Music & Liturgy for non-members

[Nick Baty]

I happen to know there are usually spare copies. Therefore, unless there were zillions needed, the only on-cost is postage. And that would surely be covered by the subscription.

[monty]

Give up! Re-join.

[PaulW]

The membership fee can, at the minute, be given with GiftAid, which is a significant income for the charity. The Journal is part of the membership package and is considered of no value by HMRC. If the Journal is sold, then it puts an intrinsic value on it which then means that that becomes a benefit in kind for the membership and that portion of the membership subscription cannot be included in the GiftAid claim... or so I understand.

However, I'm no Tax advisor!

[SOP]

Hey Nick, for 30 quid you can have mine after I have finished reading it!!

How much is the membership these days?

xx

[Nick Baty]

I'm sure Paul W knows what he's talking about with GiftAid etc and, yes, it is important to any charity.

But take this scenario: You have, perhaps, a dozen copies of each issue over (I suspect you have more) and they may be given away at various events etc.

If even 12 of us wish to subscribe to the mag, there's £30x12= £360. Even if you pay tax on that – and even if you didn't have charitable status you'd be able to set costs against it – you're still better off.

I hadn't meant to spark a huge debate. It was just a suggestion which I thought might benefit everyone.

[musicus]

I hadn't meant to spark a huge debate. It was just a suggestion which I thought might benefit everyone.

It was a good suggestion. I have passed it on to the Trustees for their consideration.

[Nick Baty]

Thanks, Mr Bear – ever the voice of reason.
And I, for one, would happily take out such a subscription were it available.

[MaryR]

I suspect I'll regret having my say here but.... if folk want the journal because they think the content is good and, broadly speaking, reflects their own views, then why on earth would they object to becoming a member? Membership fees help us to keep the journal going (and the SSG summer school and other events), by allowing us to claim Gift Aid from the Tax Man. This is a valuable income for us, and enables us to continue to work towards furthering our aims. I know that the wheels of the Society turn too slowly sometimes, Nick, and you've said elsewhere on this board that this is a frustration for you but, being a member and working with us would be far more constructive, and very much welcomed. I just don't see what the big deal is about membership versus subscription, especially if you're prepared to pay the same price.

It has already been said here, but if we were to offer the journal for sale, and people then started choosing to buy it, rather than taking out membership, we would lose considerable revenue and that would impact negatively on the production of the journal. I suspect I shall vote against offering it for sale if/when we vote on it, but you can rest assured that there will be healthy debate about it before any decision is reached!

[Nick Baty]

...if we were to offer the journal for sale, and people then started choosing to buy it, rather than taking out membership, we would lose considerable revenue

Not if the cash was donation based – then you could still claim Gift Aid.

Or could you offer M&L to non-members at a higher rate to cover the Gift Aid difference – perhaps £40? – as you do with the summer school?

Again, didn't mean to cause a huge debate, it was only meant as a helpful suggestion. And you'd have 30 or more quid from me, for what it's worth, and, I dare say, from a few others as well.