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Post by houstonceng on Apr 14, 2021 11:42:14 GMT
Hi All
I'm the Treasurer of my MES.
Followung a drastic reduction in the income of my MES, I was looking at potentially raising the membership fees. Now, they don't even cover the Insurance Premium. Our Fees are £40 Full Members, £30 Retired, £10 Juniors (up to 18, or 23 if still in Full Time educatuon) ans £6 for Associates. Without naming your MES, can you give me an idea of your subscription fees, as I think ours are low.
I have been asked by a number of our members if they can have a partial refund of subs, because they couldn't use the facilities during 2020 and, so far, in 2021. Obviously, with the losses we had due to cessation of public running, we cannot afford to do so. Has your MES had similar discussions ? How have you responded ?
Finally, with an outlook of less public running in 2021, I have reduced our Public Liability from >16 public events (A level) to 12 events (B Level) but retained the £5m cover. Has anyone been given a refund of insurance (subject of another thread I think !) or taken similar action ?
Refards
Andy
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miken
Statesman
Posts: 501
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Post by miken on Apr 14, 2021 12:27:09 GMT
At my club:
Adult. 25.00
Student 20.00
Family. 30.00
Retired. 20.00
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Post by cplmickey on Apr 14, 2021 18:30:55 GMT
No reductions this year at either of my ME societies. £40 at one of them and £38 at the other.
Slightly different, but the stance I took at the band I am chairman of was that we need to still pay the club (our rehearsal venue) some money to help cover their fixed costs even though we couldn't use it otherwise we shouldn't expect to see it survive until the next time we are allowed to use it, although we did pay a reduced fee. Surely a similar principal applies to model engineering societies.
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Post by coniston on Apr 14, 2021 20:10:00 GMT
I am not prepared to divulge our club fees as I am not on the committee / council. However neither club has changed their fees for 2021 and certainly no mention of any refund either offered or requested. The federations have not reduced their fees to clubs or offered refunds? I have not heard of any other clubs / organisations offering refunds or reduced fees e.g. golf clubs, tennis clubs, bowls clubs, model flying clubs etc. so I don't see any precedence for such action. All clubs / organisations have their running costs whether operating or not. T less than £1 per week I am surprised anyone would have the bare faced cheek to ask for a refund or reduction. Surely members want the clubs to survive for their future use?
That's my opinion anyway
Chris D
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Post by Cro on Apr 15, 2021 6:27:52 GMT
One club Adults £25, Seniors £20.
Other club Adults and Seniors £10.
The first hasn't made any comment regarding fees they have just been paid, the second offered the members the option to not pay this year and carry last years fee over if they wanted. I'm more involved with one so know that the bank balance is healthy and means we are lucky to have money in the bank.
Adam
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Post by Jo on Apr 15, 2021 6:55:44 GMT
When I was a member of Guildford four years ago the fees were £46, I recall there was a junior rate. No discounts for oldies as it was seen they had more money than the Adults.
I am no longer a member because: My hobby is making models and over the years they refocused into more of a railway society. The final straw was dropping the Annual Model/Traction Engine show and turning it into a Railway Gala.
Jo
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Post by houstonceng on Apr 15, 2021 11:38:26 GMT
No reductions this year at either of my ME societies. £40 at one of them and £38 at the other. Slightly different, but the stance I took at the band I am chairman of was that we need to still pay the club (our rehearsal venue) some money to help cover their fixed costs even though we couldn't use it otherwise we shouldn't expect to see it survive until the next time we are allowed to use it, although we did pay a reduced fee. Surely a similar principal applies to model engineering societies. Thanks for the input. That’s the stance taken with other organisations to which I belong. One pointed out that we had ongoing bookings for certain dates throughout the year and, unfortunately, ours all happened to land during total lockdowns. Another said that if we, and other renters of the venue, didn’t carry on paying the minimum hire charge, the hall would be bankrupt by now. As an MES, we still had to pay insurance and rent, so a refund or free year was out of the question as we don’t have a large reserve fund. |
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Post by Jock McFarlane on Apr 15, 2021 20:03:33 GMT
Thanks for the input. That’s the stance taken with other organisations to which I belong. One pointed out that we had ongoing bookings for certain dates throughout the year and, unfortunately, ours all happened to land during total lockdowns. Another said that if we, and other renters of the venue, didn’t carry on paying the minimum hire charge, the hall would be bankrupt by now. As an MES, we still had to pay insurance and rent, so a refund or free year was out of the question as we don’t have a large reserve fund. No refund or free year makes perfect sense and the fees are not that large anyway. My gym extends the period to which the fee relates but they get compensated by Boris in any event. On a slightly different tack have many clubs physically restricted the access to members during the lockdown period or just relied on them following the rules. Do many clubs allow members free access at any time outwith lockdown restrictions. |
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Post by steamlaser on Apr 15, 2021 23:59:10 GMT
Thanks for the input. That’s the stance taken with other organisations to which I belong. One pointed out that we had ongoing bookings for certain dates throughout the year and, unfortunately, ours all happened to land during total lockdowns. Another said that if we, and other renters of the venue, didn’t carry on paying the minimum hire charge, the hall would be bankrupt by now. As an MES, we still had to pay insurance and rent, so a refund or free year was out of the question as we don’t have a large reserve fund. No refund or free year makes perfect sense and the fees are not that large anyway. My gym extends the period to which the fee relates but they get compensated by Boris in any event. On a slightly different tack have many clubs physically restricted the access to members during the lockdown period or just relied on them following the rules. Do many clubs allow members free access at any time outwith lockdown restrictions. At the beginning of the shut down the lock on the club house was changed. Keys were initially only issued to Board Members. No access was allowed to the clubhouse under any circumstances. When the first restrictions eased and working parties allowed a few named members were issued a key. The clubhouse was opened for working parties twice a week under the control of the named Key holder. (Risk assessment carried out and method statemnt written). No loco running was allowed. Recently restriction have been eased again and working parties are again permitted twice a week under the control of a named key holder. Boiler tests are now permitted by appointment and no running of locos on the track is allowed. |
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,990
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Post by JonL on Apr 16, 2021 20:54:34 GMT
Ordinary/Family Member £45,
Country Member (living more than 35 miles from our site) £24,
Junior Member (under 16 years old) £5
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Post by cplmickey on Apr 18, 2021 8:26:57 GMT
On a slightly different tack have many clubs physically restricted the access to members during the lockdown period or just relied on them following the rules. Do many clubs allow members free access at any time outwith lockdown restrictions. One club I belong to have very tightly controlled access, at times seemingly more rigerously than Government guidance would require, and I haven't been there for almost a year and a half. My other club has cancelled running days but allowed members to visit for maintenance work etc if the national guidance allowed. It allowed members to take responsibility for their own actions while still advising them of the requirements through the newsletter. I managed to run my engine once last summer and then again the other week when travel restrictions had been lifted. |
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2021 20:48:46 GMT
My own opinion on refunds etc is that although the jester may be nice I don't think it would be wise in these difficult times.
The fees are not that high and I say this whilst paying club fees far higher than anything given here so far. I think all members should stand together and support the club in any way that they can, such as the extra newsletter articles that have appeared from many members to keep the interest going. Last night was my club's AGM, held via ZOOM. Things seem to be going well with membership growing, over 200 now and a fair amount of new junior members in the ranks.
It won't be that long before we can all get back to some form of normality, tomorrow will be my first visit to the track this year. I'm actually very much looking forward to getting out for a few hours.
Pete
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smallbrother
Elder Statesman
Errors aplenty, progress slow, but progress nonetheless!
Posts: 2,269
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Post by smallbrother on May 13, 2021 8:03:21 GMT
My own opinion on refunds etc is that although the jester may be nice I don't think it would be wise in these difficult times. The fees are not that high and I say this whilst paying club fees far higher than anything given here so far. I think all members should stand together and support the club in any way that they can, such as the extra newsletter articles that have appeared from many members to keep the interest going. Last night was my club's AGM, held via ZOOM. Things seem to be going well with membership growing, over 200 now and a fair amount of new junior members in the ranks. It won't be that long before we can all get back to some form of normality, tomorrow will be my first visit to the track this year. I'm actually very much looking forward to getting out for a few hours. Pete Totally agree Pete. Pete. |
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2021 10:00:32 GMT
Thank's Pete.. I thoroughly enjoyed myself at the club Sunday. lots of banter and meeting some new members down for a steam test, I really enjoyed the day and most importantly, got my fix of coal/steam oil, what else does one need?...  Pete |
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smallbrother
Elder Statesman
Errors aplenty, progress slow, but progress nonetheless!
Posts: 2,269
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Post by smallbrother on May 16, 2021 9:47:18 GMT
Thank's Pete.. I thoroughly enjoyed myself at the club Sunday. lots of banter and meeting some new members down for a steam test, I really enjoyed the day and most importantly, got my fix of coal/steam oil, what else does one need?... Pete My first proper day at the club yesterday. Problems to resolve on my Bagnall but as you say it's nice to be back in it. Pete. |
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2021 13:00:47 GMT
Thank's Pete.. I thoroughly enjoyed myself at the club Sunday. lots of banter and meeting some new members down for a steam test, I really enjoyed the day and most importantly, got my fix of coal/steam oil, what else does one need?... Pete My first proper day at the club yesterday. Problems to resolve on my Bagnall but as you say it's nice to be back in it. Pete. I've just got back from another visit to the club, 2 in 7 days?... well, I was out anyway at a car meet which was only a few miles away from the track, it would have been rude not to pop in on my way home... Pete |
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Post by silverfox on May 16, 2021 17:36:16 GMT
I am not prepared to divulge our club fees as I am not on the committee / council. However neither club has changed their fees for 2021 and certainly no mention of any refund either offered or requested. The federations have not reduced their fees to clubs or offered refunds? I have not heard of any other clubs / organisations offering refunds or reduced fees e.g. golf clubs, tennis clubs, bowls clubs, model flying clubs etc. so I don't see any precedence for such action. All clubs / organisations have their running costs whether operating or not. T less than £1 per week I am surprised anyone would have the bare faced cheek to ask for a refund or reduction. Surely members want the clubs to survive for their future use? That's my opinion anyway Chris D Chris How does a prospective member get to know how much it is, say for example, i was talking to you in a pub and asked what your subs are Or is it like the first rule of fight club? lol |
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Post by coniston on May 16, 2021 21:48:48 GMT
I am not prepared to divulge our club fees as I am not on the committee / council. However neither club has changed their fees for 2021 and certainly no mention of any refund either offered or requested. The federations have not reduced their fees to clubs or offered refunds? I have not heard of any other clubs / organisations offering refunds or reduced fees e.g. golf clubs, tennis clubs, bowls clubs, model flying clubs etc. so I don't see any precedence for such action. All clubs / organisations have their running costs whether operating or not. T less than £1 per week I am surprised anyone would have the bare faced cheek to ask for a refund or reduction. Surely members want the clubs to survive for their future use? That's my opinion anyway Chris D Chris How does a prospective member get to know how much it is, say for example, i was talking to you in a pub and asked what your subs are Or is it like the first rule of fight club? lol One to one I have no issue but not really my place to advertise our fees in public, that's my opinion any way. Chris |
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smallbrother
Elder Statesman
Errors aplenty, progress slow, but progress nonetheless!
Posts: 2,269
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Post by smallbrother on May 17, 2021 7:59:53 GMT
Our fees are on the club website. As far as I know everyone is still paying. I am sure that like our club, most are always short of funds to undertake improvement work. We have loads of plans for more facilities so it would be quite silly to stop subs unless someone falls on hard times. As most of us are pensioners our income wouldn't take a Covid hit anyway.
Pete.
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dscott
Elder Statesman
Posts: 2,440
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Post by dscott on May 18, 2021 1:31:36 GMT
We had a reduced fee last year which was useful.
But I know several who paid up in full as they realize that the Club is part of their life and love.
We on the other hand donate part of Wednesdays to helping out and do get stuck into projects.
Building vast quantities of track and then laying it in the gang saw much improvement.
We do a Family fee at Reading so that is £70. 3.5 miles from the track so we save masses in Petrol.
David, and Lily missing it at the moment.
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