President’s Corner
Don Hafer

Important meeting coming up in March with a vote on a potential dues increase.  Well the opening line was to get your attention and I hope we have a really good turnout for the March meeting. Many of you participated in the discussion at the February meeting and this is my attempt to succinctly summarize the upcoming vote. Our field maintenance officer is an appointed position and Bob Dane has been doing an outstanding job for the past several years. Bob submitted a proposal to the Board of Directors and after much discussion we brought it forward to the club for discussion at the last meeting. Bob points out that the field maintenance officer covers: mowing, maintaining field equipment and machinery, electrical system, electric fence, non-electrical fence, toilets, fertilizing and week control, road maintenance, runway maintenance, drinking water and support equipment, non potable water system, shed maintenance including electric and garage doors, pilot boxes, starting areas, starting tables, trash disposal, flood damage repair and other duties as needed.

Bob’s proposal is very clear and he is not willing to negotiate the details. He is willing to continue what he has been doing for a contracted rate of $6,000 a year. This is $500 a month. Our club has not raised dues in several years and we have been basically breaking even from a financial standpoint. If our club opts to accept Bob’s proposal, then we would need to raise the membership dues to cover the new $6,000 in annual expenses. This means that the new dues starting in January 2011 would be $125 for Adult, $62.50 for Seniors, $35 for Youth/Extra, $1,700 for Lifetime and $850 for Lifetime Senior. In order for this to pass, it requires a approval by 2/3 of the members present at the March meeting per our bylaws. This proposal will be brought forward for a vote at the March meeting.

Of course, if we have a viable volunteer to step forward to coordinate field maintenance, then the fee increase would not be required. If you know of someone who is interested in discussing this, then please ask them to contact me. Bob is fine with someone else stepping up to take over the field duties. Please discuss this with your fellow club members and come to the meeting to help us come to a resolution. There will be time allotted for open discussion. Please bring along some show and tell, buy raffle tickets for the quarterly prize drawing, and we also have a great program planned.

Don