The dues structure is not the entire reason for members leaving SASS and just shooting monthly matches as unaffiliated shooters. In the past several years the Wild Bunch has been seen by many as trying to push shooters away. I know many shooters who no longer maintain their SASS membership, and will list their reasons.
1. Saying that match directors and people who set up and organize matches are cheaters if they shoot that same match. This comment and attitude resulted in the loss of many good workers and shooters. Some still shoot, but don't pay membership anymore. I tried to discuss this with Tex one night at a match, he was very rude and would not discuss the issue.
2. The disrespect shown to the Territorial Governors over the open and empty rule. For the WB to step in and over rule the TG's, showed great disrespect for the membership. Some shooters who left over this have returned, but many have not. When I wanted to become our club's TG some shooters asked if I was nuts for wanting to deal with an organization that does not respect its members.
3. The disrespect shown for shooters who wear jeans. The SASS rules allow jeans, yet members of the Wild Bunch have stated time and again that wearing jeans is not "cowboy".
4. The big jump in dues. Sure dues had not increased for many years, however the increase could have been eased in over two to three years. That way hardly anyone would have said a thing.
5. The loss of the monthly printed Cowboy Chronicle. This was seen by many as the main benefit for joining SASS and paying yearly dues, taking it away caused them to just quit paying dues. The new quarterly came too late to be of benefit; it should have been done in conjunction with the elimination of the monthly.
I hope this answers the questions of why people no longer pay SASS dues. They still show up at monthly matches and support the local clubs, just do not shoot at SASS sanctioned (State and Above) matches.