Dear Members,
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our organization.
We are writing to inform you of a recent update to our policy
regarding member participation fees for online seminars. Following a
review by the Board of Directors, the previous policy of providing all
online seminars free of charge to members will be discontinued,
effective this fiscal year.
The New Policy
Moving forward, individual SIGs and RACs will have the discretion to set participation fees for their respective online events.
Background and Rationale
The "free of charge" model
was originally introduced as a temporary member benefit during the
COVID-19 pandemic when in-person gatherings were restricted. As online
formats have evolved into a standard industry practice, we have
encountered new challenges under the previous blanket policy, including:
- Increasing difficulty in covering operational costs.
- Constraints on the scale and variety of programs we can offer.
Looking Ahead
By allowing for flexible pricing, our
SIGs and RACs can now invest in higher-quality content and more diverse
programming. Please note that while some sessions will carry a fee,
others may remain free at the organizer's discretion. We encourage you
to review the specific details for each upcoming event.
We appreciate your understanding as we work to enhance the value and sustainability of our educational offerings.