Club membership fees

What do you think is an acceptable price for sailing club membership ?

We have a new £8 million building, to replace our old clubhouse ( council owned ). It is to be run by a charity ,it has access for persons with disablities, accomodation rooms, restaurant, wet cafe shared clubroom with other watersports clubs. Classrooms etc. We are to be asked £400 a year for a family of four + £100 boat berthing per boat. There will be a users forum to decide who get to use the lake and when, so racing may not happen on Sundays as we did. No organised racing up to us to sort out. Other users eg windsurfers/ rowers/canoeists will pay about half for the same facilities !

Photos of building can be viewed on www.crosby-s-c.synthasite.com 

your views please. 

Looks very nice and I am guessing it is going to be run professionally. It really depends what is included in your membership. Do you get to use the centres boats at no or reduced fee, reduced accommodation, the gym etc.

As far as no racing on Sudays then that will limit the attraction to new  and existing members.

You will need to compare the prices with other clubs in the area. I would also compare with other clubs with similar facilities such as Rutland, Hayling Island, WPNSA, etc

I'd be inclined to ask why other water users get to use the place for less money. You may find there's some
misunderstandings behind this that could be resolved to your benefit.

Your club committee are presumably well placed to put the views of the club with regard to needing to be
allowed to race on a Sunday - if they can't get that organised then you might as well walk away.

Seriously though, start off by talking to people. The organisers will want to listen to their clientele - they
don't want to be left with an £8 million white elephant and a load of bad press. But unless you spell the needs
of your club out in simple terms, they probably won't understand what the problem is.

So you are being offered>>>>>>>>
limited access to the club,restricted access to the water, 
no agreements worked out with other users, and £500 to £600
a year for the privilege....
Sounds like a world of pain and grief to me.
I'd certainly be having a look at other clubs in the area I think.

I pay about 60% of what you are being asked, and that is for
family membership and 2 boats.

 I think most persons feel the same as myself re fees.

Mikey I am part of the club commitee ( the Vice Com ) which is why I'm asking about fees.

The operator is a ' Disabled person charity ' they are tapping into all sorts of grants ie Sports England etc.  They know that watersports users are not money makers the grants are !

I don't want to rant for too long or I'll get into the bad mood I was in the other night when I was told the fees. But yes other local clubs may get a mass of applicagtions very soon. Such a shame.