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Commodore's Chat
March
2008
Yet another month has gone by so here is the latest issue of what I hope you find informative and useful.
Top of the list of things going on within the Club is The Annual Dinner Dance being held at Knight’s Hill Hotel on Friday 4th April. Over the years this has always proved to be a popular event enjoyed by those who attend. The price of £25 per person includes a 3-course meal with wine, and live music for dancing. If you have not yet booked (and paid for) your tickets please do so ASAP before you are too late.
Despite what I said in last month's chat, we have held the price increases until we have had the budget. Unfortunately this now means that price rises are upon us and despite the headlines of beer going up 4p-a-pint, it actually goes up more than that when duty & VAT and higher brewery prices are all taken into account. We are now looking at having to increase prices by 20p-a-pint. I know this is a significant increase but the profit margin the Club has been making on beer has dropped recently and we need to re-instate the profit margin to cover our operating costs.
We are also reviewing the menu and the prices we charge for food, so there may be some different options on sale soon but there are no prizes for guessing which way the prices will be heading.
Whilst we are on the subject of price rises, the membership subscriptions will be held at this year’s levels for 2009. However, as it is approaching the 5-year point since we last increased subscriptions the Committee will be reviewing our current subscription rates. This does not mean that they will be going up or down, just that we need to review all our finances from time to time, and five years is about right for the subs.
The Annual General Meeting of the Club will be held on Wednesday 23rd April commencing at 8pm, and all paid-up members are welcome to attend. The sheet for nominations for Committee posts will go up shortly.
If there are any of you who have paid your subscriptions but have not yet received your membership card then please ask one of the staff, as the card will probably be behind the bar. Those members who paid the correct amount before the newsletter went out in early January have their card posted to them with the newsletter. Those who pay after the newsletter has gone out have to collect their cards from the Club. This is to save postage on those that pay up after the Jan 1st deadline. If you want to ensure you get your membership card in the post with the newsletter please ensure the correct payment reaches us by the due date of Jan 1st. The easiest way to do this is to fill out and hand in a Bankers Order form that is on the bottom of the application forms!
Enjoy the Easter break (I am away to the sun for a while) and remember that although our prices are going up I still believe that the Club offers excellent value for money and is worthy of your continued support.
Robert Pope
Commodore OASC