What is this “Friends of NCHENZ” category ?
NCHENZ have 2 sorts of members :
1. Group membership – affiliated groups $10 fee or $25 for incorporated group member
2. Individual members ($5 if the person also belongs to a member group otherwise $10)
We have an informal category called “Friends of NCHENZ”. “Friends of NCHENZ” groups are not joining NCHENZ. They are however acknowledging that they desire to work together in some way. They are willing to distribute information among their members.
For informal groups, for example email networks that do not charge their members to belong, “Friends of NCHENZ” is an excellent place to start. The home educators within the network have an opportunity to learn what NCHENZ is doing, what we are about and also we appreciate if in turn there might be the odd thing that they can do to help us 
eg put us in touch with adult home educators who will write something for our “after home education” webpages, alert us to an excellent article etc
Groups that charge for membership are welcome to become friends of NCHENZ as well. I think this way the group can learn what we are doing.
The NCHENZ committee is hopeful as the “friendship” develops that all our friends in time might consider becoming a member group. The group would need to decide ( in whatever way your groups makes decisions) to affiliate with NCHENZ ie enter into a formal relationship). The money could be donated by a few motivated people (ie you only need a 2 individual members of NCHENZ to give $5 towards the group’s membership and they get their $5 discount and so both are no worse off) or perhaps gold coins could be collected at one of the support meetings.
For example ASHE a South Auckland yahoo group ( which has no membership fees) is going to join: the moderator set up a poll to check that the membership was happy. The $10 was donated.
Why would a group or an individual want to join when they can receive the information for free?
Firstly we believe that when people begin to see what we are doing and what the money is used for, that they will want to contribute and join. Affliated group membership is only $10 a year, eg your group has made a contribution to the running cost of our website where the group’s details are given a web presence.
Secondly we believe that home educators can unite to encourage, promote, inform and advance the cause of home education in New Zealand at a national level. Joining is a commitment to unite, to stand together.
Thirdly, as a service to your group’s members, who get a 50% reduction in their subscription if they join as an individual member. Those that join as individual members join a NCHENZ Yahoo group for individual members where current issues are discussed and voted on.
Fourthly to contribute as a volunteer, perhaps you have something that would encourage, inform, promote or advance home education at a national level, perhaps NCHENZ is the vehicle that will support you to do this.
