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Notes from the SCAR President, number 43 (17 November 2011)
Update: Proposed SCAR Fee Increase
Colleagues,
In 2012, SCAR Delegates will face a difficult decision to either increase membership fees and allow the organization to continue to build on a decade of momentum or preserve membership fees at their current level and curtail SCAR's activities to balance annual budgets. In a recent Presidential Note, supporting information was provided to assist in discussions with National Committees and national agencies that pay SCAR membership fees.
I also conducted a "straw poll" to gauge the sentiment of SCAR's members regarding a fee increase, recognizing that many SCAR Delegates do not have the authority alone to approve or disapprove changes in fees. During this process I have exchanged emails with many of you, answered questions, and suggested alternatives that might work best for individual national members. I appreciate everyone's candid and constructive comments regarding the issue itself and the external pressures that all national programs are experiencing. I am pleased to report that the non-binding "straw poll" has indicated overwhelming support for the increase in SCAR membership fees in 2013 by ~20%. In this Note I update you on the results of this informal poll so that together we can plan for 2012 and beyond. Early in the 2012 Delegates Meeting we will need to formally decide this issue so that the Finance Committee can construct budgets for 2013 and 2014 for approval.
There are currently thirty-one (31) SCAR member countries that are eligible to vote (membership levels A-D). Twenty-one (21) countries have indicated they support an increase in fees and five (5) have indicated they would "abstain" allowing the majority to decide, this is 84% of SCAR national membership. Of the remaining five (5) countries; I have not received a reply from two (2), another two (2) are discussing the issue and have not come to a decision (one has indicated support), and one( 1) has initially voted "no". Note that the SCAR Articles of Association: Section 8. Proceedings at general meetings: Sub-section 8.7 "Save as provided otherwise in these Articles, the Rules of Procedure and/or as otherwise approved by the Members, all decisions taken by the Meeting of Delegates shall require unanimity of the voting Members duly present and taking part". I continue to negotiate with the remaining countries to seek their opinions and to explore alternatives that will allow the increase to be approved.
I thank everyone for the constructive response and discussions. The SCAR Delegates of France provided a detailed analysis of the financial history of SCAR and outlined their concerns regarding an increase. I, as President, and the SCAR Executive Committee have carefully considered the comments by France and have responded. The documents related to this discussion are attached for your information [read in chronological order: 1) CFNRA (24-Oct-11) response to the SCAR Business Case for a Fee Increase, 2) SCAR (1-Nov-11) responses to CFNRA, and 3) second CNFRA response (9-Nov-11)].
As indicated above, the "straw poll" was non-binding and informal to judge the desire of the SCAR Delegates. I hope that SCAR's members agree that their investment in SCAR delivers great value and that working together, the modest amounts of funds contributed by individual members through fees are collectively leveraged for great impact and return. As I have indicated to many of you, I would not be supporting an increase at this less than opportune time if I did not feel it was critical to SCAR's future. I welcome further comments and feedback on this important issue and encourage those that have not responded to the "straw poll" to please do so.
Chuck K.
President of SCAR
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