[ga] Lowering the Business Constituency Membership fee for micro-enterprises

[George Kirikos <gkirikos@yahoo.com>]

Dear Marilyn,

Has there been any debate about whether to reduce the fees to join the
Business Constituency, to make it more inclusive for small businesses? 

While billion dollar companies can easily afford the 1500 Euros
(category 1 company, as per http://www.bizconst.org/bcjoin.htm ), for
smaller companies, even 250 Euros is a significant expenditure to join
as a category 3 firm (1/6th the fee of a Category 1 firm!).

I suspect that a lot of small firms would join if the fee was around
$50 or 50 euros (or even 25). Adding the voices of hundreds of small
businesses (who paid 50 euros) would add greater legitimacy to the
constituency as a forum for both large and small business alike, and
hopefully lead to better policy, instead of just the 50 or so current
member firms. Small firms make up a greater fraction of the economy
overall than the bigger ones.

Given that it costs very little for mailing lists, or discussion board
software (software like phpBB is free), the incremental costs of the
additional members would likely be minimal. Perhaps a poll or something
on the BC website, to ascertain how many folks would join at different
pricing levels would help?

Sincerely,

George Kirikos
http://www.kirikos.com/

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