The NZNF bi-monthly supplement

EXAMINE CLUB COSTS

Just as the pundits of the real estate field now feel comfortable talking in telephone numbers, so have we as club members reluctantly accepted the fact that club membership costs more each year.

 

Annual Subscriptions, camp fees, socials and donations all add up to a figure which most of us would prefer not to recognize, even if, for the best part the costs help us to have a good life style.

 

The burden felt by members on fixed incomes, fixed annuities or out of date "super" fixed somewhere in the 50's or 60's, is one which does not diminish and which often leads to a down grading of club activity and support by that member, purely on economic grounds.

 

By the same token, many possible new members, eg young married couples with children, solo parents etc. are put off by the cost of club membership.

 

If we analytically dissect the costs involved in building up our annual fees etc, the following facts emerge:

 

Annual Fees are dominated by repairs and operating costs ror mowers, electricity, advertising for new members, postage, newsletters, grounds and building maintenance, rates and insurance costs.

 

Socials is of course up to each member

 

Well, what can we do to update these cost factors?

 

With apologies to the Irish let's start backwards.

 

Socials - It's up to you so let's leave it alone.

 

Repairs and operating costs of lawn mowers - do you know what the total costs are each year? Is your club using the right size mower for the job in hand. Wellington club is currently engaging the School grounds contractor next door to do the job for 6 months on a trial basis to see if the costs are lower.

 

Electricity - Do you know where most of the power is used? Have you considered installing light timer switches, ripple control heaters, reducing the shower pressure control to save power and water costs?

 

Happiness is not a matter of good fortune or worldly possessions. It comes from appreciating what we have, instead of being miserable about what we don't have. It is so simple - yet so hard for the human mind to comprehend.

 

Advertising - This item can be very large if you are actively trying to increase membership, and which club isn't. Cost of one large advert in a Wellington evening paper twice cost over $500. But we could all save this sort of expenditure if we were more open about our membership and used the opportunities we have to introduce our friends and acquaintances to the club. It only takes each one of us to introduce one member each year look after them for a short while after they join and we wouldn't need to advertise.

 

Postage and Newsletters - Well this subject of course is close to my heart. Newsletters are costly to produce but we can still save money. Have you considered advertising space. Last year Wellingtons newsletter cost was halved due to this approach. Another suggestion; don't issue a newsletter monthly if you haven't got anything to say or report. Use all the paper properly, i.e. not too much blank space and certainly not double spaced. If you are using more than two pages per issue, ask yourself if you are making the best use of the paper. Do a word count. Intouch achieves approximately 700 readable words per page. On average that's equivalent to 3 sides of current club newsletter paper. Time newsletters to go out with the Naturist magazine. Better still arrange good socials to coincide with a newsletter or magazine issue, to save postage.

 

Grounds and Building Maintenance Costs - Remember "First cost, last cost" is not a bad slogan to work towards. It's cheaper in the long run. And make the job as maintenance free as possible. You should also consider using the grounds and facilities out of season. One organisation close to Wellington where the facilities and grounds are only used during the week, rents out grass for horses, allows groups to camp or use the property at weekends or during School holidays. Results! Income for the first year of operation was well in excess of $6000 from this source. Ever considered hiring your property or facilities to other groups? The bottom line of course is that even if you don't reduce your annual fees, you can help minimize the amount each year that the fees go up. Members will also appreciate that you are managing their assets carefully. Have a look right now at your annual financial report and be prepared to do some constructive questioning at the next members general meeting. Don't leave it to "Someone else"

IN-TOUCH

IN-TOUCH, edited by Roy Cox is published bi-monthly by the New Zealand Nudist Federation P.O. Box 957 Auckland. All correspondence to this address.

Helpful
management tips

READY FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING?

 

Public speaking is much too nerve-racking an experience for most of us to attempt if we can help it; therefore we mostly keep quiet at general meetings, and leave it for the few to speak for us. Sometimes they don't and we are left with a feeling of dismay that something which needed to be said was not said. Many people, moreover, are reluctant to speak out about things for fear of treading on someone's toes, or falling out with a neighbour.

 

One of the chief reasons for the success of the NZNF seminars is that everyone can join in and they do. This is achieved partly through splitting up into a number of small groups to discuss various topics and partly by the chairman who involves members by asking them specific questions and encouraging the quiet ones among us to say our bit.

 

Will you be prepared to sy what you want to say at your next general meeting? Will Presidents be ready to encourage and draw out those good ideas from the members who find public speaking too nerve-racking?

 

From an idea by JT in Oct. 86 Pinecones Newsletter.

Someone shared the Movement with all of us. Except for our founders, all of us are in the Movement because someone shared, someone brought us in, and all of us owe someone else this same kind of sharing. Recoanend your clubto a friend.

Sharing

Dear Roy,

 

I am of the opinion that some sort of register where NZNF members who own cabins, bathes or caravans and don't use them all the time could list them and rent them out. Thus making it a benefit to both parties.

 

I would welcome opinions or ideas on this suggestion. If there is a need I would be happy to get the project off the ground and administer it.

 

For two or three years now we've toyed with the idea of visiting the North Island for holidays but the expense of taking a caravan and a car across the Cook Straight prohibits the trip. Hiring a van 'on site' or a bach would be ideal. Being an average income family we believe there must be others in a similar situation.

 

I think 'on site' caravan availability would solve some of the towing, insurance problems.

 

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

 

Hellen Skudder, 18 Bouverie Street,

Timaru.

 

Editors note: A very good idea. If members wish to take part in this opportunity please write to Hellen direct. I hope the project takes off. Thanks for the idea Hellen.

AROUND THE CLUBS

AOHC have got off to a good start with their rally preparations. They hope to have colourful displays of spring bulbs flowering when we all arrive for the Rally. Book your holidays up now. Be in first to ask the boss.

 

Club Forums are 'in' and NZNP President Alan and Julie have just chaired such an event at South Auckland Club.

 

NZ Mobile Home Assoc. wish to use the Ro-To-Ta grounds over Queens Birthday weekend. Good income earner?

 

Graeme from Wanganui is experimenting with flushing porcelain loos. When he is successful I hope he will share his idea with all those other Clubs who wish to move away from long drops.

 

It is with sadness we record that the Bay of Plenty club had their clubhouse burnt to the ground on February 16. Let's give them some positive support. Waikato have organised a sports weekend, proceeds of which go to the new clubhouse fund. Gisborne have offered help as well. Clubs - please check your insurance cover is adequate.

 

It must be stressed again that we are a member's club says Norm Wilkinson, President of Canterbury. This means that we all bear some responsibility for what the club is and what the club becomes. Newer members should be aware that they are needed in this respect. If the club is to function effectively all the year round it needs the active participation of us all. The club should be congratulated for organising a special promotional tabloid newspaper printing of their clubs activities. This was at cost to the club. Can you believe that. The local cónmiunity newspaper did all the work and local companies and businesses met the cost of the publication by advertising. Excellent lateral thinking.

 

Manawatu Sunseekers is no more. They have a new name Rose City Sun Club. A city club internationally recognised for its roses.

 

Hawkes Bay club organised a very successful mini rally by all accounts. These mini rallies should be ncouraged on an area basis. Example: the Lower North Island progranine starts with a Wellington mini rally at Anniversary weekend, this is followed by Wanganui at Waitangi weekend, then it's off to Hawkes Bay at the end of February and we Wend up at the midwinter swim organised by Palmerston North. We Must ask Rose City to organise something to complete the progranme.

 

Wellington will save itself at least half an hours discussion, debate and often extended arguments at its future AGMs. The club elected to tie its annual subscriptions and camping fees to the Consumers Price Index (CPI). So if the CPI goes up 12% next year so does our subscriptions. No arguments. We'll have more time to discuss how we should look after our new members instead of subjecting them to negotiate obstacles which are always put in their way.