- from Commodore Rick Humphrey
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This past Monday, a small, but mighty group of members met with the Board at the Pre-Budget Meeting. I thank those that took the time to come out on a very cold night and also thank the Board for their participation with the sharing of their knowledge and expertise. I particularly wish to acknowledge the fine work of Axel Noriega, Vice-Commodore of Financial Services...the new guy on the block. It is a difficult task to run a meeting of this importance when you know that your audience is equipped with finely-tuned weapons of choice...calculators. It is enough to scare regular mortals.
The Budget itself, we believe, is a reasonable one that focuses on repair, some new acquisitions, and a look to the future. Fee increases for various membership categories range from 0% for a few categories that keep us competitive with other, similar clubs, to a 1.5% increase for others. There is a 2.5% increase in storage fees proposed in this Budget. In addition, a $200 Capital Assessment has been recommended. This Capital Assessment has been increased from the usual $100 to ensure that we have some money set aside for the Seawall Project for logistics planning and to obtain professional recommendations if and when necessary. It is a start, but I must caution the membership that it is not nearly enough to complete this project. As we await the findings and recommendations of our Club experts to see the magnitude and the physical and financial logistics of completing the project, we all will have to understand the commitment and ask ourselves: "Are we willing to accomplish this project mostly with members' labour and some professional help, or are we expecting an outsourced approach with some member labour?" Obviously, the latter would be much more expensive and, make no mistake, even the former approach will be a sizeable expenditure. It must be done and the time is now.
Also proposed for the balance of the Capital Assessment are refurbished work rafts that will be used for both harbour work and for the Junior Sailing School, funds to finish the Green Dock Patio, six replacement boats for our Junior Sailing School, including 4 Opti's and 2 420's, replacement tanks and pumps for our Gas Dock as mandated by the TSAA, improvements to the Clubhouse and its services, including new tables suitable for groups of 2 and 4 in the dining room, new patio furniture, a substantially revised look at our front lobby construction, and a suggested budget item for Air Conditioning for Stapleton Hall that is supported by our Club Manager and our Vice-Commodore of Members Services as being a considerable benefit for our Restaurant during the summer for both the comfort of our members and the desirability of ABYC as an event venue. It is expected that that expenditure will come in at half the cost of bids when this topic was floated as a possibility in previous years.
There are two other items that will be presented to the Membership at the General Meeting next week regarding fees. One is the continuation of the Trial Membership program for another year where the Initiation Fee was broken down into a smaller Initiation Fee plus a Boat Introduction Fee. No changes have to be made to by-laws or policy at this time to continue this program for this coming year. There are no changes proposed to the dollar figure of the Boat Introduction Fee. The other item is the mandated, yearly vote for the Member Contribution program recommended as remaining at 20 hours and $45 per hour for deficit hours. As we are an advertized "self-help" Club, we depend on our member contributions to complete our expected projects and to keep our general fees as reasonable as possible. It is not a goal of our Member Contribution program to become a revenue generating initiative. It is rather, a tool for our "all-hands-on-deck" approach to business.
As a note, the Capital Assessment, the Trial Membership program extension, and the Member Contribution proposal will be voted on separately from the main fees motion.
There are many issues and updates that will need your attention next Monday and I invite you to place this important General Meeting into your calendars and ensure that you are in attendance next Monday, January 28 if at all possible. It is your Club and the Board needs your support and continued feedback. If you are not able to attend, please ensure that you have filled out your proxy and entrusted it to someone. Your vote is important. Thank you for your consideration. Respectfully submitted,
Rick Humphrey, Commodore
commodore@abyc.on.ca
