Good news! Membership rates will remain the same as they were in 2024 and 2023.

But I am making a deal with you. Here’s the deal: In exchange for our freezing membership rates for 2025 (my end of the deal), you agree to pay your dues by the end of March.  I know this is a change for many of you, but it is extremely important that we receive prompt payment for two reasons: 1) cash flow: we spend one-third of all of our expenses before the first day of the season; 2) planning: until we know our membership count for the year, we can’t budget for activities or investments.  Sorry, but we will be automatically adding a $30 Late Payment Fee to any dues that remain unpaid on April 1.  If there is a reason that you can’t pay your dues before that date, let me know.  That way we won’t give your slot to someone on the waitlist.  Oh, hold on….I’m being told we don’t have a waitlist.  But still, we need your money.

Invoices.  You will no longer pay dues via the website.  Instead, this weekend every 2024 member will receive an invoice for the 2025 season.  You will be able to pay online directly from the invoice (Sorry, we don’t take PayPal any more).  Please let me know if:

• you are not planning on renewing your membership – so that we don’t harass you for payment .

• you need to change your membership type (and therefore the amount you owe) – so that we can re-issue you an invoice for the correct amount. 

• you are a former member and plan on rejoining the club this year – so that I can issue you an invoice.

Also, if you were a 2024 member but you do not receive an invoice, please let me know.  This newsletter and the invoices originate from different sources, so it is possible that you receive one but not the other, or that one goes to your spam folder, or that we didn’t send one to you for some reason.

Membership Application.  We no longer require a membership application from returning members.  However, if you need to change any information on your account, please fill out an application, which you can find on the website.  This includes any additions to or changes to family members who will be part of your membership.  Alternatively, you can shoot me an email with the changes.

The Annual Meeting will be held via Zoom on Wed Feb 26th at 7PM.  At the meeting I will review the 2024 season, membership counts, and the club's financial position.  I will also preview preliminary plans for 2025.  And, of course, take your questions.

Importantly, we will elect the new Board of Directors for the 2025 season.  

Eduardo Nillni will be leaving the board after four years of dedicated service.  I would like to thank him on behalf of the entire club for his terrific leadership.  

The Board is recommending the following candidates for (re)election at the meeting:

• Dan Smith – President

• Scott Zenack – Treasurer

• Victor Brown – Secretary

• Susan Purdue – Director

• Karen Brenner – Director

In an earlier newsletter I had mentioned the membership adopting a new set of by-laws for the club at the annual meeting.  This process is taking a little longer than expected, so we will take care of that item at another member meeting.

We have migrated this newsletter from MailChimp to Zoho.  In the process, we had to reconstruct the subscriber list and several emails were added.  I apologize if this causes any inconvenience.  If you do not wish to receive the newsletter on an ongoing basis, you may unsubscribe, using the link below.  If someone in your family circle would like their own copy of the newsletter, they may subscribe using this link.

One last item – The top-secret password to the Members Only page of the website has been changed to “redclay2025.”  Bet you can't guess what it will be next year.

Talk to you soon,

Dan Smith

President

dsmith9.stc@gmail.com