[pct-l] Money and the PCTA

[plotnikoff@xxxxxxxxxxxxx (David Plotnikoff)]

Hello from a longtime list lurker who rarely posts.

I have to ask: Did anyone else receive a mass mailer from the PCTA this
week with an envelope reading "Your membership renewal enclosed"? If you
did, you may have noted something interesting: There is no membership
category or price under $150 to be found anywhere in the mailer. The
membership levels on the renewal notice are from $150 to $400.

That in itself is odd, but here's where it gets puzzling: I just sent the
PCTA a check for $100 a few weeks ago -- as I do at the end of **every
year**. In recent years I've probably given the organization $500 or $600
to be called a "trail sustainer" in their parlance. As always, they had no
problem cashing the check immediately. Now every other environmental group
I give to -- Sempervirens Fund, Sierra Club, Bay Area Ridge Trail Council,
Peninsula Open Space Trust -- zips back a thank-you form letter for tax
purposes acknowledging the gift. Not personal or fancy, but that's OK. I
received not a word from PCTA. Not "thanks. Not "Yeah, we got it." Nothing.

And now I am getting a bill to renew my membership with a footnote text
that hints that I should respond now because if I don't they will be
"sending additional reminders."

I don't know how things are where all of you are at, but let me tell you
how things are here in the Bay Area: Silicon Valley is suffering through
its worst recession in history. Two of my PCT trail family, who I've spent
hundreds of trail miles with, will not be with me on the trail this year
because they have not been able to find work in two years. In this kind of
economic climate, you hope that every little $100 counts.

Apparently such a puny donation doesn't even merit notice at the PCTA. And
they will soon drop me from their "sustainer" membership rolls because I'll
be damned if I'll be bullied into wriitng a $150 renewal check on top of
the $100 I've already given.

This year, if it should come down to the PCTA or a social service
organization right here in my community that needs $100 to feed or clothe
someone, who do you think is going to get the $100? I'm going to put it
where it means something. I'm going to put it where it's appreciated.

Alternately, I may just send a $100 check to the Saufleys or Pooh Corner
and consider it a more efficient way of repaying my debt to the community.

End of rant.

And I apologize if I have in any way contributed to the harsher
conversational climate here on PCT-l recently. I'm sorry. The money thing
just really flipped my surge protector because, well, $100 is still a lot
of money to me. I'm old-fashioned that way.

David Plotnikoff
PCT 99, 00, 01, 02, ...
David Plotnikoff
Columnist/Asst. Business Editor
San Jose Mercury News
plotnikoff@sjmercury.com
voice: (408) 920-5867