Membership

Dear Members

The committee as anticipated have received only a couple of queries from affected members regarding the new membership categories that were shared with you all last weekend. We wish to thank the remaining members for their understanding of our need to make those changes, and in particular those social members who have continued to offer a donation despite not participating in any sport.

I wish to point out at this stage that each year the club holds its Annual General Meeting all members are invited to attend and on 14th September 2022 at the AGM it is clearly documented regarding a need to review of the membership in item 7. Any Other Business (attached below as an Appendix). If you were present you would have been aware of this proposal, minutes are always available on request.

Likened to the belief of our new coaching partner Inspire2Coach, ‘any player receiving coaching must also join the club. This will be a separate monthly or annual payment that contributes towards the sustainability of the facility and ensures that the courts are fit for coaching. Most clubs are not for profit organisations run solely by volunteers and would not survive without membership income but this is all reinvested in the club’.

The key area of changes were:

Increase of fees across the membership – our rationale for this is that we are sure you expect us to steer the club in the right direction due to the cost of inflation. To demonstrate fairness to all membership categories this has now been introduced across the board.

Off Peak Tennis –
This area was initially raised by your fellow members themselves due to inequity issues, but the category was also felt in need for a review by the committee. As we feel some of you may receive coaching within this membership category, apart from your membership fee, the club currently receives zero revenue from the tennis coaching programme. We have researched our local competitors from various leisure facilities and still feel we provide excellent competitive membership and court fee costs.

Country –
Once again a need for a review as it was felt by some members are discriminated due to their post code. For example two members can live half a mile from each other but the nearer to the club could be seen to be being penalised with higher membership costs.

Senior/Retired Over 65 years of age –
We have attempted to align this with national guidance around the criteria of age related issues/entitlement. In November 2018, State Pension age was agreed 65 for men and women. As with Government process State Pension age is going to be kept under review, which means that it could change again in the future, depending on different factors, such as changes in life expectancy. With this in mind the committee needed to take into account the demographics of the membership, taking on board comments we have also received on our provisional viewpoints.

As said these decisions were not made lightly and as an elected committee by the members we have a duty of care to demonstrate good administrative behaviours and governance.

In making those decisions through proper decision making, it gave weight to all relevant the considerations and on the balance of evidence concluded that change had to happen.

We have received a comment regarding expenditure favouring one sport against another, this is totally incorrect and not evidenced, so again attendance at the AGM each year provides an open and transparent report for members to view. Expenditure is discussed at each committee meeting, documented and action tracked, to ensure priorities are addressed however we do not have a bottomless money pot. Our professional accountant ensures we strive for best offers available to support our budget management.

We trust you are aware that the committee/sports captains are volunteers within the club, some take advantage of free membership however there are committee members who do not take part in any of the sports this includes myself. As with many organisations the number of hours behind the scenes spent on the clubs behalf just cannot simply be measured in cost it is an emotional commitment and passion to provide this facility that has survived many turbulent issues over recent and previous years.

The way forward –
We are unique to the area with our club ethos that we are ‘a members club run by its members’ and often to avoid expenditure which ultimately over a period time costs the bank balance, we need each club member to offer that little bit more either in skill, knowledge or increased presence to support different aspects of the club, however large or small the contribution, any voluntary action that gives each member a sense of belonging and ownership of something we are all very proud of.

Please observe club social media channels and posters in the clubhouse that offer an opportunity to take part in other activities both internal and external for the club.

As all of the facilities at the club are open and available for all the membership use, it is your choice not to take part in them or to not utilise your membership to the full. Membership will always be under a periodic review at the discretion of the committee.

If you have anything to offer us please get in touch.

Kind regards
Heather Green
(Acting Chair)

Appendix:
AGM September 2022
7. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Membership fees 2023/23
John talks about what we need to do re membership fees
The Committee need to look at the various membership types – too many?
John’s view is that the membership needs to increase 20% across the board – this is his proposal. This equates to £20 per month
The Committee have kept the membership at £198 for years, but the time has come to increase for 2023/24
Any questions from the members?
Rob Lathbury – we haven’t increased over the years and being able to pay quarterly does lessen the blow, and the membership fee proposed is still cheap
Doug Whitfield – does make it more difficult to introduce more casual players into the club, so the Committee need to consider that; and those who get free membership are the ones making the decision about increasing membership
John Carvell – we do get a lot out of being a member
Steve Green – do we need to generate more revenue? If we do need to, it should be spread across all membership categories
Off peak tennis members – should they be able to play in leagues? Should we have off peak as a category? Majority voted off peak members shouldn’t be able to play in leagues; but we do need to address the membership categories as a larger decision
Michel Jones – is our membership comparable to other clubs around the area? We are both a squash and tennis club so it is reasonable
John Carvell – talks about how the Committee have taken steps to increase other things before membership
Angela Harvey – do we know how many of each category we have? Do we need to offer free membership to people e.g. social membership free for a partner?
Martin Cain – Committee needs to think about the 17 categories and the membership fees
John Matthews – will we know the potential new prices before the Open Day? Shaun says we’ll make sure it’s known
Steve Quigley - Are we basing the 20% increase based on the number of members we think we’ll get? John Carvell – based on increase in prices, downturn in membership, operating capital required


24/03/2023

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