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July 20, 2007
ATA DUES TO INCREASE JANUARY 1ST, 2008
It has been eleven years since the American Topical Association last raised
domestic dues, and seven years since they have revised the two and three-years
dues for non-US resident’s memberships. With the inflation over that period of
time, tied with the recent increases of postage rates that run from 8% to 15%,
the ATA has found that it must also increase its income to cover the costs of
additional business expenses.
At the ATA annual Board meeting in June, the Board voted to increase the dues of
membership effective January 1, 2008. Members of the ATA who extend their memberships
before that date can obtain the current rates for the extension period.
U. S. resident dues will increase from $20 to $25 for a one-year membership and
from $39 to $45 for a two year membership. Three-year’s dues will increase from
$58 to $65. However, the ATA has also added a five-year membership option of $100
which means that members who obtain a five year membership will pay only $20 per
year which will not only be a savings to them, but will help reduce ATA costs in
mailing reminders for annual membership payments.
Non-US members will have their dues increased from $30 to $33 for one year, from
$50 to $60 for two years and from $78 to $82 for three years. The newly created
five year rate is $125, which results in an annual cost of only $25 per year.
Since the non-US increases were last changed in 2000, the increases were not as
high as for US members.
The ATA is, for the first time, seeking members who may wish to sponsor another
member who cites “money” as their primary reason for having to drop his or her
membership. The ATA will then advise the donor when the next person who needs
help to retain their membership agrees to receive outside help. The names of
both parties will be kept anonymous. The ATA wants to help anyone who wishes
to enjoy topical collecting in any way possible.
For information on the world’s largest all-topical philatelic organization, contact the ATA
Central Office, P.O. Box 57, Arlington, Texas 76004-0057 (telephone: 1-817-274-1181; email
americantopical@msn.com; or visit their
website at
www.americantopicalassn.org.
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