[Board-2018] PYC Constitution

Sat Jun 16 14:38:01 MDT 2018

Right On, Dan!
Ron

On 6/16/2018 3:01 PM, Dan Gingras wrote:
>
> The average age of club members at the last survey was 64.  While we 
> have a few younger members who have grown up in the club, it’s 
> unlikely that we’re going to attract a very young membership, there 
> are lots of reasons for that but it’s generally the situation for many 
> organizations.  Young families are simply too busy.     If we’re going 
> to attract boaters, then~$2000 is insignificant.   So many people on 
> the waiting list that PYC is the “best deal in town” and we all know 
> that costs are rising,  and at a much faster rate than in the past, so 
> focusing on increasing revenue by any means possible is absolutely 
> necessary.  It will not be long when the dues have to approach $1000 
> if we’re going to continue to break even, and increasing the 
> application fee will have the beneficial effect of screening out 
> people who are joining for reasons other than participation, and might 
> delay the need for a serious dues increase.
>
> I think $650 application fee is ludicrously low,  particularly given 
> that waiting list members can participate in events for 4 years or 
> more (with a member).    Our facilities are absolutely top notch, and 
> joining should be more than an afterthought, it should require a 
> commitment.
>
> I think we should make the application fee enough to insure a 
> committed member.
>
> *From:*Board <board-bounces at portsmouthyc.org> *On Behalf Of *Jeremy Small
> *Sent:* Friday, June 15, 2018 11:41 AM
> *To:* Board of Directors <board at portsmouthyc.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [Board-2018] PYC Constitution
>
> Very well put Scott.  I think there a misconception of the 
> demographics of the club.  In my opinion, we need to be more open to 
> getting younger active boating member in rather than increase the buy in.
>
> Jeremy
>
> On Thu, Jun 14, 2018 at 10:46 PM, Scott Blidberg 
> <scott.blidberg at gmail.com <mailto:scott.blidberg at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
>     Hello all,
>
>     First, allow me to apologize for my absence this evening - I
>     started a new job this week and the schedule has been challenging
>     to say the least.  I had been anticipating the discussion this
>     week and am sorry I missed it.  That said, I look forward to a
>     review of the meeting via the minutes!
>
>     In response to the proposal above I'd like to *strongly* oppose an
>     increase, particularly of such a degree.  While some of the points
>     may be valid for certain individuals (at least anecdotally), I
>     would also like to point out that there are many, many members
>     (myself included) that would have no possible way of joining the
>     club should the application fee be anywhere near as high as
>     proposed. While the situations mentioned may not be fiction, they
>     are by no means the norm and do not, in my view, warrant such
>     measures.
>
>     One of the tremendous appeals of this club is that it is /not/ a
>     place where only those with large amounts of disposable income can
>     be members. Members similar to myself, who are active and who very
>     much feel the real impact of an annual expense in the thousands
>     (when factoring in dues/slip/etc...), are not the type that we are
>     going to gain more of by raising initiation fees. In fact, I would
>     argue that they are very much the ones we will lose. 
>     Additionally, there is absolutely no guarantee that those who have
>     the means to spend $2500 - $5000 simply to apply will be more
>     active members or won't be interested in joining for exactly the
>     reasons addressed!
>
>     It is important that we not lose sight of exactly what the
>     financial impact membership can truly be to other members. This
>     club - in my experience through a lifetime of being in and around
>     it - has never been a place where you needed to have a lot of
>     money to be a member. I for one will always do my best to make
>     sure that remains the case. We need to grow our membership based
>     on the quality of the people we choose to let in and not their
>     ability to fork over larger and larger amounts of money.
>
>     As always, I look forward to the thoughts from the Board!
>
>     -Scott
>
>     On Thu, Jun 14, 2018 at 9:54 PM Ron Laurence - Blueberry Bay Farm
>     <info at blueberrybayfarm.com <mailto:info at blueberrybayfarm.com>> wrote:
>
>         Commodore Michael & Officers & Directors
>
>         I would like to strongly recommend that the PYC Constitution
>         be amended to rectify our absurdly low application fee. Our
>         present fee does little to insure that applicants for
>         membership truly want to participate in, and contribute to the
>         _Portsmouth _Yacht Club.  Without a more reasonable fee, such
>         as $2500, or $5000, we will continue to discourage earnest
>         applicants with a painfully long waiting list, largely, I
>         feel, because of people who:
>
>         - Want to gain a membership card in a bargain yacht club
>         simply so they can have dinner at any reciprocating club in
>         the country (world?);
>
>         - Are local residents who think its great to be able to walk
>         to dinner, so inexpensively;
>
>         - Wish to be able to tell their friends they belong to a
>         "Yacht Club", so inexpensively (and take pride in showing off
>         their PYC sweatshirt or other garment);
>
>         - Want to be able to show on their resume, and/or their
>         obituary that they belong(ed) to a yacht club;
>
>         In that our Steward claims there are at least 70 members, in
>         his roughly ten years of service, that have never set foot
>         once in the clubhouse,  pretty much indicates the above
>         situations are not fiction.  Why not eliminate or greatly
>         reduce these absentee members and give those on the waiting
>         list who really want to _belong_ (and contribute to our
>         financial situation through participation) a chance to become
>         accepted into membership in a more reasonable period of time,
>         and not diminish their enthusiasm.
>
>         Therefore I urge the entire board to approve this proposal so
>         that the entire membership can affirm it.
>
>         -
>
>         -- 
>
>
>     -- 
>
>     Scott Blidberg
>
>     scott.blidberg at gmail.com <mailto:scott.blidberg at gmail.com>
>     Phone:  603.674.1179
>     http://www.linkedin.com/in/scottblidberg
>
>
>
> -- 
>
> Jeremy Small
> 603.661.7371
>

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