Dinghy development: Club membership- mid year discounts

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Club membership- mid year discounts

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13732
Printed Date: 28 Jun 25 at 2:51am
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Topic: Club membership- mid year discounts

Posted By: TT2
Subject: Club membership- mid year discounts
Date Posted: 02 Jan 21 at 6:32pm

I'm a member at a typical costal UK club, that sails from around Easter until early November. We have recently changed membership year so it runs from 1 April, previously being the calendar year. When using the calendar year we had discount membership from July onwards so new members didn't have to pay full price for a few months sailing.

Now, we are unsure what to do. 6 month membership would be October onwards but with only a few weeks sailing.

What do other clubs do? I've had a good look online but can only find reduced offerings on those clubs with 1 Jan or 1 Feb renewals.

Thanks

Replies:

Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 02 Jan 21 at 8:21pm

Offer a winter membership?

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Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Posted By: TT2
Date Posted: 02 Jan 21 at 8:37pm

Thanks. Trouble is, with no sailing from mid November- Easter it'd be a hard sell.

Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 02 Jan 21 at 8:55pm

Work out weekly cost of weeks you are open that covers the year, so anyone who joins later in the year, only pays their due.

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Robert

Posted By: sawman
Date Posted: 02 Jan 21 at 8:59pm

If your racing is split into early summer series and late summer series - just start the part year membership from the start of the 2nd half of the season, and pro rata the cost.

in normal times do member have access to club facilities in the closed season?

Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 02 Jan 21 at 9:16pm

Do you have holiday bookings? I have paid for 2 weeks at various sea clubs where I have gone on holiday.

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Robert

Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 02 Jan 21 at 9:48pm

If not open in winter, I'd suggest starting a discounted rate from September. After all, June, July, August are the prime family months, September, October you might want to attract people who will race in the autumn, then stick around for the next membership year.

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Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Posted By: ClubRacer
Date Posted: 03 Jan 21 at 12:39am

We do a roll over membership so your club still gets fees and hopefully someone/family that will come back for the next season.

Not sure which date its from, think its September

Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 03 Jan 21 at 8:04am

If your sailing year is 7 months then your half membership should logically kick in half way through, so July as before. I submit you're confusing yourselves by thinking of it being a 12month membership, but it isn't really in practical terms.

Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 03 Jan 21 at 10:20am

It seems to me there is a peak season (Easter to end of summer holidays), an off peak season (early September through to early November - end of sailing) and an off season (Nov to Easter). It would be difficult to charge much, if anything, for someone to join in the off season except for boat storage and (in other times) social benefits. So, for new members wishing to join from Nov either charge a nominal fee or take the full amount of money and roll it over to next years membership. For new members wishing to join in Sept and October offer a discounted fee (half price?) and anyone wishing to join before Sept pays the full fee.

Posted By: polc1410
Date Posted: 03 Jan 21 at 2:32pm

Membership from 1st Sep goes as next year member. Effectively an ultra early discount.

Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 03 Jan 21 at 3:51pm

This ^ is the simple answer, or change your year to start on Nov 1st

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Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

Posted By: TT2
Date Posted: 03 Jan 21 at 5:43pm

Thanks for all the replies - much appreciated.

The reason for the debate is that the renewal date recently changed from 1st Jan to 1st April for a few reasons - but one unforeseen problem was this 'mid-season discount'.

The club bar opens in the winter and there are storage options - but essentially members don't get much for their money November - March.

Posted By: sawman
Date Posted: 03 Jan 21 at 8:38pm

seems harsh to be charging membership for the closed season (Nov - March). - I know clubs usually do this - it's always perplexed me though! presumably there is a cost for winter storage. I'd be inclined to ditch the mid season discount - maybe chuck in a free winter storage or free end of season presentation night ticket in its place for the 1st season - or as mentioned earlier just say half rate if joint after 31st july.

Posted By: NickA
Date Posted: 05 Jan 21 at 10:07pm

At my club: Full years membership or you don't get to sail ....

Not sure we'll have many members left by next Easter tho.

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Javelin 558
Contender 2574

Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 05 Jan 21 at 10:26pm

Originally posted by sawman

seems harsh to be charging membership for the closed season (Nov - March). - I know clubs usually do this - it's always perplexed me though! presumably there is a cost for winter storage. I'd be inclined to ditch the mid season discount - maybe chuck in a free winter storage or free end of season presentation night ticket in its place for the 1st season - or as mentioned earlier just say half rate if joint after 31st july.

You need a certain income to run the club, it's irrelevant if you work that out as 12 x X or 7 x Y as long as it adds up to Z = Annual running costs or more. Even at a club that allows sailing all year round you still get some people complaining that they are paying for winter access that they don't use. It's like buying a season ticket for the commute and then complaining because you don't work weekends...

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Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"