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Re: shareholder retention
Basic Memberships at Ash Grove are $25 per year, $250 lifetime. A basic
membership entitles a member to:
Unlimited free visits ($5 each for non-members)
10% discount on all purchases -- produce, crafts, plants, livestock, etc.
20% discount on workshops
CSA memberships (garden co-op) are $200 non-working, $100 working. Folks can
stay or go, es machts nichts as they say in the old country. Many wander off
-- short attention span, the idea of connection and sharing responsibility for
the production of their food scares them, I irritate them, whatever. People
have left early because they didn't realize that a working share meant that
they might be expected to get some dirt under their fingernails. My opinion:
they are still star stuff, they should go with god. But go, as far away as
possible and as quickly as possible. <G>
I've got one member this year from my first year in 1991. I checked -- all
the rest have left the area (including my husband)! Well, I knew he'd gone.
Said it before -- I'd rather do this with two people who Get It than have 200
hanging around who don't. My attitude would be different if I was counting on
this for some income; I'm not. I'm donating the use of my land, and most of
my time (I formally ask to receive a percentage of any profits after operating
expenses have been paid, in lieu of salary for my time).
I _do_ go after any shareholder who leaves and try to find out why it was they
really left. Hubby going crazy and running around half-naked with a sword in
1994 was a biggy. Sigh. He's in Albuquerque now, but the shareholders never
did come back.
Some shareholders and spouses just have to be loved with open arms, I guess.
Dori Green
Ash Grove Community Farm yadda yadda
Corning, NY