APRIL - THE FIRST PUB MEETING AFTER THE SECOND LOCK-DOWN
THE GARDENERS ARMS - HIGHAM
At last!!! Back to the pub!!
Steve Bell's daughter Sarah's pub to be precise. Out in the garden on three tables of six as per the regulations. No overcrowding, not us, full social distancing maintained at all times. Lovely grub and delicious ale was had by all with great service and a good old school pub meeting which ruined the night for all other drinkers in the pub. We've still got it!!
Ron very kindly bought along the accounts for the period from October 2019 right up to the present day, a total of 18 months.
Without boring anyone here are the main points:
1. We started the year 19-20 with £4,400 bought forward.
2. We are supposed to maintain a float of £5,000 to cover all eventualities so we started £600 down.
3. By 31 August 2020 we had managed (courtesy of Covid) to recover to carrying forward £7,500. So £2,500 over.
4. By 31 March 2021 the surplus had increased to £9,600, so we were in funds to the tune of a spare £4,600 (leaving the £5,000 working capital as per normal).
To give everyone an idea of how meeting costs pan out check the follwoing liost. Please note that where subs were charged these have already been deducted from the cost so what you see is what GASS paid from the fund.
2019
OCT SNOOKER/INDIAN 570
NOV ARGY STEAK 1560 GASS IN 2019 - THE GOOD OLD DAYS BEFORE COVID
DEC SHOWGROUND 1020
2020
JAN GREEK DANCING 1120
FEB RINGKESTONE MAGIC 1460
MAR STOCKBURY PUB 660
APR ZOOM
MAY ZOOM
JUN HAYDOWN 500
JUL CLAY PIGEON 1400
AUG SPITFIRES 1210
SEP AGM
OCT DIGGERLAND 880
NOV DIGGERLAND 880
DEC TURKEY SHOOT 1990
2021
JAN ZOOM
FEB ZOOM
MAR HAYDOWN 850
Now you can interpret that lot how you like but the end result is that the average meeting cost (excluding Zoom's) was £1,100 across the board. That is pretty much in line with previous years. The fee income for each of the 11 months (excluding the AGM) is £1,050. So as you see with fees at £40 and an occasional surcharge we are pretty much balanced.
There was a lot of talk at the meeting to establich for once and for all that the fees can remain at £40 as long as everyone lives by the rules of only ordering standard beer/spirits/wines for drinks (not special drinks or fine wines, brandy and cigars. By all means have them, just pay for them yourselves) and accepting the occasional pre-warned £20 surcharges for costly meetings. That way we keep the fees low and avoid losing members, and those that actually attend a costly meeting pay a bit more to enjoy it.
In the words of the sainted Ron - "The £40 is what you pay to belong to GASS, it does indeed go towards the cost of the meetings, but be realistic, it does not pay the full cost". In the words of the Obergruppenfuhrer - "Pay £40, Expect £40".
There was also a wild suggestion that Brian assist Ron with the accounts by doing the monthly grunt work in order to make budgeting for meetings much easier. To facilitate this Ron would arrange for Brian to be a signatuary, to have a spare credit card, to open up an online connection to the account, and then he would stand back and just be the auditor. That could take place anytime between now and the next 30 years hence - as it is in Ron's hands.
Finally, it was suggested that we now have enough funds to enjoy ourselves but that it made no sense to blow the lot too quickly, better to have some good meetings and spend the 'covid bonus' over a period. To that end 15 people voted for the expensive car racing meeting at a surcharge of £100. After the racing there would be a normal GASS meeting at the venue and all members could attend at no surcharge.
PICTURED BELOW - GASS IN 2019
ENJOYING A PINT JUST LIKE WE HOPE TO AGAIN SOME TIME SOON
