Dear Members,
Please be advised that the invoices for 2024 have just been sent out. Please check your emails for the invoice including junk mail if you are unable to locate it.
Please note an increase in fees for 2024, more in-depth details as follows:
The Committee has been diligent is trying to reduce costs as much as possible and regularly reviews all expenditure. We have moved from printing and mailing (which is both expensive and time consuming) to more electronic means. There is very little left to trim.
In addition, historically the Society has undertaken a number of fund-raising activities throughout the year. These have been in decline as it has proven difficult to recruit members to assist. Our major fundraising activity is generally from ticket sales for the Theatre Night which was to be in September. This was subsequently cancelled due to the lack of uptake of tickets with only one person purchasing tickets. We need to sell at least 25 tickets to break even for the night. Had the Committee not cancelled the booking with the Toowoomba Reformatory at this time, we would have incurred a hefty cancellation fee.
At the last Committee Meeting (Nov 2023), and after much discussion, the Committee decided that the fees for the 2024 Annual Membership would be increased in the Concession and Individual Membership Categories. While in general terms, the Committee acknowledged that while the cost of living had increased across the board, so too have costs to the Society, in particular our rental costs for DeMolay House. The Society also subsides the cost of members shirts as well as meeting the costs of catering, trophies and awards and equipment purchases, all of which have risen in price. The Committee also noted that fees in 2004/2005 were $35 for an Individual and $20 for Concession/Student. In addition to this, there was a $2 surcharge at each meeting which was rolled into the annual membership fee in 2020. For 2024, an Individual Member pays less than $2 per week.
