The majority of members (76%) were happy with the current level of membership fee. The remaining responses were evenly divided between the views that membership was too high or too low.
Some of the general comments made in respect of this question were :
- Will pay more for events rather than a blanket membership fee
- I wouldn't wish to cheapen or devalue this fantastic club with a lower membership fee. I think though, that we should reduce the capital with some subsidised events. Events with broad appeal, such as the New Year hotel weekend and the Christmas party could be subsidised. Why don't we have more £10 or £20 vouchers for weekends away (or other things)? Also, I think the club should absorb certain out of pocket expenses for committee members for "must attend" events - I'm thinking of the sports secretary and the social secretary roles in particular.
- The membership fee is not excessive in the abstract or when compared to the fees of other organisations. But given BIVC's unused money pot, I would favour a reduction to about £25 - £30. IVC could afford to run temporarily at a loss as a means of distributing its assets back to members (assuming that no other sensible and beneficial use of the money in the bank is agreed on).
Financial Organisation (Q10 &11)
An overwhelming majority (84%) of members thought that BIVC should not be run at a loss.
The majority (58%) supported the generation of a small surplus - whilst only (26%) thought that a ‘break-even position was advisable.
On the finances of individual events there was not a clear point of view with 43% indicating that “It's OK for activities / events to be subsidised” and 32% that “Where possible events should seek to make a small surplus to balance those that occasionally make a loss”
Some of the general comments made in respect of this question were :
- As a relative new member I feel that it would be wrong to squander the inheritance generated by the long term and past membership such as lower membership fees or subsidised events that newcomers like me would benefit when we haven’t put in the time. I feel that the money should be invested in an asset that would benefit the long-term/future members.
- Budgeting should generally be planned without regard to the capital sum on a year by year basis.
- Events should be subsidised in ways agreed by all members and published so there is transparency. My preference is to subsidise a few very popular events for all or provide discounts for those on low incomes.
- I would prefer it if, in general, individual event organisers aimed to cover their costs, but that it should be accepted that occasionally slight losses would be made - especially for new 'experimental' events. However, I think it would be ok for some of the more special 'mass' events such as Christmas and Mid-Summer parties etc to be given a subsidy.
- Not OK to sustain a large loss or make a large profit.
- BIVC is not a 'business' in usual sense.
- If no other good use of the cash can be agreed on, then I would be happy for the Club to budget for a small loss (perhaps 5% of assets p.a.).
- It seems pretty inevitable that BIVC will die out within about 20 years as the average age of members is continuing to increase. It would seem crazy for the club to still have thousands of pounds in the bank in 2030 when the remaining rump of members will be mostly in their 70s or 80s. So a distribution of capital to members via an annual budget deficit seems to me to be desirable.
- To budget for a large loss would benefit existing members to the detriment of future ones - which seems unfair. Alternatively, we could be altruistic and either give money to charity or perhaps subsidise the setting up of a new "Young IVC" group so that the original idea of IVC has a chance of being perpetuated.
- Generally, events should be self supporting, where an event is large scale or is likely to attract a large percentage of the membership, it could be subsidised.
- Funds could be used to take the risk out of organising a greater range of events after discussions with the board and a loss is subsequently made. This makes for a better club.
