Club Membership at Opens

Originally posted by Contender443 OK here is another slant on this issue. We have a Laser Open this weekend but some of our own members will not be taking part because they refuse to pay an entry fee to sail at their own club. The entry fee is only £10.00 Now that to me is tight. They should support their club by making the event both successful in terms of attendance and financially.

I have to agree, that is tight to the point of stupidity.  Why would people do that?  I don't see a difference really between entering an open at my own club or any other. 

I'm a safety driver for my club (voluntary) and have done a lot of opens. We as a club put on large events, what I would say is that if you don't like paying the fees don't come!

You have to remember if we all started charging for our time then you wouldn't be doing it at all.

 Our club is a business and need to make a certain amount of money to sustain it's membership and to keep running. This is not just to let us members sail,but to run opens for visitors.It's not cheap to do opens, but it is n't about that it's about enjoying your sport and meeting other like minded people,so  I  think if you think we're charging to much stay at home, and join your local club.  

Originally posted by Paul B I seem to remember a post here recently about open meetings costing too much. So from all of this I can summarise....  - some people are relutctant to pay much for open meetings  - some people are relutctant to contribute to their class associations  - some people are relutctant to contribute to the clubs that they sail at  - some people are relutctant to support their national association How about providing you with free boat to use as well.  Maybe free food at the events.  Hey, let's subsidise your fuel to drive to the event as well.  The top 5 boats get their council tax paid for the year...

This is a great idea!  where do I sign up?

I seem to remember a post here recently about open meetings costing too much.

So from all of this I can summarise....

 - some people are relutctant to pay much for open meetings

 - some people are relutctant to contribute to their class associations

 - some people are relutctant to contribute to the clubs that they sail at

 - some people are relutctant to support their national association

How about providing you with free boat to use as well.  Maybe free food at the events.  Hey, let's subsidise your fuel to drive to the event as well.  The top 5 boats get their council tax paid for the year...

If you think there are any fat cats in the sail racing arena, then you're wrong.  If you think the sport of sailing organises, polices and promotes itself for free, then you're wrong.  If you think sailing is expensive compared to other sports, then I strongly suspect you are wrong, although you are free to find out for yourself.

Stefan,

For pure club family membership I pay around £60/year with a 'sailing fee' of around the same.

Note I would only pay the sailing fee if I had a boat there. If I just joined the club and never sailed there I would pay the £60/year.

It is possible just look round, the smaller club are the ones who have the lowest fees but they do ask for a little bit back in terms of doing duties (I have to do 2 per year) and work parties (another 2 per year) in my eyes a very small price to pay.

Paul