The page I linked to in my opening email -
http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/Membership/Promoting - discusses this exactly and suggests how we could describe the benefit of membership to potential members.
So, to return to Stevie's point, when Gordo, says:
"
This issue is not about privacy or openness. It is about what a member gets that others do not.
At the moment, voting at the AGM comes to mind, paying dues and not much else." (my emphasis) the question that historically we haven't answered is: should
members get privileges?
How does that square with the fact other wikimedia chapter memberships don't really seem to get specific benefits and privileges? Would it be consistent with what the movement and our chapter in it are trying to achieve?
I think the answer is 'probably not'. It's not up to me to decide, but I don't think we can afford to keep getting stuck/vague on this point. It will harm recruitment.
I think the descriptions of what people can gain through joining that I laid out on the page sum up why new and established editors would benefit from becoming members without offering them discounts, private emails, special extras etc.
I am up for the idea of a lapel pin though - it might be nice for people to have this to demonstrate their support.
