In message <v04003a04b46d334c94fd@[129.240.58.12]>, Per Rekdal
<[log in to unmask]> writes
>Pat Reynolds: "If individual and institutional members were paying for
>meetings, then
>would they not feel more inclined to ensure that the meetings were of
>good quality, and value for money?  (Goodness, what a Thatcherite view,
>I can't believe I just typed that!)"
>
>You did. I am not sure what you mean?

OK, at present, board meetings are paid for by the individuals (or their
institutions) who attend.  If the individuals (or institutions) got
their travel, hotel, etc. etc. paid for (by increasing the
subscriptions), then those paying the subscriptions might feel more
inclined to ensure that the meeting was of good quality, value for
money.

Thatcherite view: this is a reference to 1980s British politics.  The
party then in power was lead by Mrs Thatcher, and it's policies are
referred to as 'Thatcherite'.  The view that if people pay for things,
they are more concerned that they are of good quality, than if they are
merely the users of things, was advanced.  In particular, this was used
as an argument to say that every member of society (although, in
Thatcherite terms, society does not exist) should contribute,
financially, to services provided by local government, no matter how
poor they are.

So ... if every member, no matter how poor they are, is paying something
towards the board meeting, are they more likely to ensure that the board
isn't meeting too often, not effective, etc.?  Or are they likely to
ensure that the board is effective anyway, because they are users of the
services provided by the board, because they are good citizens, or some
other reason?

(This does beg another political question, which was asked at the time):
how, apart from voting in some different folk every few years, can the
ordinary member ensure that the board is doing its job?

Best wishes to all,
--
Pat Reynolds
[log in to unmask]
   "It might look a bit messy now, but just you come back in 500 years time"
   (T. Pratchett)


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