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kingvozzo
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| Posted: April 14 2007 at 9:57am | IP Logged
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Would you be willing to share the dues (if any) required by your homeschool group or co-op? I was involved in a group the year before last, and the dues were $35, which also gave you the option of participating in their "Monday classes," (for a nominal tuition and supply fee.) I didn't participate this year because of a sched. conflict. It seems they've reorganized the group, and now the dues and fee structure have really changed.
Standard Membership: $250/year + 35 volunteer hours per family per year
Reduced Time Commitment: $450/year + 20 volunteer hours per family per year
This new rate includes a free monthly field trip and no tuition for the Monday co-op.
I have no idea how this even came to pass without my even hearing about it 
I don't know that I can commit to the number of hours they want...although they do have the option of donating $1000 with NO volunteer commitments   
So, what's up with your groups?
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Noreen
Wife to Ed
Mom to 4 great kids and 10 sweet ones in Our Lady's arms
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Maryan
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| Posted: April 14 2007 at 11:40am | IP Logged
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Wow! I think it around twenty bucks (although I have baby brain, so it could have been more, but not more than $40 or even with baby brain -- I think I would remember!!) But I hardly participate in anything, so I don't know the individual club fees.
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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KC in TX
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| Posted: April 14 2007 at 11:42am | IP Logged
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We have a small homeschool group and we have no membership fees. We all pay our own way for field trips, etc. When we do have group activities, we bring our own supplies or someone will donate them.
The amount seems so high to me. I was involved in a bigger group that I left due to different conflicts and their membership dues were $10 and $25 for coop with sharing of teaching duties.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: April 14 2007 at 11:51am | IP Logged
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Small group here too.. we choose to pay $5/family for the facilities we use for our monthly get together.. but that's if you show up.. and we share out other costs of supplies and snacks and such. And pay our own way if we do field trips.. and those tend to be local and free anyway.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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chicken lady
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| Posted: April 14 2007 at 1:01pm | IP Logged
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10.00 a year if you want to receive a newsletter! We pay for individual field trips, etc! We have a very large group!
Your group sounds very organized and structured, we have so many different types of families here our group is very laid back. Sort there if you want it style!
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stacykay
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| Posted: April 14 2007 at 1:27pm | IP Logged
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kingvozzo wrote:
.... It seems they've reorganized the group, and now the dues and fee structure have really changed.
Standard Membership: $250/year + 35 volunteer hours per family per year
Reduced Time Commitment: $450/year + 20 volunteer hours per family per year
This new rate includes a free monthly field trip and no tuition for the Monday co-op.
...although they do have the option of donating $1000 with NO volunteer commitments....
So, what's up with your groups? |
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WOW! That is a fortune! At least in my book. 
Our group was "free" for the first few years I belonged, with the only expenditures for those field trips we chose to go on. These were set up by whomever thought up a fun idea, and we sent the money to that person. Nothing was terribly expensive, some were even free. We still do this, as far as field trips go, as some may appeal to different age groups, some may not be an interest at all, and we may be gone or have a conflict for others.
About 4 years ago, one of the moms took over the simple email loop we had, for communication and chatting. It became an "egroup" and we had to pay for that. We actually had 2 egroups, one for only educational sharing and the other for anything else. It was pretty strict, and communication dropped drastically, online, between members. At the most, though, our member fee was a total of $11.00. That included both egroups, a "member card" (which was just a piece of cardstock with the name of our group, the school year, and member name,)a post office box to send member forms too (imho a total waste of money, but the lady who set up the egroup and po box is extremely fearful of identity stealing,) and materials for any mailings (which are basically nil,) and handouts for new members.
We now have a yahoo group for our communication, so our member fee for this year is $3.00.)
We don't have a coop within our group, but there are many available in our area. They do require volunteer time, but not the major amount of $$ you are talking about.
What types of things are offered at the coop?
What kind of field trips are offered?
How many are in your group?
(We have 60 families in ours- I can't even begin to guess how many children!  )
Is it Catholic?
What has been the response of the other members?
I really like the "looseness" of our group, ie. that there is no one person (anymore) calling all the shots and everyone is free to contribute and participate when they can and desire.
Our group also meets for First Friday Mass (and has a little choir for those interested to sing at Mass,) weekly roller skating days in the winter (minimal cost, and they play Christian music!,) park days in the summer, an end of summer swim and picnic party, monthly "book buddies" for the children to share what they have learned with others, recite a poem or play an instrument, whatever, a monthly board game night, a monthly mom meeting (children are welcome, as there is plenty of room to play at the mom's house who hosts the meeting, but most moms (except nursing ones,) are happy about a "night out alone!" and leave dc with dh.
Our members are also very generous with their time and talents. One mom has offered free Latin help. Nearly all will bring dinners, babysit, whatever during times of need. We volunteer at the church where the First Friday Masses are held, too, doing cleanup and beautification projects. When a family had particularly difficult financial problems, many contributed to help make mortgage payments for them.
Really a great group of Catholic ladies.
Would it be possible to make up a smaller group of Catholic moms who aren't interested in the big financial outlay? I will be interested to hear what you do!
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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Kristen in TN
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| Posted: April 14 2007 at 3:13pm | IP Logged
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Wow! I wouldn't be a member of that group. I'm too cheap!
Our small one here is $10. and we pay for what needs to be paid for, but most things seem to be free.
The last one we were in was a little more structred and we paid $25. They paid for most of our things unless they were really expensive and then the group paid a portion depending on price. We also had a greens fundraiser once a year that helped a lot.
God bless,
Kristen in TN
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ShawnaB
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| Posted: April 14 2007 at 7:35pm | IP Logged
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Yes, that does sound very high. Our small group costs about $15/year per family to heat, light, and clean the building. We also pay a materials fee per child of $15/year too cover cooking and craft supplies. Each family can also purchase optional T shirts for their kids for $10 per shirt. Our group is made up of 20-25 kids...and much fewer moms! 
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: April 14 2007 at 7:49pm | IP Logged
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~$20.00, and this can be waived if there is a financial need. But I think we are comparing apples and oranges. I've known of formal coops that do require a lot of money, a lot of time, and a lot of interaction with others. Our group is more of a network, with flexible interactions and complete choice about what/when to participate.
Love,
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Angie Mc
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Support group dues?
