Special Meeting of
the
A Special Meeting of the Raritan
Yacht Club was called to order at
1. A quorum of voting members was counted.
2. Commodore
3. Vice Commodore Dennis Meichel explained the rationale for the change to the monthly minimum. The intention of the Board was not to raise the minimum. The reason that the change had not yet been communicated to the membership was because it would not be implemented until a system was in place to accommodate it. Without the tax and tip, the $50 minimum amounts to only $39. The inclusion of liquor in the minimum could be construed as support for drinking by the Club. A survey of clubs in the area revealed that all of them charged higher minimums and none included liquor.
4. The minimum was changed by a motion of the Board at the March Meeting. The motion was read.
5. A discussion followed. Comments from the membership and answers to questions included:
a. A history was given of the increase of the minimum charge from $25 to $50.
b. The unspent minimum is counted as revenue.
c. The purpose of the minimum is to encourage the membership to use the Galley.
d. Some fees are no longer used for their intended purpose.
e. All previous changes to the minimum were by membership vote.
f. Concerns were raised that the Board had made a decision that affects the fees paid by the membership.
g. Although the membership must give the Board discretion on some fees, as the By Laws are written, the membership has no direct input into fees and services.
h. About $70,000 was collected last year as unspent minimum.
i. In the past, a portion of the unspent minimum had been used for special items. Because of the cost of the new Grill room this year, extra funds were not available.
j. The Bar is managed by the Bar Chairperson, not the Galley. Profits from the Bar have never gone to the Galley.
k. The minimum has a line item on the revenue side of the budget, but not the expense side.
l. The change in launch service was also mentioned. The reason the hours for Sunday (except preceding a holiday) through Thursday were shortened was to remain on budget. Also, a review of usage during the dropped hours showed that there had been none that the launch drivers could recall.
6. Vicky summarized the discussion as two unanswered questions: Should the minimum be changed and should it be considered as dues or fees?
7. A motion was made “that the membership make a recommendation to the Board to withdraw the change to the minimum and develop a comprehensive proposal to support the Galley and preferably find other ways to support the Galley”. After further brief discussion, the motion passed with a vote of 55 in favor, 8 opposed, and 1 abstention.
8. To summarize, Vicky stated that the Board had received valuable input from the members. Dennis recommended that the Board be given responsibility for fees, and any proposed changes should be communicated through TellTales and presented for discussion at the next Board meeting.
9. The meeting was adjourned
at
Respectfully submitted,