johnny said:
Ouch,
Mike I think it all depends on the mood a person is in when reading these posts. They can easily be misinterpreted on a bad day. However, I don't hate
pwna nor it's members. What "bothers" me is that the pwna charges for a membership & charges for it's services and then holds an annual convention to encourage members to spend more moneys, when the members would be better off to run their businesses, read these BBS's, take business courses and ask questions. People like Everett and many others answer questions willingly, not because he's a member of pwna but because he's Everett. I am suggesting that there is a middle man (pwna) that stands in the way that serves no purpose.
I think it more depends on the mood a person is in when writing these posts. This post by you is much more civil, and explains why you feel as you do. The thing you haven't mentioned, though, is that it isn't up to you to determine whether the members would be better off reading the boards, taking classes, etc. That's up to THEM. Some apparently see a benefit and go for it. No one forces anyone to join and pay the membership fee. No one forces anyone to take classes and pay for them. No one forces anyone to go to conventions and spend money. These are all personal choices that each member makes.
You made a statement in an earlier post that basically said that most of the members are newbies who don't know any better. Even if that WERE true, that is again their choice. If they don't know any better and truly get taken advantage of (which I don't believe), that's THEIR fault for not doing their homework before laying down $200.00. The bottom line is that the PWNA offers a service, and it is up to each of us to decide whether they are offering something we want, and whether it is worth what they're charging.
I used to be a member of another trade organization relating to property management. They too charged a membership fee, and then charged for things like education courses, conventions, etc. Most trade organizations do. If all these things were free, your membership dies would be much higher.
Holding classes isn't free. It isn't even cheap. From what I've read, if I understand correctly, PWNA members who teach these courses don't get paid anything. If that's the case, then my hat is off to them. Of course they're compensated for expenses...that's only fair. Should they be expected to pay their own airfare, car rental, hotel, and meals so they can go teach a course for free? Hardly.
Whether the PWNA serves a purpose or not is entirely a subjective thing. It is up to the members to decide if there's a reason for the organization to exist. If no one derives any benefit from it, and no one chooses to remain a member, then there's no reason for it to exist. Until that time, there is apparently a reason. I can't see that 400+ people choose to lay down $200.00/year for something they get nothing out of. Even if it were only a sense of belonging or cameraderie that they got from it, that's up to them to decide if it is worth the money.
Sorry for the long post, but it really isn't up to you to decide these things. You can have your opinions, but when it comes down to it, you only have the right to decide for yourself.