Here's A Problem I Need Help With...

[tcwest10]

At my job, I belong to what is called a "Sunshine Club". For those who don't know what that is, it's a fund that all the regular employees chip into (in our case, $2 every two weeks). We use that money to pay for floral arrangements when a member (or a relative of a member) dies, fruit baskets when a member is ill, and holiday parties. Until recently, the club was a smooth running deal. We had the same guys all year long, and most spent their entire career in the same place.
Here's the problem. A few years ago, the New York State Thruway Authority came up with a new job title for any new employees wishing to be hired as maintenance workers on the highway. They combined the bridge repair guys with us highway guys, and came up with a simple Thruway Maintenance Worker title. There would be no more pure highway guys, and no more pure bridge guys. The new hires would spend half a year here, and half a year there.
Herein lies the grabber. Half the crew is now comprised of TMW's. They're only here for half a year, and they don't want to pay the $2 while they're in Highways because they aren't covered for deaths or parties when they go back to Bridges. The Highway guys don't want to pay all year long if the new guys don't have to. Half a years dues won't cover anything, and less than 100% membership leads to problems.
The fund is starting to die, and it seems a shame. One solution that was brought up was, when we had a BBQ or a party, the guys who didn't pay in as members could just chip in for the cost of the party and it would be cool. This way, nobody gets left out, and nobody files a grievance. The regular members don't like that plan, because their dues exceed what could be reasonably charged for a single party. (For the floral arrangements, the non-members would be cut out. That is not an issue.)
So, what would you do ? How do you appease all ?

[Jake]

I don't know why those people aren't wiling to pay $52 a year for a cause.

Don't have a tip for ya except to try and convince them that is all for a good cause.

[1niksder]

We have "potlucks" once a month during lunch at my job. Every department has it's on potluck, and we have 6 departments. The co-workers who do not want to bring a dish will donate $8 to supplement meal (Normally rack of lamb).

This seems to workout for everyone, considering my wife works in a different department and we try to eat lunch together as often as possible.

Depending on the number of party's and events that go on with in the year, you could cover the $2 a month by partying everyother month and charging a fee of $9 for non paying members

[DEHog]

TC we have that problem all the time in the military.
There's two schools of thought here..
1. Those who don't pay don't get the benifits
2. Just press and do it out of the kindness of those who want to. Once someone (who's not contributing) gets something from it they will come around.

[Chris Luva Luva]

[BossHog]

Why not have the TMWs pay $4 per cheque when they are on the highway side and subsequently extend the same privileges the whole year. it can be officially or unofficially, you could just have a kitty you can access if a guy needs help when he's on the 'bridge' side...

Just make the cost of inclusion be on a YEARLY basis instead of a weekly basis and it'd be easier. if you want inclusion in the coverage then you have to agree to pay $52 that year... guys that are highway guys can have $1 week deducted if they prefer that to one lump sum... TTMWs will have to likely contribute $2/week as they will only be contributing for 26 weeks.

[DieselFan]

This is the perfect question for Dr. Diesel to tap into his infinite wisdom and vast fount of knowledge to answer.

Here are my tips:

(1) First off...rename it to the "Highway BBQ Club" or "Cracked Hardhat Club"...because "Sunshine Club" is a bit feminine. That sounds like a place my gay Uncle Steve visits once or twice a month. You must conjure up images more becoming a highway worker.

(2) Tell their cheap butts to pitch in the measly $2 (which, as our math major -- Jake -- pointed out is a mere $52 bucks a year)

[tcwest10]

Okay...
First, the Boss. That's what the plan was, initially. The fulltime highway guys, though, they pay throughout the year, and there's one or two hard cases that say the benefits should end when the TMW's go to bridges. What I wanted was for the TMW's to pay up for the whole year, and to get their respective work units to send 'em back up to highways for the parties or whatever, but it isn't feasible. No boss from another section is gonna go for that.
Dr. Diesel, we're really not all that concerned about the name of the club. In fact, I think you might be the first person to bring that up.
Hmmm....

As you can see, it is a thing. There was no problem in the past, but this new job title is really handing our butts to us.
DE, I wish that were true. We had one guy who had two family funerals while his dues were in arrears. He came to me each time and said that he was kind of broke...long story short, I put the money in for him. He got the floral arrangements. He dropped out of the club last month. Said he disagreed with the thing in principle.