I wanted to join the Maple Society so I went to their website and found a specific form for Europeans to be filled and sent by mail (like in the old days, no e-mail!) together with a check to an address in the UK. Now here is my problem, it is specified that the check should be in $ or £ but I live in the Euroland and going to my bank and asking for a bank's check in $ or £ costs me more than twice the annual fee. So I sent a letter to the given UK address stating the problem more than a month ago and no answer. God heavens, Maple Society, do you think that in Continental Europe we do not use modern payment schemes like credit cards, Paypal, etc.? American candidates have it much easier. Gomero
I did have it pretty easy joining the society from the USA, but shortly after joining, I inquired multiple times about obtaining back issues of the Newsletter. I inquired because it had been stated in a thread here that back issues would be available--I would certainly have been willing to put forth the expense if reasonable. As you might guess, my request for back issues has never been answered. I think the Society is going in the right direction but, like many organizations of its type, suffer the plight of infrastructure over multiple geographic areas and the lack or funding for full-time staff or help--of which the membership level does not warrant or dictate. But, at the least, I would think they should be able to process your registration and answer questions. From what I have seen in the newsletters, website and message, I would say that the Society has yet to properly and effectively identify their audiance and membership--let alone define and execute a mission the speaks to Maples themselves. This forum truly speaks to what is needed in maples and I often wonder if anyone is listening.
Hi, Gomero. If I remember correctly they have a IBAN/BIC number, and you can wire the money at little extra cost through your bank account - no need for a check. I'll look through my papers later today and try to find it and will email it to you. (Just to share my experience: they did respond - I had their address through the Westonbirt people - may be a different one? - and Mr. Gregory sent a follow up letter once I had joined the society, so in that respect they responded quickly and very much in detail. But I'll look into finding the info for you.) Schusch
My bank asked me for no less than £25 (yes ... £25) to pay an account in Holland using an IBAN number I posted a cheque........
Gomero, I am so sorry to hear of your unsuccessful communication by mail. I joined the Maple Society last fall just before the International Symposium and met wonderful people, who love and grow maples. I am so glad to hear that you will be joining as well. There is an annual meeting on both continents, a seed exchange in the fall, and from my reading, the European group seems to do a bit of group touring of gardens. Unfortunately, it is still a small group with relatively inexpensive dues to cover an internationally distributed informative newsletter four times per year. Therefore they still cannot afford to pay credit card companies and are not set up to do so. The Maple Society only publishes addresses of its members, partly because the newsletter is housed in libraries which subscribe. I have this information for the secretary-treasurer of the North American Branch so I will send her a note regarding this matter, with a copy to a couple of other members, to see how this issue is typically handled. This is a three-day weekend in the States, so it may be a couple of days, but if you would send me an email or private message with your email, I will pass that along as well.
I understand from an Oxford website that traveller's checks in pounds, or even U.S. dollars, are relatively easy to get in the international division of 'any' European bank. Are those expensive to get? The current membership fee of ten pounds is at least a nice round number, and one of those could be made out to the Maple Society and mailed in.
I've had exactly the same problem with trying to get money across borders - my bank once tried to charge me GBP 40 to get something costing GPB 2 from France (needless to say, I told them where to go - but I didn't get the item). Wish Britain would join the Euro!
Well, thanks everybody. The best solution is to send euro bills by mail. The cost of converting the euros into pounds is minimal when compared to all the bank fees for checks, transfers, etc. However I still believe that PayPal is a really low cost solution as well, and more reliable than sending bills by mail. Gomero
