MEMBERSHIP NOTICE

1st October 2009

Dear Member

As you are aware the BAE Systems Rochester Sports & Social Club has seen many changes over the last ten years, the most significant being that the club has become self sufficient in its day to day operations.

The planning applications for the development of the land on Bells Lane have been refused by Medway Council as a result we should now accept that the planned financial benefits to have been gained from the sale of the land will not be realised.

We now recognise that, in order to move the Club forward, we need to restructure to become an independent entity from BAE Systems and therefore plan to make the following changes:

• The Club’s financial accounting year currently runs from October to September.  We plan to move this to January to December, starting from 1st January 2010.

• In order to change the financial year we will therefore require members to pay a 3 month membership subscription in October 2009 to cover between 1st October and 31st December 2009.  We will then start our new financial year with a new membership payment.

The membership charges for 1st October thru 31st December 2009:

Private £40

OAP £30 *(Also now includes all previous members under the honorary category)

Student £10

Junior £5

*Please Note: All Honorary membership has now ceased, with the exception of LIFE HONORARY MEMBERS for services dedicated to the Club. All honorary members will therefore transfer to the OAP Category (based on the retirement age), or the Private Category for everyone else.

The above charges do not apply to corporate members through BAE Systems, Thamesport & EON, or Seasonal Section Members for Bowls & Cricket.

• We will be changing the Club’s name and re-branding it as a new business ready for the New Year, which will see it operate as a private community sports and social Club.

• In order for the Club to continue and operate it will need to do so as a limited company run by directors and a managing director, this again will be set up in the next 3 months.

• If we are to become a private Club and a limited company, we have a responsibility to not just maintain our current situation, but to improve it both financially and in terms of the facilities we provide.  We will be setting out a 3 to 5 year plan for improvements to the Club and to look at adding new facilities such as a fitness room/gym.

• We will also be setting up a direct debit system, ready for the new financial year (January 2010), so as to make payments more manageable for our members to pay.  Direct debit mandates will be issued out to all members during the month of October, stating how much payments will be each month.  A deadline of 7th December 2009 will be given for all members to complete and return their direct debit forms.

Another letter will be issued during October, outlining what the new membership charges are going to be from the 1st January 2010, what improvements we will be making to the front reception entrance of the Club in October to deter any non members being able to just walk in, and also the usual yearly newsletter outlining what’s happened over the last 12 months and forthcoming entertainment etc. 

An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) will be held in November 2009 and a date will be fixed as soon as possible.  This will give members an opportunity to ask any questions they may have on this subject.

The 3 to 5 year plan will also be published in November 2009, for members to view.

I hope you understand that a lot of hard work and time has been and will go into setting this all up, and is only being done to safeguard the future of the Club and to provide a facility for its members and the local community. I am truly excited about the future opportunities for the Club and invite you all to be a part of an exciting chapter in the Club’s future and thank you for all your continued support.

Mr Andy Frost

Club Manager

BAE Systems Rochester Sports & Social Club

Email:  andy@baeclub.co.uk