ManinBlack
Tour Winner
No, that's what they're seeking to do now. Life Membership was introduced over 40 years ago when we had a big waiting list & nobody imagined the conditions we have now.
Does your club have life members?
- Thread starter ManinBlack
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No, that's what they're seeking to do now. Life Membership was introduced over 40 years ago when we had a big waiting list & nobody imagined the conditions we have now.
Ah,had not read the whole thread.
We actually upped the % recently to cover the charges of union fees etc better and it flew through the AGM but it was helped that some LM had actually proposed it.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Good way of losing LMs then. Can't see how you can do that. Discrimination against one section of the membership.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
But that amount of money is surely piffling in the great scheme of things. Seems more likely that with the club struggling to bring in more members and bring income up to the required level - there is a resentment towards the LMs. The view seems to be that if these LMs were paying like everyone else then there wouldn't be the income shortfall. So the LMs are the cause of the shortfall?
If I was a LM and asked if I could pay the normal member subs for, say, the next 2 yrs whilst membership numbers are brought up to match income required - and after that two yr period I get the money back then I might be inclined to help out. If I got my money back by it being put onto my club discount 'cash card' at say £100 a month then that would be good as I'd effectively be getting interest on my 'loan' through the discount. Games to be played around these sorts of things I think.
But maybe OK if just levying an Admin fee on LMs - which is kind of understandable as conditions can change and no one can deny that there is an element of admin around each and every member - including LMs.
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ManinBlack
Tour Winner
Well, they're having a go at the AGM to scrap life membership forthwith and to give the committee the right to charge existing life members any annual amount they want. The figure of £50 for 2014/15 has been proposed but, if the proposal is voted through, there is nothing to stop them jacking this up to £300 or more next vear. They will say they will keep the figure reasonable but there is no way of holding them to it. A number of long serving members who will qualify for life membership soon, in one case a few months, are not amused. Whatever the financial impact on the club I cannot see that this is fair. I don't see 75% of the members going for this. I think it is significant that hardly one member of the present committee has been a member long enough to ever qualify for life membership. Most people are motivated by self interest and I think, in a way, this is what is driving the move to do away with life membership. The meeting is on 20th April - watch this space!
ManinBlack
Tour Winner
Update. The meeting was held last night. The Hon. Treas. pointed out at the beginning that any annual payment by life members would be voluntary since they couldn't legally oblige existing life members to pay. It was then pointed out that the proposed amendment sought to give the committee the power to charge life members annually. This was acknowledged & a debate ensued about the fairness of an abrupt cutting off of life membership, a strong feeling coming out that it should be introduced gradually. Eventually it was agreed that no one would propose or second the proposal and the committee would go away & redraft the proposal in a legal format & more in accordance with the feeling of the members. My mate, who qualifies for life membership in a couple of years time, having been a member for 38 years, was much relieved.
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