I agree with Touring Ted that walls of any sort is a bad idea. You really have to stick your foot in here for a while before you recognize how valuable HU is. Even a slight barrier would likely destroy recruitment completely. And having to sign in would also reduce activity. I do however agree that HU is not very good on mobile - but I understand that the investment of time and money required to migrate everything onto a new platform is too big.

Also, I'm not sure what kind of exclusive content or offerings one could provide that would be attractive enough. Remember, it is the users and our community as a whole that is the product here - so the users would have to make part of what they do exclusive to those that pay. In my case for instance I offer every overlander a free bed or a place to pitch their tent, and some small work if the need to replenish their travel treasury with a few coins (hardly anyone has taken up on the offer). I could for instance restrict that to paying members only - thereby urging users to become paying members. However, doing this alone would likely not have much impact. I think for something like that to work, it would have to be done on a systemic level - in other words, Grant and Susan would have to set it up.
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How about this for an idea?

"Pledged Member" (for lack of better project name) - a member who is not only a paying member, but one that pledges to a set of particular HU rules and guidelines, i.e.:

Strive to provide premium local assitance to paying HU members traveling through one's area, or who plan to do so:

• Assist with red tape advice or practicalities
• Assist with logistical advice or practicalities (i.e. storage, mail, etc)
• Assist in matters related to brakdowns (i.e. providing or helping arrange road side assistance, transport og bike and rider, sourcing parts and tools, or finding a place where bike and gear can be repaired
• Assist in matters related to health, injury or even death
• Provide or help find a place to stay (a bed, couch or a place to pitch a tent
• Provide or help find a temporary paying job
• Offer food or drink and a friendly meet up
• Offer local advice
• Offer advice or assistance on matters related to leglities or trouble with local authorities
• Offer your best business discounts to paying HU members
• Offer assistance or advice on matters related to local language or customs
• Offer advice on matters related to local economics (i.e. prices, haggling, etc)

Note that I say "premium assistance". Taking the pledge does not mean that you can't provide similar service to anyone - simply that you promise to go the extra mile for those that are paying members.

There would be no need to provide a membership card or anything like that - this as it would be ery easy to look up another members status on HU.

Looking back to my very beginnings as an overlander, I would have taken much comfort in there being a whole gang of HU members I just knew would go out of their way to help me out if SHTF. It would have been far less scary to take the leap. I would also feel far more humble and connected to the community, as well as feeling obliged to honor the comunity by paying both back and forward - both with money and in terms of following suit in terms of taking on some of the pledge myself (if not all of it). I would be in awe of those that had taken the pledge, and I would have been proud to carry that same badge of honor myself - touting it with a big sticker on my bike and wear the t-shirt. Not only would I be willing to pay a fair ammount for the insurance that being under such an ubrella would mean, I would feel far more obligated to pay my way in general. Not only that, I believe that such a thing would make HU even more atractive and valuable as a whole.

I think it could be done rather easily. Simply create another user group "Pledged member", Gold Pledged Member", or the likes (for lack of better naming) - complete with the right to carry badges, right to buy and carry exclusive merch, etc.

The pledge could also include a set of specific rules of etiquette - i.e. be forthcoming about one's actual expertice on a particular issue one comments (it is easy to be led a stray by the opinions of people who know nothing, but fail to provide that very bit of info). It could also include how one deals with trolls, etc. It could also include a pledge to promote and practice loyalty and being a good HU ambassador. It could include pledges to respect local laws and cultures, promote love and peace, care for the environment, and what not. The point being, a pledged member is something reserved to those that uphold a higher HU comunity standard - including being a paid member.

I think that becoming a pledged member shouldn't cost much, but that there could also be tiers (bronse, silver, gold, platinum, etc).

I also think that pledged members hould get priority and discounts at HU events, etc.

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What do you think? Is it a feasible idea? Should it be passed by Grant and Susan? Maybe create a poll to see who would be up for making such a pledge?

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