The Executive committee of the NKF took everyone by surprise when they proposed to a delighted AGM on 24 March that membership subscriptions from KPAs to the National Kidney Federation should be waived for the coming year. The proposal, worth £20,000 to KPAs was agreed unanimously.
The actual proposal read as follows:-
"It is proposed by the Executive Committee that the membership subscriptions for year 2001/2002 be maintained at the same level as last year, however, during the year 2001/2002 no subscription shall be required from any KPA that participates in the NKF Annual Draw by permitting draw tickets to be circulated directly to their individual members inside the magazine Kidney Life"
The meeting was also pleased to hear that if the success of the Annual Draw continues then it would be the intention of the Executive committee to recommend the waiving of annual membership subscriptions each and every year thereafter.
Since the NKF Annual Draw had been saved from closure last year, by the introduction of direct selling of draw tickets via the Kidney Life magazine, the activity had moved from making a loss in real terms to the NKF, to actually making a profit of around £30,000 that assisted, rather than drained, its limited funds.
Whilst this turnaround must be applauded, the Executive Committee remained concerned to hear that a small number of KPAs did rely on income previously earnt by the old style draw. Although the amount earnt was small (average of £96 per KPA) in fact for the KPAs that worked very hard to sell tickets the loss was much greater. The Executive Committee was determined to find a way to return this £5,952 (62 KPAs x £96) back to the KPAs. In fact, by waiving the membership subs they are returning £20,000.
If a KPA chooses not to allow the NKF to sell its draw tickets directly through Kidney Life within its area, then of course that KPA must continue to pay annual membership subscription fees, but it is very much the hope of the NKF that this will not happen. By ending KPA subscriptions the NKF hopes that KPAs who are not members of the NKF will now feel that they can join, making the whole movement stronger.
The NKF must raise money to fight the cause of renal patients, however, this decision shows that it is the intention of the NKF to raise this money from other sources whenever possible and not to raise it internally from its KPA members.
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Page created: 28 March 2001
Last updated: 24 March 2008
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