As someone who has also recently cancelled my membership in the NAS, I
can identify with Ted Becker's message. I objected to the frequent calls
soliciting contributions. I had been in the habit of trying to give what
I could on an annual basis, when a couple years ago I started getting
calls a few months after sending money. To make matters worse, the caller
would suggest an amount of contribution which was several times the
amount I had ever given them at one time. When I objected I was assured
that they would not call again. I said that I had no objection to be
solicited by mail, and the caller said that was okay. A few months later,
another call came. I threatened to cancel my membership. In a way I feel
a little guilty about getting irate over the phone because I know I'm
talking to someone who is merely being payed to make the calls and has
nothing to do with the policy. Anyway, after the next call I did cancel--
not just fail to send in my renewal, but sent a letter to NAS explaining
exactly why I was terminating my membership. I have continued to receive
mailings from NAS, almost as if they think I'm still a member. Maybe that's
why I haven't yet gotten any calls asking me to rejoin.

I'm glad to hear that at least one local chapter is trying to take action
against these obnoxious practices of the national organization. Maybe what
people like Ted and me should be doing is letting NAS know that if they
ended these high-handed methods of solicitation that we would be willing
to become members again. I do believe that NAS is a worthwhile organization,
but these tactics are intolerable and I will not belong to any organization
that acts in such a disrespectful way toward its members.

Mark Crotteau
Pullman, WA <crotteau at wsuvm1.csc.wsu.edu>