"Reading up this thread, I'm still amazed at the depth of expectations of some people who want the society to provide lots of resources, services and lobbying and lord knows what else, but can't be bothered to stump up a subscription to support the work. There is no reason why the interests of tens of thousands of folk enthusiasts HAVE to be supported by 4,000 members of a charitable society. We who ARE members of the society are happy when the wider aims are met but it's not a given. Also, we who ARE members feel justified in criticising the society when it doesn't meet OUR expectations as card carrying members. Those outside the membership are already potentially getting more than than they are paying for, even via taxes, so they shouldn't be complaining - should they?"
yes, they should be complaining, the EFDSS is supposed to be a national folk dance and song organisation, not just a london organisation.there is only one organisation that provides tuition on a national basis, and that is not EFDSS but Comhaltas.
what happens if comhaltas is forced to reduce its tuition[quite a possibility as ireland is bankrupt]we could be left with no organisation providing national tuition, for years Comhaltas have been doing what the EFDSS should be doing.
your argument is really stupid its like saying, those people who are not members of the conservative/liberal party should not be complaining about the state of the country or the coalition government.