Dear AVA member,

The time for renewing your AVA membership is now approaching - the current 
membership year ends on September 30th.  This year, however, the system is 
changing...

This year's payment will be a single, one-off, lifetime membership fee.  No 
more annual renewal!  At just £25 for ordinary membership, the new fee is 
only slightly increased from the usual yearly charge.  Regrettably, we are 
no longer offering reduced rates to students or optometrists.

In addition, we are now moving to an electronically-based membership 
system.  This means that you will no longer receive a hard-copy of the 
bulletin, but instead the bulletin, and all other communication, will be 
sent by e-mail.  By use of the [log in to unmask] address (which includes 
all AVA members), we also have a forum for discussion about vision-related 
matters.

We have calculated that the savings incurred on printing, postage and 
administration should make this new system financially viable.  In 
addition, of course, the AVA will continue to run regular meetings, and it 
is hoped that the registration fees for these will remain much as before.

Two other points to note.  Firstly, as part of the new system, we have a 
new application form which requests information not included on the 
previous form.  Even though you will be renewing, please could you complete 
ALL details, as applications will not be passed forward for ratification by 
the Executive Committee until they are complete.  The information on the 
form will be fed into what we hope will be a useful membership list, to be 
sent out annually.  Secondly, while your membership is for life, it will 
lapse if you do not inform us of changes to your e-mail address.  Please 
let us know if you move, as soon as possible.

The new application form is attached to this e-mail, and we request that 
you print it off and send it in hard copy, so that we have a signed version 
on record.  As last year, we welcome subscription payments by PayPal, 
cheque or money order.

We hope that these changes meet with your approval.  They are being 
implemented after gathering the views of many members at both the Christmas 
Meeting and the Annual General Meeting, where they seemed to be popular!

We look forward to receiving your application.

With best regards,

Tom & Gillian
AVA Secretariat