Chichester Yacht Club Magazine December 2019 | Page 3

Christmas has arrived at CYC
I love this time of year. The nights may be dark and cold but there is always a warm
welcome at Chichester Yacht Club. The crew has worked hard again this year to ensure
the Club is full of festive cheer. Check out the website and the notice boards for a full
programme of seasonal events at the Club.
Christmas is the time of year for giving, especially to those less fortunate than
yourself. You will see below our appeals this year towards the Commodore’s Charity
and the Staff Fund.
2019 Commodore’s Charity
This year I have again chosen Stonepillow as my charity. Stonepillow is a local charity looking after homeless people
and vulnerable adults. So with the colder winter nights, I thought this would be very appropriate. In addition to
monetary donations, this year we are asking for donations of warm clothing, which you can bring to the Club.
Last year members also donated their Winter Fuel Allowance to the charity. If you do so then can I ask you to notify
the Office, so we can keep a tally of the monies we have raised and remember to Gift Aid your donation.
Staff Fund
Throughout December, we will be collecting contributions to our Staff Fund. In line with most other sailing clubs, we
do not add any gratuities or service charge to either our bar or restaurant service during the year. Christmas time is a
good time of year to help show your appreciation for the dedication and support for a great team of individuals who
help to make all aspects of our membership experience really enjoyable. So next time you come to the Club can I ask
you to make a donation, large or small, to the Staff Fund. If you are not planning to come to the Club in December,
you can still make a donation by calling the Office on 01243 512918 (you can even pay on your card).
2020 Club Fees
Also at this time of year your General Committee reviews and agrees the subscription fees for the next year. This year,
after holding the subscription fees constant for the last four years, the General Committee agreed a small increase in
fees in line with wage inflation. This increase is mainly to cover a rent increase this year of £6,000 and also statutory in-
creases in the Living Wage. Despite this small increase, I am sure you will agree that being a member of Chichester
Yacht Club still represents excellent value for money, especially compared with other Clubs in the harbour.
Student Members go Free
If you are a Family Member and any of your children are over 18 and in fulltime education, they can now become
Student Members of CYC at no extra charge. For more details, contact the Office.
Chichester Yacht Club goes Cashless
As part of our continuous efficiency savings, we are proposing the Club goes cashless in 2020. The amount of cash
the Club now takes has been decreasing for some time but the cost of handling this cash is over £4,000 per year. There-
fore, we are starting a trial period from January in the bar and restaurant. If you have to use cash to top up
your member’s card, we can still process these payments through the office. We are also in collaboration with our
technology partner to help develop an app for your phone through which you can top up your member’s card. The
Dinghy Section tea bar will still be taking cash until we find an agreeable solution.
Happy Christmas
Finally from Alison and myself , we wish you all a very happy Christmas and a happy New Year and we hope to see
you at the Club again soon.
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