New England Region has been $15/20 since the late 80's. We are changing to
20/25 this year, mostly because we need to purchase a vehicle for
transporting equipment. While there have been a few people dissenting most
people support it. The reasoning is that $5 is a very small part of the
overall cost of autocrossing. Even over a full year, if you have 10 events,
it adds up to a very small portion of the overall amount of money spent on
autocrossing.
Costs go up. Equipment needs to be repaired or replaced. A region that
breaks even on a event has really lost money. As not for profit clubs, we
are not supposed to make money. That doesn't mean that we cannot have a
little in the bank to cover our long term expenses.
One thing that I believe in is that members should pay less than
non-members. Why should members be punished by a price increase while
non-members do not get the price increase. Having the difference gives the
non-members a reason to join.
Paul Zahornasky
NER Solo Chair
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-autox@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-autox@autox.team.net]On
Behalf Of Loren Williams
Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2000 9:15 PM
To: autox list
Subject: Solo Entry Fees
<solo chairman hat>
Out here in Wichita Region, we're looking at the possibility (almost
necessity)
of raising our entry fees. Currently we charge $10 for members and $15 for
non-members for regular events. ($5 more for events at our one site that
charges
a lot rental) Our rates have been the same for many years, with the
question of
raising them being mentioned almost every year since I got involved 5 years
ago.
This year, our Solo program barely broke even. (in fact, I blew my budget by
$160) Next year, I want to be able to afford equipment purchases and
repairs
that we all want while staying well within a budget.
We have many options. My favorites are the simplest ($5 increments, easy on
the
Registrar), and give the best results:
Option 1: Raise to $15/20 for all events. (absorbing the cost of the lot
rental
into the overall budget) $20 seems awfully steep for an entry fee,
remember,
this is Kansas... cost of living is pretty cheap. This option gives us a
$2100
budget surplus.
Option 2: Raise to $15 for all comers at all events. (absorbing the cost of
the
lot rental into the overall budget, and not gouging non-members) Given that
our
total entry generally consists of about 20% non-members, we don't lose much
by
doing this. This option gives us a $1700 budget surplus.
Our board of directors seems to be inclined towards sticking with their
traditional policy of "non-member fees must be higher than member fees".
Getting Option 1 past them probably wouldn't be too difficult with the given
budget. I'd like to find some justification/argument to support a $15/all
entry
fee.
What are other regions/clubs doing? Is there any good philosophy behind why
you're doing it?
</solo chairman hat>
--
Loren Williams | Loren@kscable.com
'96 Mazda Miata | Wichita Region SCCA - http://www2.southwind.net/~scca
|