Club Deficit

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Ian
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Re: Club Deficit

Post by Ian » Wed Aug 22, 2018 3:42 pm

....or perhaps a button to tick if they don't want one.....
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Doone
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Re: Club Deficit

Post by Doone » Wed Aug 22, 2018 4:20 pm

How about 'To make best use of club funds, please only tick this button if you NEED a membership card to show your to insurance company.'

Or you could cut membership card renewals completely. And just say "if you ever need proof of current membership, please email and we will confirm current membership by email.'
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Re: Club Deficit

Post by Jillygumbo » Wed Aug 22, 2018 4:44 pm

Doone wrote: Wed Aug 22, 2018 4:20 pm How about 'To make best use of club funds, please only tick this button if you NEED a membership card to show your to insurance company.'

Or you could cut membership card renewals completely. And just say "if you ever need proof of current membership, please email and we will confirm current membership by email.'
Good idea.
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marionw
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Re: Club Deficit

Post by marionw » Fri Aug 24, 2018 1:58 pm

Surprised about the need of proof of membership. The Insurance companies I use have just taken my word for it and applied discount. Namely Lifesure and 2gether.
Re charge for entertainment. It should just be included in Bash charge, be impossible to charge individuals.
Everyone benefits from the meets in different ways. i.e. I as a single traveller pay the same for pitching up at the Bash as a Bongo full of adults children and dogs.
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Re: Club Deficit

Post by Katka » Sun Aug 26, 2018 10:15 am

We're happy to pay an increased membership fee. Increases are never welcome, but when the club offers so much and the reason is apparent I'd hope everyone would understand and accept the need.

I understand that it's long been club policy to avoid commercialisation - might be a time to reconsider this in a very limited way, and rather than cut costs, get an income from a new source? Although I have no direct experience of it, I know that referral fees can be a money spinner - the big one being Amazon. I seem to spend a fortune with them anyway and would be very happy for BF to receive a percent or two.
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Re: Club Deficit

Post by Bongolia » Mon Aug 27, 2018 9:44 pm

2k loss wow, who covers that?
My two pence worth.
Dispense with the various membership levels.
Cut the postal mag .
Don't issue renew membership cards.
Make membership a flat 20 quid.
Make it simple to upload images to the site.

P.S. do what Katka said.
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Re: Club Deficit

Post by Ian » Thu Aug 30, 2018 12:21 pm

Bongolia, the £2k loss was covered by cross-subsidy from the Bongoland shop. As for uploading images direct to the Forum, we have discussed this before and there are major practical and security issues. That's why very few Forums allow it.

Here's a few observations on other comments made so far.

1) We will keep annual membership cards (just like the AA!) but there will be an option not to receive one. A membership card gives proof of current membership and can be used for insurance purposes, contacting the club (we always ask for membership number) and booking meetings. It's easy enough to keep in a wallet or a purse. They don't cost a fortune to produce.
2) By only having 2 membership categories (at £15 or £20) then many current Webplus members, all of whom have access to the internet, will pay £2 less in fees if they no longer receive a postal newsletter. But others who will still want the newsletter will pay £3 more. My estimate is that we will receive about £1k a year more in membership fees, but the print run of the quarterly newsletter will be halved. Together these measures should reduce the deficit.
3) All meetings from March 2019 will be self financing.
4) Raffles are a good idea, but in the grand scheme of things don't raise a lot of money. It is better, in my opinion, to raise money for charity on the meetings.
5) Merchandise is an interesting subject. We enclose a sticker in the info packs for new members but other than that members can purchase badges, mugs, caps, T-shirts and stickers through the "Gifts & Novelties" page on the Bongoland Shop. But very few people do. Last year I think we took about £150. It's the same for personalised items. There's a lot of upfront cost and effort involved with little return. I've still got some 2012 T-shirts in stores!
6) Referral fees. Good idea, will investigate further.
7) Quarterly magazine; does it need to continue? Yes; we have had lots of feedback about this, people saying how much they enjoy receiving it through the post. And members can also download it. Although as at this morning a grand total of 5 people have downloaded it since it went live yesterday morning! I'll keep it under review.

More comments welcome......
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marionw
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Re: Club Deficit

Post by marionw » Thu Aug 30, 2018 1:48 pm

Downloading now!
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BongoBongo123
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Re: Club Deficit

Post by BongoBongo123 » Thu Sep 06, 2018 5:46 pm

There is also the fact that some let the membership payments slip, yes that has been me, cutting costs myself. However I am now going to cough up for a year and keep it going. If everyone who joined and paid for a few years and then stopped, or forgot to pay or whatever started paying subs again then I am sure that would also cut into the deficit.

Just paid.. I mean where else can I go to bore people senseless about rust ? :lol:

So if you have not paid for a while )or ever and use the forum) hopefully it jogs your memory and reminds you how important Bongo knowledge and expertise is when something goes wrong, and it will, that is almost guaranteed.

No need for a members card here.

Maybe you can make it so you cannot use the forum unless you pay your annual subs ? The knowledge shared here is deep and has a value.
Not sure how that would link/work.
phllwilli
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Re: Club Deficit

Post by phllwilli » Thu Sep 06, 2018 6:28 pm

Don't have any issue with an increase, wonder if you could simplify the membership by just having 1 type ie Web membership, attach the newsletter as a download that members can print themselves if they want a hard copy?
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Re: Club Deficit

Post by mikeonb4c » Thu Sep 06, 2018 7:51 pm

BongoBongo123 wrote: Thu Sep 06, 2018 5:46 pm There is also the fact that some let the membership payments slip, yes that has been me, cutting costs myself. However I am now going to cough up for a year and keep it going. If everyone who joined and paid for a few years and then stopped, or forgot to pay or whatever started paying subs again then I am sure that would also cut into the deficit.

Just paid.. I mean where else can I go to bore people senseless about rust ? :lol:

So if you have not paid for a while )or ever and use the forum) hopefully it jogs your memory and reminds you how important Bongo knowledge and expertise is when something goes wrong, and it will, that is almost guaranteed.

No need for a members card here.

Maybe you can make it so you cannot use the forum unless you pay your annual subs ? The knowledge shared here is deep and has a value.
Not sure how that would link/work.
Agree with you bb123. I've always stayed a member as i think that without this forum, the factsheets and the clubs existence (big thanks to Ian and Marianne gor that), i would never have got what i have out of the Bongo. =D>
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Re: Club Deficit

Post by TheLongRoad » Thu Sep 06, 2018 8:05 pm

No problem paying a bit more - the tech info the club has collated over the years is invaluable. The savings in the cub shop easily cover any membership fee costs. I don't really do the rally thing....but for those that do, the social site of the site must be good value.

Seems to me that many of the technical questions come from people making a first post. The forum shares a wealth of free knowledge and help - but how much of that results in a membership? In other interest areas that sort of forum thread is 'hidden' from non members, i.e. those 'threads' only appear to paying members - in the same way the factsheets appear. Just a thought.
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Re: Club Deficit

Post by Bob » Thu Sep 06, 2018 9:16 pm

My feeling is a lot of peeps find the Forum, maybe ask a question or two, find it's a great crowd on here and go on to join the Club.

I think new memberships may reduce if the Forum was restricted, but it's Chicken & Egg. :?
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Re: Club Deficit

Post by Bongoplod » Thu Sep 06, 2018 9:50 pm

No problem for me with any increase.
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Re: Club Deficit

Post by Bob » Thu Sep 06, 2018 10:57 pm

Bongoplod wrote: Thu Sep 06, 2018 9:50 pm No problem for me with any increase.

Sound. :D

Brian pays an extra two grand, we all carry on as normal. :lol:
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