Subscription Fees and Review of YNSW Constitution

by Adrian Steer on 30 Oct 2008 Adrian Steer the CEO of Yachting NSW outlines the different banding categories. YNSW has sent a specific letter to each Club in NSW detailing the dollar figures calculated for each club.

The main differences between this and the last proposal, which band each club fits into, is how the banding fee was calculated.

Here are the main points of difference with the new proposal:

No previous years Silver Card and Affiliation fees were taken into consideration, except to use as a comparison.

No additional bands have been created, except for those as prescribed by Yachting Australia (YA) on a national level.

There is a transparent formula to calculate the figures.

Silver cards and insurance will be offered to ALL members of a club, as long as they are entered into MyClub.

In arriving at the different banding categories, YNSW has kept the same number of bands as arrived at by YA.

By way of background, YA undertook many months of research looking into the many and varied operations of each club.

After this research was complete, YA placed every club in Australia into 1 of 9 categories, and then assigned a dollar figure to each band.

Totaling each club in each band, was how YA arrived at the affiliation fee that each MYA will pay on an annual basis.

Whilst keeping each YNSW club in their respective YA band, YNSW calculated the amount of revenue required to continue to operate as an association, and to provide the services and infrastructure to their members.

In arriving at this figure, no previous years Silver Card fees were used, except as a comparison..

After the research was complete, and the figures had been thrown into the mixing pot, it was clear that a transparent and robust formula was required to calculate the necessary fees applicable to each band, and subsequently, each club.

Returning to the YA bands and the dollar figure applicable to each one, a percentage was calculated based on the dollar figure of each band, and how it related to the total fee payable by YNSW to YA.

This percentage was then applied to the revenue required by YNSW, as well as the insurance amount payable to YA. An example is outlined below:

The total affiliation fee payable by YNSW to YA in 2010/11 is $193,000.
The dollar amount applicable to, say band 3, is $6,000.
As a percentage, this equates to 3.1%.

This 3.1% was then applied to the current insurance fee, revenue obtained from Club Affiliation fees, and the revenue that YNSW needs to operate.

To enable the introduction of these banding fees, a Special General Meeting will be held in the new year. While a date is yet to be decided, February/March will be the more likely date.

To enable YNSW to give a more detailed explanation of this proposal, and the associated changes to the constitution, various meetings will be held throughout the state by the end of January. In an effort to meet as many clubs as possible, it is envisaged that a meeting will be arranged at a central club in each region. More details on these evenings to follow shortly.

For those clubs where it is not feasible to hold a meeting, YNSW will contact them directly to provide a full explanation.