Subs etc.

Another thought guys

Subscriptions are easily monitored on as calendar year basis i.e. starting 1 January. It sounds like I will be in charge of this as treasurer elect and is what I prefer. Think of all that money to embezel.      

As we won't have a formal committee in place on that day and sub levels will be set by the committee afterwards (probably at the first meeting), I presume that it would be best to back date the subs to 1 January with renewal forms sent out in early November each year thereafter.

Does anyone have any further thoughts on a subscription year and indeed a level that everyone would be happy with??

Copied from earlier posting:

"Fortunately guys we will not need either VAT registration, unless our turnover exceeds ?57,000 - dream land territory. Not saying it won't in the future though - all things are possible.

As we will be a non profit making organisation any surplus money we make will be tax free (other than any interest on bank balances). This is because we can not make money out of ourselves as all paid up members has an equal share of the pot.

Oh it is such fun this accountancy lark.       

As they say a good accoutant will always reply with the answer "what do you want it to be" when asked the question "how much profit have I made"   "
   

I would be comfortable with ?20 per annum. This should cover:
- running of the website (inc 3rd party licences, server hosting, back up solutions, security patches, Drew's accountable costs, etc)
- fixed costs for say 2 national events a year (e.g. banners, tables, etc) but exclude location hiring, insurance etc that should be covered by ticket price
- development and production of a car window sticker
- development and production of a club flyers
- any costs associated with obtaining club discounts on insurance, parts, etc

If we get 250 members would ?5k cover this? I don't think a hardcopy newsletter is feasible until a large enough membership can cover the costs.

Sounds about right dubbers!

Total cost for the Campaign Register meet came to around ?850, so we might be able to run two national events a year within the finances of the club. The website is running at around ?100 a year so far.

If we booked the whole of the Gaydon available area for a day (space 400 cars, two arenas) we could manage it for around ?1200 — ie. one big meet.

Not sure on the development costs for the other stuff, but I'd be surprised if we'd burn more than another ?1000 on the other stuff mentioned.

?5000 should be enough to make a pretty big splash.

Cheers,

Drew.

I think ?20 is about right. I did think a few weeks ago that it ought to be slightly more but think the suggested amount will more than sufficient if we are not to have any hard copy mag or other outgoings other than website, and shows. Probably will need some for car stickers/calling cards etc and sundry postages, stationery etc.

What about any capital outlay like a banner etc and clubs own gazibo.

Also if the show is to expand in number and size, should we not have some Public Indemnity insurance. There are some litigious folk  :evil: out there (not amongst our members though) - but spectators will wander around no doubt - just another thought.

Adolf

Drew had us covered for Public Indemnity insurance at the last meet. The premium was covered by the ticket sales but obviously we need the cash flow to pay for it up front. Maybe Drew could comment further as he paid last time personally and took the risk on ticket sales.

Cheers
Rajan

Sounds good.
Don't think we need a newsletter or such….

But we need a sticker, flyers and PUBLICITY, PUBLICITY, PUBLICITY.

well i can help big time with this as being a crew member at e38 we ve been thow alot doing the show thing  i trust me when i say its not cheap and i mean not cheap.

Regarding paying the ?20 (which I also think sounds ok), can we start a Club PayPal account, which can be used to receive payments from members who have an account of their own?

Hello All
    I take it that only those lucky enough to have computer and internet access can be members ? i realise that may sound daft to some , but the PC does not appeal to some . I have a friend [Golf nut] who has never been on a pc in his life but would like to join the "new club" , what does he do ?
   My point is are we as a club only going to be internet based  ? Every club i have been a member of has been Magazine based with an internet site and for most a forum . Will the Golf club be an exception ?
As for collecting subs once a year this will work now , but if a new member joins in June , what happens then , does he have to wait 6 months to pay ? How big do you think the membership will be ?

Chudd…

chudd,

At the meeting at Gaydon I think it was decided that initially the club would be web-based only to save costs. Please correct me if I'm wrong as my memory is rubbish!

I think that subs should be ?10 if new members join after 1 July, but before then it is the full ?20. Gotta have a cut off some where. After this first period they will then be on the full year subs system (provided they want to renew which of course they will). All being well all 293 odd of us will be able to pay our subs in the New Year.

I had posted a query about non PC literate members wanting to join some time ago. Of course they can still join but they have few if any benefits that we enjoy. I suppose that they will be very few in number although we are excluding these folk.

I would like to see a quarterly newsletter in the future when funds and time allow. That may be two years off at least?

At the Gaydon meet it was I believed agreed that the club be solely internet based in the foreseeable future.

A non-web based club is going to take a lot more resources considering the number of members it would generate. best to get it all running smoothly as is first I think.

in the case of people friends that dont have access the net i assuem they would be welcome at any meets/shows anyhow as VAG enthusiasts, you would just have to let them know whats going on yourself. One problem seems to be with the net that meets tend to be organised with less and less advance notice, theres no way around this but sending out letters wouldn't be viable! its taken a good year to get Londub meets on a constant time/day.

I joined a sailing club  in May….but the subs are due in January…. there were a few of us joining, no one said a word, just payed up. ?20 sounds good to me, even as a newbie…….(Drew: as someone who is actively searching for a Mk1 Campaign….would I have your permission to put any new club sticker on my Taxi, just for now!!! TC

TC

That would have to be put before the committee next year  

If we get 250 members would ?5k cover this? I don't think a hardcopy newsletter is feasible until a large enough membership can cover the costs.

Our group provides a 16 sheet (64 page) A5 quarterly newletter distrubuted at 2nd class post to every member for a subscription of only ?15pa. Our PHP-based forum hosting costs less than ?50pa. Therefore this Club should be able to manage something, the events should be self funding as should any merchandising. The Club is not mature enough for new parts schemes etc. but you need to give more for the membership fee of ?20.

Exactly where is the money going?

If you wish to put this Club onto a sound financial base, you should make this Club more inclusive to owners rather than appeal solely to the post-teen but under 35's  market.  

If you want to succeed, you need to mature and appeal to a far wider membership. It will require you to attend classic car events and suchlike in order to put yourself in that marketplace.

One idea for consideration (and action) is to appoint a membership manager whose only role to increase membership against a rising target figure.