Our meeting at Toorak College this week, on Tuesday 27 August, was a Club Assembly.
While we normally sit in our Committees at Club Assembly, this week we simply had 28 attendees seated on four tables, each table was asked to consider three issues:
1. Discuss and identify possible new Fellowship activities for our Club.
2. What we can do to attract and retain new members.
3. What happens when a member doesn’t attend a dinner meeting without an apology.
Following approximately 30 mniutes discussion a report back session was held with the following being highlighted:
Fellowship
Substantial positive feedback was received about current Fellowship activities. A range of other events was suggested including Cultural, Arts & visits to various locations, including the possibility of longer trips away.
Following a show of hands, the most popular suggestions were weekend visits to local wineries or restaurants and smaller, more intimate sessions for drinks. It is was strongly suggested that such sessions offer an opportunity for new members to get to know others within the Club.
New members
Feedback commented on how well the Club has done with new members over the last 18 months. It is important that we retain these new members and discussion took place on how best to mentor newer people and make use of their talents.
A number of members identified potential members who will be invited to attend a meeting over the next couple of months.
Non attendance without apology
Prior to COVID, the Club used to advise Toorak College of the number of attendees on the day before of our Tuesday meetings.
In more recent times the College has required numbers by midday on the previous Friday. Secretary George-Ann has asked the College if we could return to Monday notification. The Toorak Chef orders all suppliers for the coming week on Friday afternoon. This includes for the Dining Room, Boarders and other meals that may be required including Rotary. In this context, the College is not able to agree to our request.
Thus on Friday lunchtime, the Secretary advises Toorak of the number of meals required and the Club is committed to pay for that number.
Should a non-attending member not pay the Club makes a loss which is charged to the Administration Account. This has caused significant losses over an extended period. In turn these losses lead to a higher annual subscription, with all members having to pay to 'balance our books'.
Several suggestions were made to alter current arrangements. Unfortunately, all would have resulted in more work for the Secretary and this is not viable.
The clear view was that anyone who fails to attend without having notified the Secretary of an apology before midday Friday must pay for the meal.
Where a person cannot attend due to an emergency situation they can seek relief from payment by making application to the President & Secretary.
All members are asked to be aware of their responsibility to make a timely apology where they are unable to attend and of the expectation that they will pay for a meal should they not attend.
