International Brigade Memorial Trust
IBMT Secretary Jim Jump writes…
Thank you to those IBMT members who gave us feedback on the Executive Committee’s intention to scrap the concessionary membership subscription rate. We’ve listened to your views and taken action accordingly.
As I explained in the last issue of the IBMT Magazine, the concessionary rate of £12.50 a year barely covers the cost of producing and sending this magazine to each concessionary member, let alone all the other expenditure involved in running the Trust.
However, we recognise that many people who are unwaged or on benefits or the minimum wage have to budget very carefully. They cannot afford to pay a lot more, yet are very keen to continue supporting the Trust.
So we’re keeping the concessionary category, with the rate increasing from 1 January 2018 by the same £5 that is being applied to other membership categories. The new concessionary rate is therefore £17.50 a year. It will still be £7.50 less than the standard individual membership rate, but it more realistically reflects the real value – and cost – of IBMT membership.
The individual rate is meanwhile going up from £20 to £25 a year and the household rate (up to four people at one address) from £25 to £30.
I hope everyone will appreciate why we’ve having to increase subscriptions. The IBMT does amazing work in keeping alive the story of the volunteers who went to Spain. But we can only do so with the support of everyone and with sufficient resources.
Subscription rates haven’t been raised for five years, and this will only be the second time they have been adjusted since the IBMT was established in 2001. Since then the range and quality of our activities have expanded considerably.
In the past couple of years, for example, we have launched the new IBMT eNewsletter, commissioned the acclaimed play ‘Dare Devil Rides to Jarama’ and moved into our own badly-needed rented office space in central London.
It’s essential that our work continues. The story of the men and women who went to Spain is still not properly known or understood. Their example of international solidarity and anti-fascism must be passed on to future generations. With everyone’s loyalty and support we can help make sure this happens.
Posted on 3 November 2017.
