"I'm a member" (#40; Topic D)

The retirement community to which we moved last April has, among its numerous clubs, the Chinese Club. It is intended for residents with Chinese ethnicity, giving them an opportunity to get together to listen to native-language speakers. In time, it was broadened to include residents with Chinese-ethnic family members. Because the club is well run and well funded (with donations from well-to-do residents, etc), its due is low ($10 per year), which is used to subsidize many of its activities and to pay for flowers for deceased members. In 10 days' time (January 29), it will be another lunar New Year's Day. To celebrate this event, the club will host a banquet-style luncheon -- the usual fare, if one were to go on one's own, would be $20+ per head; the club, with its strong buying power, will pay only $15 per head. In turn, it asks each club member to pay only $10, contributing $5 from its coffers -- nonmember guests pay $15 each, still a good deal. Good news such as this travels fast, so much so that many residents of the retirement community, who have nothing whatsoever to do with China or her culture, want to participate. When the club's treasurer (which happens to be my wife) attempts to collect from them, they only want to pay $10, claiming that "I'm a member." Confronted with facts to the contrary, some claim "this is the last check I have;" others say that they carry no additional cash. Such is life.
Posted at 10:00 pm, Thursday, January 19, 2006