The biggest thing "wrong" is the record keeping required at the Charter Club. Over the past several years, the record-keeping factor has been pointed out a number of times in this forum. Pro-rating the dues is basically the same as having dues being for a year from paying, like a "Fiscal Year" so to speak.

When things get heated up here, there are those that bleat the proverbial this is a "hobby" and should not be taken seriously. In most cases of the local relatively small group of a small number, say 20 to 60, of members, such may well be the case. At the other end of the scale, there are many clubs with memberships well over a hundred. There exists many clubs where the flying facility has administrative ties and/or restrictions to the Chartered Club requirements. To keep up-to-date records requires serious work. This happens either in "Fiscal-Year" or "Pro-rated" dues. Of course at least "Pro-Rated" is better because all die on the same date, which makes it easier for the Sec/Treas to keep up on that part.

Now give due consideration to the fact that those charged with the record-keeping duties are so-called "hobbyists" which are volunteering their allotted "hobby time" to provide a service to the 90% of the club members that will not do one da_n thing for the club except pay the dues when finally chased down. Why should those that serve voluntarily be encumbered with such additional duty of chasing these people down on a 7/24, 365 day job, when once a year now works so well?

Having served as Secretary and President within several clubs, two having large memberships and multi-thousand $$ budgets each year, I have every respect for those that serve and try to do things correctly. OTOH those that do not be businesslike, I have no tolerance for.

In reality, those joining AMA late in the year do get a kind of prorate PROVIDING they renew. I don't see anything wrong with that. All one has to do is keep up and join each year.