[SCA-AE] NMS--wider consideration

[Rob Baldassano (Eirik)]

"Free coupons" for NMS. 

When I lived in the West Kingdom, during the time that that the NMS was being created a number of things were tried. 

1 - no cost events. There were groups who would not charge an event fee to get in the door. 
They would have a donation jar that would be available, and if people wanted to pay something then they could. 
There were statements of "suggested levels of donation" 
which included suggested levels based on age, etc. 

    The groups that tried this had a BoD finger shaken at them for trying to get around the ruling. 

2. A welcoming committee was formed. 
The committee held funds in a special fund. 
For each person who came in the door that was a newcomer, the welcoming committee would pay their NMS fee. various methods were employed to make this work. 

When I came out the AEthelmearc, I instituted a local chapter of the Welcoming committee for our local events (unfortunately finances being as they are, the welcoming committee has gone bankrupt. )
We gave coupons to the gate. It was up to gate to hand out the coupons for a refund of the NMS via the welcoming committee. 
The newcomers were told where to find the Welcoming committee, and it was up to the newcomer to come to us and request their refund. 
Again, this worked fine until we ran into financial issues, and had to discontinue the program. 
If you want to have a welcoming committee start back up again, then by all means do so, but you still have to, by Exchequer requirements, hand over the NMS as based on the number of non-members that walk in the door. 

Just some thoughts, 

 --Eirik
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Herre Eirik Haarfager Goransson / Rob Baldassano
Web Administrator - AEthelmearc Kingdom Chatelaine; 
Member; Marshal - Baronial Marshal; Brewing Guildmaster ; Herald @ large - Barony Endless Hills
House Odlahorde; Viking ; VROC #5029 (Tigger); 
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