00) which includes membership in the overall state society and my local (regional) society. The dues gets paid to NYSAPLS, and they split the money with the regional association. Some regionals dues are less than others.
I am an "associate member" of the other states, and the annual dues are deeply discounted for such members. Often this is called an "affiliate member",
"corresponding member" or some such term, indicating that the member is from out-of-state.
As to the relative merits of a national society, one only needs to look at the power of such organizations as the NRA, AARP, AMA, NAACP, etc., etc., to realize the strength in numbers and financing.
