Let’s face it, 2008 is going to end on a very different note from how it began. We’ve had ups and downs in the stock market, consumer confidence is waning, food costs are up and bookings for next year may be on the decline. To help our members weather the storm, the National Club Association compiled this list of articles and tips with immediate, actionable ideas for your club. This is provided exclusively as a service to NCA members. If you have any questions, or need additional information, please let us know at [email protected] or by phone at 800-625-6221. We’d love to hear from you.
Marketing & Membership
Membership Marketing
Membership recruitment is not just the job of the general manager or membership director. Are you using the full potential of your board of directors, membership committee and key staff members? This article looks at way to maximize your staff and volunteers efforts.
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Essentials of Marketing Recruitment
The Truth About Advertising & Private Clubs
The competition for club members is fierce, and you may be considering advertising as one way to increase awareness about your club to potential members. But what impact could that have on your private club? This article takes a look at the potential consequences of advertising for new members.
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The Truth About Advertising & Private Clubs
Membership Retention
Keeping the members that you have satisfied and engaged with their club is more important than ever before. NCA’s “Essentials of Marketing: Retention 101” covers the basics of membership retention, and might spark some ideas to help you keep your members happy.
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Temporary Inactive Status
One tool in your arsenal to help your members who might be struggling financially is to offer a temporary inactive status. Available upon request only and subject to board approval, this category could help you retain members who may otherwise resign from the club.
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Operations
Critical Metrics and Cutting Costs
Reduced revenues often mean reducing costs. The list from “Is it the Economy? How Clubs are Faring in Today’s Tough Times” from the May/June issue of Club Director, provides a list of key metrics to monitor, and actions you can take today to help increase revenues and cuts costs. The second article discusses ways club chefs have responded to rising food costs.
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Critical Metrics and Cutting Costs—What to Watch and How to Respond
Ways to Combat Rising Food Costs
Legal Issues
What Does it Mean to be Truly Private?
Facing a decrease in revenue, it might seem like a good idea to look for alternative sources of income, like private parties, hosting extra tournaments or creative membership marketing ideas that will bring more non-members into the club. Be careful when considering your options—as a private club, you are exempt from many federal and state laws and regulations; engaging in some practices may jeopardize your private status. We’ve attached a Privacy Checklist to help you evaluate your private status.
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Maintaining your Private Status—Privacy Checklist
What Does it Mean to be Truly Private?
Don’t Jeopardize Your Tax-Exempt Status
Additional sources of non-dues revenue may jeopardize your tax-exempt status as well. To remain tax-exempt, a club must limit its nonmember income to a level not exceeding 15 percent of its total gross receipts.
This poses the greatest challenge to clubs that wish to supplement their income, for example, by renting out facilities for weddings or through participation in reciprocal arrangements. Also, nontraditional activities with members—such as take-out food, off-site catering and wine sales—is considered nonmember income by the IRS and will be counted against your 15 percent limitation.
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