Membership Renewal for the Cost of a Stamp
With the introduction of a PayPal method, the International Clematis Society now provides a comprehensive set of methods for members to pay their membership renewal, often for free but otherwise for no more than the cost of a common postage stamp.
The electronic service, PayPal, enables transfers of small sums of money at low cost from most countries around the world, specifically including those countries where members have had problems in the past. For the Society and members alike, this electronic service is safe and simple.
PayPal also reduces risk for members and the Society alike in times of fluctuating exchange rates. Provided you make the payment in Euros, you will get the exchange rate applicable on the day the payment is made.
Nevertheless the Society (and its Treasurer) is glad to continue to use our local Country Membership Secretaries. Their experience and help is of great value and we see members continuing to renew their membership though their local collection points as before, namely:-
- Canada - Llyn Strelau
- Europe - Horst Weihrauch
- Great Britain - Michael Warren
- Japan - Yukiko Zama
- USA - Richard Huff
Similarly those members who use online banking should continue to do so.
Our tests with PayPal have shown that a transfer from Norway or Japan to our German account incurs a fee of approximately 1.60 Euros. Thus, you can renew your membership for 31.60 Euros from virtually anywhere in the world.
Method 1 - for those who have a PayPal account
Many people now have a personal PayPal account, it is convenient, especially if you use online auction site services such as eBay, and having a PayPal account costs nothing.
If you do, then you can simply transfer your renewal fee to the Treasurer's email address; pelkum.gdn@web.de.
Please make sure you specify that you wish to transfer the fee in Euros! PayPal will use the exchange rate applicable at that moment in time to calculate the charge to you in your local currency but will credit the Society account in Euros.
Method 2 - for those who do not have a PayPal account
If you do not have - and do not wish to create - an account with PayPal, you may still use this method. Please email the Treasurer and you will be sent a simple form by email. This can be filled in with two or three simple steps and submitted. PayPal will report the transaction to both parties by email, though it is good practice to email the Treasurer and say what you have done.
PayPal is a sibling of eBay, which is available in 190 markets and 17 currencies worldwide. The service accepts payments by all current Internet browsers.
Note that users of the Internet should always run recognized security software and have the latest security updates installed on their computers, be the system Linux, Mac or Microsoft.
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