What are the benefits of membership?
On 6/17/06, Brad Patrick bradp.wmf@gmail.com wrote:
< you get to "belong" and call yourself a member.
I would say this sums it up well. Not necessarily based on dues; the definition of membership helps people identify with a group or cause. Some people like the foundation and would want to be members. Others would not. Those that would, might be glad to have a little icon or <cough> userbox to put on their user page, might be willing to answer some basic information about themselves such as a general survey, might be glad to have the opportunity to sign up for regular information or to be reminded about events such as fund drives and conferences. By making a small effort each year to identify as members, they would have a stronger sense of participation in the Foundation.
When becoming a member of my local NPR affiliate, I have the 'right' to be solicited by them to renew my membership. I'm not aware of any other rights I have; though I get some member-related swag. Nevertheless, I feel good about said membership process, better than just saying "yes, I'm a listener".
As to anonymity...
in, required or otherwise, I think recent history has shown that part of the lingering appeal to many in the community is that anonymity will be respected.
I don't know anyone actively interested in being a member of the foundation (whatever that means) who wants their identity to be hidden *from the foundation*. Hidden from other editors and from the general public, perhaps. I can imagine the former being the case in a theoretical sense; but I would like to know of a single example so that we're not setting up a complete hypothetical as a strawman.
SJ