Post by StagHunter on May 5, 2010 8:24:53 GMT -5
May 4, 2010 13:01:50 GMT -5 @Ken WIgnall said:
Wayne. I will help to clarify for you what is being proposed. Raising your dues to $35.00. Yes it is graduated, $25.00 if you're a single guy or gal!. I know it sounds like madness. Thank you. Finally a concise statement we can work with. On the matter of dues, we will, for the first time, be making a budget and forecast of our earnings, and will recommend a dues change at the appropriate time if we deem it necessary.
The irony of this current situation isn't lost on me. The last time a President recommended a dues increase (Scott Erichsen), he was nearly tarred and feathered on the spot. Now we have someone demanding a dues increase. Carry on with your crusade, Ken. You could be doing us a favor.
On the matter of the graduated dues, this would be contrary to our Bylaws, which state that a membership extends to the named applicant AND his/her spouse or significant other. There is no provision for a graduated dues. Any deviation from this will require a bylaws change.
How would we administer to such a change? If you're married, will you be required to pony up extra for your spouse even if she never comes to a meeting or event? Can an unpaid-for spouse come to a meeting for dinner? To a drive or to the Holiday Party? Can they come to one or two events but not three or four? Will they need to sign in so we can keep track? If an unpaid-for spouse comes to a meeting, clearly they can't vote. How do we tell who's what? Tattoo? Arm band?
The founders of this Club intended to create an environment conducive to couples, and this has served us well for the last 20 years. It provides an alternative to the usual "all boys" environment commonly found in car clubs. It costs the club no more to administer to a family membership than a single one. Placing a tax on a spouse is not being "couple friendly".
Yep we're talking raising funds for the sake of raising funds. 50/50 for the sake of raising funds. Buying and selling Club Logo items for the sake of raising funds.
The Regalia program has been run on a zero profit basis for a long time. Are you suggesting this should change? That's a turnabout. I remember you once expressing outrage that a small margin be tacked on to the price of goods to fund future inventory.
And as far as folding the club and starting another one- maybe we should see if 'Negative Earth' is taken. I can check to see if the webpage is still available, as an insurance.
Be my guest. For the time being, I will remain "positive", but I'm an optimist.
Enjoyed your gymkhana video. Could be something we could look into as a club event? Know where the club can get a good deal on pylons? We'll need to know the expenses.
The expenses would be the least of our problems. Equipment is easy to come by. The experience to run such an event will come in time. We already have the insurance. The venue is a bigger problem, but the biggest of all is participation. If you have that, the rest becomes much easier.
We have a standing invitation to join the Jaguar club in North Jersey for their slaloms, which they hold four times a year. They would love to have us come. Cost is minimal and equipment (helmets) are available for loan. We've promoted this in the past, with no takers. When it comes around this year, I'm going. I expect you to be there, too.