You know, we went through a similar thing a few years ago with the Associaiton of Independent Consultants (AIC). It was, IMO, an unmitigated disaster and we've never really recovered from it. We raised membership fees and then said "Events are free to members and non-members pay". We did have to pay rent for the room and coffee. Cash flow went into the toilet, membership renewals evaporated and our surplus disappeared.

We no longer do this. Members get in for a discount, as we used to do in the past.

Lawrence