Why should I become a Member?
First, you should know a few reasons not to become a Member. You should not become a Member in order to get exclusive access to super-secret fighting techniques, hidden research, hoarded manuals, and unadvertised seminars. We do not have those things, and do not plan to have them. There is and will be no “Members Area” of our website. What we learn, we share.
On the other hand, Membership serves as one way to direct limited resources. Webinars and live classes will have practical registration limits, and Members will have priority. The skilled martial artists and researchers of our Curriculum Council and Curriculum Committees do not have time to respond equally to every inquiry or video. Members will come first.
Insurance is an important aspect of membership. HEMA Alliance activities have secondary accident coverage, and Members who are representing the Alliance as teachers, researchers, or other staff also have liability coverage.
But most importantly, Membership is your way to participate most actively and directly in building our community. We’re a nonprofit organization, but this is not PBS where a check gets you a thank-you note and a tote bag. We want you involved and in touch. Members vote on key leadership positions and important referendums.
More specific benefits of Membership are described in our Membership Types sections below, but all prospective Members should know that they are joining a community of athletes, scholars, volunteers, and friends. We’re interested in teaching, and learning, every HEMA-related skill from basket-hilted backsword to digital video editing.
Are Membership Dues Tax-Deductible?
We have every expectation that they will be. We are a registered educational non-profit organization, and we have submitted our application for federal tax-exempt status under 501(c)3. As soon as we hear the good news from the IRS our tax-exempt status will be retroactive to our non-profit incorporation in August of 2009.
Any Discounts?
If you are an active member of a HEMA Alliance affiliate, you may be entitled to a discount on your Individual HEMA Alliance Membership based on the number of Individual HEMA Alliance Members in your affiliate. See the Club Affiliation page for details.
Our Founding Membership Drive will end soon on 7/15/2010! The Membership Drive discounts are detailed below. You cannot get both a Club Affiliation Discount and a Membership Drive Discount; pick your favorite.
Membership
regular yearly dues: $52 ($1 per week)
membership drive discount: $36 ($3 per month)
Lifetime Training Membership: $260 (= 5 yearly dues)
membership drive Lifetime discount: $182 (30% off)
What happened to Supporting Membership and Family Addition Membership?
We were obliged to change our membership and affiliation structure based on definitions in our new insurance policy. As the new Club Affiliation system has provisions for participants who are not individual Members of the HEMA Alliance, it was simpler to discontinue the lesser individual membership tiers. Current Supporting Members and Family Addition Members will retain their special memberships for the remainder of their membership year.