[pct-l] Bikes on PCT- enforcement NEEDED

[Bob Bankhead]

No more checks for PCTA membership fees? When did that start?
Are they willing to see each receipt reduced by the 3-5% credit card fees
rather than have to deal with checks?
Does the "no checks" policy apply to the requests for additional donations
they send out every year?

Is this in fact true? If so, WHAT A FOOLISH POLICY !

With the possible exception of the Mount Whitney Zone endorsements on the
Thru-Hiker Permits and items from the store, the PCTA is not shipping a
product, only to discover later that the check is bogus and they have to eat
the loss. They are selling a service.

Monthly installments, like good intentions, often have a way of
"evaporating" when the contributor gets busy with other things and forgets
to write that monthly check. Auto-withdrawals do away with that, and for
that reason, make good business sense.  Monthly credit card withdrawal is a
nice option to offer for those members or contributors with restricted cash
flows, but IMO, a ridiculous and needless expense for the bulk of the
members who prefer to make a single payment. Lump sum payments get ALL the
promised funds up front. I would hope that the current executives know how
to run a budget where the bulk of your income is not repetitive or periodic
in nature. 





-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Timothy Nye
Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 1:13 PM


I didn't renew my PCTA membership this year.  They won't take a check.  In
addition to raising the membership fee by 20%, they want a credit card
number and will take monthly withdrawals...that seems to be a headed in a
certain direction as far as renewals and future increases are concerned.