Todd wants to know:  "Is it a blanket, or a cape?"

 

In the beginning part of our Sunup Meeting last Wednesday, which was well-attended, we discussed our Yarnell Blankets & Fans Project — the occasion for Todd's modeling and question about one of the donated individual blankets. 

 

The primary focus of this Sunup Time meeting, though, was spent on wrestling some of the the club's current financial realities.  We have a wonderful, historic meeting place at the Hassayampa Inn  — but it is expensive; and with our current dues structure, our club is losing money every month.  Years ago, when our club was meeting at the St. Michaels Hotel, our contract with the hotel required us to pay for a minimum iof 30 breakfasts, whether they were eaten or not.  It was a no-brainer at that time that, to be a member of our club, everyone would be charged for a dues amount which would include paying for a breakfast each week, whether you could attend or not.  Our club, with that system, had no problem paying for our expenses, which included our weekly contract with the hotel, our club's operating expenses, along with Rotary District and Rotary International dues.

 

When St. Michaels could no longer accommodate us, and we began meeting elsewhere, the club's leadership decided to try a new approach, which they thought might attract more members.  They set member dues at $80 per quarter, and said members only had to pay the quarterly dues to be a member.  If they wanted to eat breakfast, they could continue to pay a quarterly amount which would include their dues and the cost of 13 meals — or they could just order and pay for a meal if they wanted to eat.  However, the financial reality is that the $80 quarterly dues didn't actually cover all of the club's operating expenses; and both district & international dues have continued to increase each year — without our $80 per quarter having been raised.  In addition, every venue where we have met, in order to stay in business, has had to require in our contrtact a minimum number of meals, for which we must pay each week.  At the Hassayampa that minumum is 12 meals @ $20 per meal.  Currently only 5 members have been paying for the package of dues + meals, and few members opt to purchase a $20 breakfast.

 

Without disclosing here the details of a proposed restructuring of our dues and a change of venue, beginning July 1, which would include a continental breakfast for everyone, suffice it to say that there was good participation in the discussion.  In addition, an apparent consensus was  reached that the club's leadership is moving in the right direction in exploring further this proposal.

 

 

 

Remember:  The club's annual Let's Make A Deal offer is a limited time offer through March 31 each year — which is this Tuesday.  However, rather than mail your check, payable to The Rotary Foundation, bring it to Art on Wednesday to the club meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

Co-President Christy Manning never misses an opportunity for the club to help celebrate a Sunupian's birthday.  We celebrated with Tiffany Jones at last week's club meeting.  For anyone having trouble seeing the Four-Way Test banner, Tiffany came prepared to help you.

 

 

 

 

 

Sunup Rotary's Snack Shack was open for business for the first Little League game at the ballpark.  Thanks to to the outsranding crew on hand to help make it happen:  Emmett Jones, Todd Clancy, Tiffany Jones, Parshalla Wood, Vicki Mickel, and Jane Anne Shimizu.

.

Vicki, Tiffany and Todd at the window, working their shift.  Have you signed up for Snack Shack shifts yet this year?