Bruce Burgess, President
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President's Message - October 2017
As many of the snowbirds are returning to the “nest,” it is nice to see their smiling faces, hear about summer travels, family visits and how they had some fun quality time.
For those of us who have been in Festival year-round, this is a great time as well – it means the start of the new fall pickleball schedule. Your board has been working very diligently on the new schedule, which will take effect on October 23. We will be getting this information posted on the website as soon as possible. Check your website regularly.
Our first order of business is the Club Bylaws – we need to modernize them to allow the PB board to effectively manage your ever-growing club -- most of the club’s existing bylaws date way back when membership was under 100 members. Now that we are over 600 members strong, the old bylaws are no longer a fit.
So it is time for another electronic vote to approve the following bylaw updates:
Section D. Dues: Dues that were initially established by the Board of Directors may be amended with the consent of the majority of the membership in order to keep the club financially solvent and capable of meeting it obligations. Dues are payable by December 31st of each year for the coming calendar year.
Amend Section D. Dues to read: “Dues are payable by January 31st for that calendar year.”
The reason for this change is to allow us to deposit the funds and avoid paying a tax on funds that exceed the $500 limit from the previous year. If we deposit funds in December we now have to add these funds to the current year and possibly pay a 25% tax.
Article III OFFICERS
Section A. The Executive Board shall consist of a president, vice president, secretary, and a treasurer. The latter two offices may be combined into one, dual functioning position with the consent of a majority of the membership.
Amend Article III Officers Section A to read: The Executive Board shall consist of a President, Vice-president, Secretary, Treasurer and a director of Player Development.
Reason for change: The new "Player Development" position will spread the overall board workload to 5 members and allow the club to put more emphasis on player training and improvement.
Article V Financial Section D.
All checks in excess of $25 shall require two executive board member signatures.
Amend Article V Financial to read: All checks in excess of $100 shall require two executive board member signatures.
This change makes it easier for the club treasurer to pay for name tags and supplies throughout the year. (It can be a challenge during summer months to get two board members together on short notice to sign every small check.)
Article V Section B Financial:
Individual expenditures in excess of $250 shall require a majority approval by a vote of the general membership in accordance with the voting and quorum procedures defined in Article IV, Section C of the club’s bylaws. The lone exception to this -- it permits the President to order bulk pickleballs in order to take advantage of quantity discounts as long as the total outlay is less than $500.
Amend Article V Section B Financial to read: Individual expenditures in excess of $1000 shall require a majority approval by a vote of the general membership in accordance with the voting and quorum procedures defined in Article IV, Section C of the club’s bylaws.
This change again modernizes the bylaws to fit the size of the club. When the club was only 100 members, the $250 limit was 25% of the annual club revenue. Now with the club at 600 members, we want your approval to change the spending limit to $1000 -- about 15% of the annual club revenue.
The increased spending limit will allow the board to be more efficient. Currently we have two applications in for funding from the HOA Care Fund. If we get these projects approved by the HOA, the club will only need to pay 25% of the total cost. The HOA Care Fund will pay the balance. And the HOA will be responsible for any future maintenance of the improvements.
The club has more than enough funds in the bank to cover these two items. The club needs to get these two projects approved quickly. If we can pay this expense before December 31, the club can avoid paying the 25% tax on the increase in our bank balance greater than $500.
As you can see, our Club is not only busy coordinating club programs, but also making sure the business end is running efficiently. As a result, we need your cooperation as a membership. As soon as you receive the club email blast informing you that the electronic vote is posted on our website, please take the time to vote.
Also, as a reminder we will be having two Board Positions open for election in the coming months. Those two positions are: Vice-President and Secretary. If you would like to help out your pickleball, club please consider these two current positions or the new "Player Development" position.
Please consider one of these two current positions (or possibly the new position that we discussed in the bylaw amendment). Help get the word out -- we need the membership to vote on all of the above items. So be on the lookout for a club email blast coming shortly.
Remember it takes everyone to help make the club run as smoothly as possible. The more members that help run the club, the more voices get heard. We are always looking for new ideas and new fun ways to enhance the game of pickleball and improve our programs.
PLEASE NOTE, you are NOT voting now -- a separate email will come soon telling you when to vote.
Thanks for your time.
Bruce Burgess
SCF Pickleball Club President
Bruce Burgess
SCF Pickleball Club President
For those of us who have been in Festival year-round, this is a great time as well – it means the start of the new fall pickleball schedule. Your board has been working very diligently on the new schedule, which will take effect on October 23. We will be getting this information posted on the website as soon as possible. Check your website regularly.
Our first order of business is the Club Bylaws – we need to modernize them to allow the PB board to effectively manage your ever-growing club -- most of the club’s existing bylaws date way back when membership was under 100 members. Now that we are over 600 members strong, the old bylaws are no longer a fit.
So it is time for another electronic vote to approve the following bylaw updates:
Section D. Dues: Dues that were initially established by the Board of Directors may be amended with the consent of the majority of the membership in order to keep the club financially solvent and capable of meeting it obligations. Dues are payable by December 31st of each year for the coming calendar year.
Amend Section D. Dues to read: “Dues are payable by January 31st for that calendar year.”
The reason for this change is to allow us to deposit the funds and avoid paying a tax on funds that exceed the $500 limit from the previous year. If we deposit funds in December we now have to add these funds to the current year and possibly pay a 25% tax.
Article III OFFICERS
Section A. The Executive Board shall consist of a president, vice president, secretary, and a treasurer. The latter two offices may be combined into one, dual functioning position with the consent of a majority of the membership.
Amend Article III Officers Section A to read: The Executive Board shall consist of a President, Vice-president, Secretary, Treasurer and a director of Player Development.
Reason for change: The new "Player Development" position will spread the overall board workload to 5 members and allow the club to put more emphasis on player training and improvement.
Article V Financial Section D.
All checks in excess of $25 shall require two executive board member signatures.
Amend Article V Financial to read: All checks in excess of $100 shall require two executive board member signatures.
This change makes it easier for the club treasurer to pay for name tags and supplies throughout the year. (It can be a challenge during summer months to get two board members together on short notice to sign every small check.)
Article V Section B Financial:
Individual expenditures in excess of $250 shall require a majority approval by a vote of the general membership in accordance with the voting and quorum procedures defined in Article IV, Section C of the club’s bylaws. The lone exception to this -- it permits the President to order bulk pickleballs in order to take advantage of quantity discounts as long as the total outlay is less than $500.
Amend Article V Section B Financial to read: Individual expenditures in excess of $1000 shall require a majority approval by a vote of the general membership in accordance with the voting and quorum procedures defined in Article IV, Section C of the club’s bylaws.
This change again modernizes the bylaws to fit the size of the club. When the club was only 100 members, the $250 limit was 25% of the annual club revenue. Now with the club at 600 members, we want your approval to change the spending limit to $1000 -- about 15% of the annual club revenue.
The increased spending limit will allow the board to be more efficient. Currently we have two applications in for funding from the HOA Care Fund. If we get these projects approved by the HOA, the club will only need to pay 25% of the total cost. The HOA Care Fund will pay the balance. And the HOA will be responsible for any future maintenance of the improvements.
- In conjunction with the care funds, the new bulletin board for the Wagner Wash courts, the clubs share is about $400 to $450 (still working on the tax and shipping cost).
- In conjunction with the care funds, the new portable speaker system for Wagner Wash courts and the Sage Center courts, the clubs share would be $850 to $900 (still working on the tax and shipping).
The club has more than enough funds in the bank to cover these two items. The club needs to get these two projects approved quickly. If we can pay this expense before December 31, the club can avoid paying the 25% tax on the increase in our bank balance greater than $500.
As you can see, our Club is not only busy coordinating club programs, but also making sure the business end is running efficiently. As a result, we need your cooperation as a membership. As soon as you receive the club email blast informing you that the electronic vote is posted on our website, please take the time to vote.
Also, as a reminder we will be having two Board Positions open for election in the coming months. Those two positions are: Vice-President and Secretary. If you would like to help out your pickleball, club please consider these two current positions or the new "Player Development" position.
Please consider one of these two current positions (or possibly the new position that we discussed in the bylaw amendment). Help get the word out -- we need the membership to vote on all of the above items. So be on the lookout for a club email blast coming shortly.
Remember it takes everyone to help make the club run as smoothly as possible. The more members that help run the club, the more voices get heard. We are always looking for new ideas and new fun ways to enhance the game of pickleball and improve our programs.
PLEASE NOTE, you are NOT voting now -- a separate email will come soon telling you when to vote.
Thanks for your time.
Bruce Burgess
SCF Pickleball Club President
Bruce Burgess
SCF Pickleball Club President