Proposed New Clan Rules

[TygerBS]

With the changing nature of the Grrr clan, we are faced with some difficult decisions on how we move forward.
The identity of Grrr is shifting and changing and we need to make some changes to insure Grrr's future.

The problems we are facing are not new, but they have become worse this year.
These being, lack of contributions to the Grrr slush fund and disconnect between various parts of the clan.

We have a had a number of new people join Grrr over the last little while, which is fantastic.
However it seems some have more or less disappeared, some are around but unknown to many of the other members.
We made attempt to get to know these new guys by hosting a social, but unfortunately none of these new members decided to attend.
This was disappointing to many of the older members, yet not entirely unexpected.
The new guys don't know us, don't know what we are about except that they can put on the Grrr tags.
Many have been recruited into Grrr specifically to fill a role in a team.
This is fine, we should be able to add guys into Grrr when we need players for teams.
But we also need guys to understand what being in Grrr is about.

Grrr has always had more of a family feel than a clan feel, and that needs to be emphasized.
I don't think we have communicated that effectively enough.
i.e New guys need to have a reason to commit to the Clan and what it is about.

Perhaps it is a case of the clan is shifting to more of a group of random gamer's, rather than a family.
If that is the case perhaps nothing needs to change.
But i don't believe that. I believe the majority want to know all the guys in the clan and want the family to grow and strengthen.

The Grrr slush fund has been severally neglected this year. Hardly anyone has contributed at all.
To date only these guys have contributed regularly:{fill in please Jarrod}

There have also been some payments since the RAGE thread started.

This has left the fund very low going into RAGE season, with a result:
We cant assist people to get up to RAGE.
We cant assist with accommodation.
We cant plan and pay for an EPIC 10th year party.

We also cant assist anybody with hardware purchases when there are emergencies as we have done in the past.

There are also a number of expenses that need to be payed out of the slush fund that keep Grrr up and running.

So something needs to change.
We need a way to insure the slush fund has money, and we need a way to insure new guys are committed to being part of Grrr, not just paying lip service to the idea.

The proposed change is this:
Going forward every one who want to remain a member(1) of Grrr will be required to pay a minimum of R50 per month into the slush fund.
Alternately you can pay in a lump sum of R600 a year.
This is in effect a membership fee.

What this will achieve:
It will make sure the slush fund is always full and ready for when needed.
We currently have 46 registered members, were everyone to pay we would have more the R25 000 every year in the fund.
It will make any prospective new member's think carefully about wanting to join.
It will weed out the current members that are not involved or dormant or uncommitted to Grrr.

What you will get for your money:
We have a number of expenses that need to be paid.
1. Website and domain: R1800 per year.
2. Teamspeak server: R180 per month.
3. Grrr RAGE video copies: Ducky give us an idea

We could also then pay for game servers for our competing teams.

The remainder of the money will be held and used for emergency help situations for any member.
But primarily will be used to subsidize the yearly RAGE get together.
To help those travelling from far who need it, with travel costs and accommodation.
It will also then be used to subsidize what ever group activities the CLAN gets up to.

The minimum amount if R50 is just that a minimum. That does not mean you cant pay more, and in fact we encourage that.
It is important to realize thought exactly how that money will be used. You may not necessarily be getting any direct personal benefit, but you will be helping others in the clan.
Jarrod who runs the fund, keeps a close eye on it and is very concerned with fairness, and should you be contributing a larger amount, where possible he will make sure you benefit from this extra contribution by giving you more of a subsidy come RAGE time.

Very important things to know:
We are not wanting to chase anybody away here.
We are not going to somehow make this all about money and hound guys relentlessly.
We understand that people go through tough times, and sometimes they may not be able to pay. Just let us know and we will make arrangements.
We don't want to stop anybody having fun, using the TS server, inviting random friends on and so on.
Anybody who feels this is not what they want to be a part of, that is fine. We part as friends. You are still welcome to come hang on TS sometimes. There are no hard feelings.

Rules that will govern this:
We are not going to chase you, we are not going to hound you.
Paying is your responsibility.
After 2 months of non payment, with out contacting someone and letting us know, will result in you being removed as a member.
If you have been away, or in a coma or whatever and want to come back, you will be welcomed back.

Slush Fund Account details:
Bank: ABSA
[B]Sort code: 632005
[B]Account number: 9243121822
[B]Account name: GRRR Slush Fund
Please guys, when making payments, use your online nick as the payment reference, so that I can see clearly who the cash came from[/B][/B][/B]

Please Indicate if you are in agreement with this proposed change.
Also indicate if you feel the amount is too much or too little.
If you have concerns or questions please raise them here, but be constructive please.
If you have any other ideas, please raise them.
One idea is we could promote use of the website by offering rewards of your monthly money back for creating content on the site. Such as blogs, reviews and so on.

Another suggested change is for our competing teams to write a blog about what is happening in the team, so the rest of the clan can have insight into whats going on.
I think this should become a requirement.



(1)Member means you get to wear the TAGS, play in any teams, take part in website and whatapp groups.

[Phatso]

I think this is great QB. I can't find any content faults bud. Well done.

[SlipperyDuck]

its perfect for annual DVD costs - Printable DVDs R200, DVD Covers R100, DVD Cover Prints R100, DVD Disc Prints R100, Stickers R600. This is usually what I spend each year, so add it to the list.
Annual DVD Cost R1100

Otherwise - Perfect mate - good diplomatic nudge fest

[Paul]

Great so I am assuming that people who don't contribute to the Slush fund will also automatically dismiss people who are just inactive. CHances of someone contributing to the slush but not being active on the forum, game or other communicate is low.

I think there may be some people who won't like this but it needs to be done. If that means some people leave Grrr then so be it.

[NiteShade]

Absolutely love it, Tyger. I think you have everything spot on.

[s3xy_j0nny]

Sounds like an excellent plan, Quentin. Perfect amount of money; if anyone cant pay R50 per month they have no business owning a pc or having bandwidth.

With regards to reuniting the clan a little, it would be great if we could organise a once a month get together on one TS channel. People can play whatever game they like, but everyone piles into one channel to shoot the shit and pick on Golli/Russian/Stu/Paul.

[Megageth]

Nicely put QB.

My personal preference would be to divide the actual clan expenses from rage expenses. Whilst getting together at rage is historically a big part of the clan and everyone should try to get there, just for the fun of it, its not a must to being in the clan as far as I see it. We are an online community. We get together to play online games primarily, the socials where we get together are fun and bring us closer together but are not a necessity to being part of an online gaming clan.
If there is to be a monthly sub, I'd like it to be the absolute minimum and include server costs/only other mandatory expenses. People could then pay rage subs in addition or combined with clan subs. (My apologies to the treasurer.)

This preference is not because I have issue with the amounts proposed, simply because I'd like being part of this clan to be as easy and seemless as possible and if anything, I'd like new members to have a sub-free period when they enter.

I think we have done well to avoid any mandatory subs for so long and that is due to several individuals who have given more than their share. Many thanks to those people, I am sure they know who they are.
We do have monthly expenses and we should share in covering them.

I will support whatever the clan goes with, those be my 2c.

[TygerBS]

Good points geth.

How about we structure money for rage like this.
The amount of people who come to rage will determine the portion of the money that can be used for rage.

So then the equation would be:
Money to be used for subsidy at rage = current fund amount(less clan expenses) - (number of people not coming to rage*(yearly contribution-portion for expenses))
So if we have 25 people in the clan paying @R600pa. = R15000
If 20 come to rage.
Clan expenses (TS server + website + DVD stuff) = R5060
Individual portion for expenses per year = R5060/25 = R202.40
Money to be used for subsidy at rage = (15000-5060)-(5*(600-202.40))
Money to be used for subsidy at rage = (9940)-(5*397.60)
Money to be used for subsidy at rage = (9940)-(1988)
Money to be used for subsidy at rage = R7952

This way the money is used as fairly as possible.

Doable Jarrod?

[Phatso]

While Geth makes good points, I fear it may be a mission to get people to pay twice - we've seen what a mission getting people to pay once is. Also "OMG TWO PAYMENTS?!?!?!" - could this not be something that might happen?

I imagine we would need a rAge fund then. Not everyone makes rAge but it is a very important part of the tradition. Its basically the only time of the year we all meet up. That makes a necessity imho.

Just throwing my 2c. Obviously whatever happens, i'll back it.

[Megageth]

A suggestion:

>Everyone makes a once off R100 per year (adjust as budget requires) payment that covers clan servers/expenses.
>As we are doing now, everyone who signs up for rage commits money as per plans of accommodation/food and whatever extra they are comfortable with to assist others.

Hopefully Jarrod can weigh in on this as well.