Hi Everyone,
Another month marked off the 2014 calendar and closer to the colder months. It doesn’t bear thinking about just how fast time passes us by does it? Have you noticed we have been having all sorts of issues with our air-conditioning units in the Main Bar? Depending on where you may sit. One minute you’re sitting in unbearable heat while other areas are freezing. The next minute it goes the opposite way. We have had a data reader installed in the bar to record the times and temperature variations. We are hoping that this information will help the service team identify what the problem is and get it fixed so you are more comfortable.
Despite there being a lot happening in April, the Club ended the month below budget. The club YTD is trading $250,000 better than last year (excluding the benefit achieved from donations of nearly $200,000) this has been achieved through tighter management of operational and overhead expenditure. Gross trading revenue has declined by $102,000 however our gross profit from trading revenue has declined by only $2,200 YTD as a result of reduced cost of sales by $100,000 on the previous year. Considering the year the club has had, and the current economic climate combined with a reduced alcohol & driving law this result is good but not good enough.
Why am I telling you this? It’s quite simple, it’s your club and you need to know how we are doing.
There’s an old saying that goes something like, “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink”
I’m sure there are thousands of other sayings around like it. But there really is only one that I know that means exactly what it states and that is simply.
USE IT OR LOSE IT.
This is a call to action to you all. The Club needs the regular and continued support of ALL 5,337 current financial members to remain viable.
The management, staff, club executives and Board have worked hard to provide you all a top quality venue that offers you all something to be proud of. I encourage you all to use the facilities and to promote the club to your friends, family and colleagues as a great club to join and be part of. There is no time like now to join.
Have you been to the club lately?
If not we would love to hear from you. Tell us why? Is there something we could do which will encourage you to use the club more regularly? The Club needs your support. Pop in, have a meal and a drink. Bring a guest and show your club off. We would love to see you.
Anzac Day Update
Thank you to all those members from the Club and RSA who came along and took part in the day’s events. An early breakfast and hot Rum toddy after the dawn parade warmed everyone up for the remainder of the day. The Wartime Band did a brilliant job of bringing back some of those really old nostalgic tunes from the war era. That was followed by a couple of very entertaining volunteers from Hamilton who were travelling around the Nelson region. They dropped in and offered to play some music for us. We would certainly get Loni and Paul back again some time. The lead up to Anzac Day was made all the more special with the fantastic war time vehicle display Roger Humphries placed in the members bar. A lot of members and visitors really appreciated the display Roger created from his collection and were amazed that we went to such an effort to create some atmosphere in the Club for the day. Thanks to everyone who contributed in making it such a great day for the RSA members and the Club.
Lioness Club of Nelson Quiz Night update
Last Friday evening we hosted the Lioness quiz night in the sports hall. This fundraising event was held to raise funds to help support suicide prevention. Thanks to those who came along and supported this very successful event. The Lioness did a fantastic job of organising the fund raiser and managed to make it a sell out event. Well done and thanks to Valda and the Ladies Lioness Club for bringing your custom to the Suburban Club again.
Junior 8 Ball National Tournament.
What a great success this tournament was for the juniors. Jane Wood and the helpers from the pool section did us proud in their organisational and hosting skills for the tournament. All of the juniors and their supporters really enjoyed the Club’s facilities and hospitality and I’m sure will go back to their own clubs with good stories to tell of the Suburban Club. We have a strong junior pool section and were pleased to see Brittany Kidd back from Tauranga to take part. It’s such a shame that some Clubs don’t support junior sections. I feel that is so wrong, juniors are our future club members and without them clubs won’t have a future! All sections should be bringing juniors in and developing them through the ranks. Any tournament wouldn’t be possible without some sponsors and a big thank you to Pot Black who was the major sponsor on this occasion. We are also very grateful for and an enormous thank you goes out to Ian Jones from Ian Jones Electrical for sponsoring labour and equipment to install all of the additional lighting that was needed in the Pool area. Ian was called in at the last minute to sort out the install of the tournament lighting.
Entertainment this week.
We have a great weekend of music lined up for you to enjoy this weekend. Double Barrell who entertained you on New Year’s Eve are on the stage again at 7pm this Friday in the main bar and promise to bring you another great night of good music. On Saturday we have Philip Marshall playing at the Club for the first time. Come along and give him some support.
Read this week's full version of the newsletter here.
Have a great week everyone. See you at your club
Cheers Rob