Dear Members,

 

The Holidays are over, Cape Cod has just received its first snowfall of the winter and more of our members are heading south to escape the coldest months of the year. Nevertheless your club remains open and active. In January we held two popular functions, a delicious roast pork dinner hosted by Margaret Weigand and friends and prepared by her nephew, chef at the Belfry in Sandwich, and a week later The “A”Team hosted the always popular Steak Sandwich Mini Supper. Both events were a great success, attracting over 100 guests each.

 

Over the next two months our volunteers will continue to host functions for those that brave the New England winter. During February we look forward to the Valentine’s Dinner Dance, a trip to the Cape Cod Symphony and a Broiled Scallop Mini Supper later in the month. We will hold at least two more events during March, including a St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance. Please check the Scoop and be on the lookout for function flyers to get all the details on club activities. And don’t forget that the club is open every Friday evening from 5:00 pm for Fridays with Friends in the Downstairs Lounge.

 

This is not the time of year we usually think about boating, but the Dock Committee will be sending out slip contracts for the coming season around the first of February. Please remember to complete and return your contract on time.

 

Since late last year Membership Committee Co-chairs Mary Henry and Kathy Kotoski have been busy working to fill open membership slots. In December the board approved nine new members and in January an additional six were admitted. In late 2011 we experienced eleven resignations and lost a membership due to the passing of Paul Murphy. Therefore our membership total has grown by a net of three families to three hundred. We will host a Welcoming Cocktail Party for our new members and their sponsors in June.

 

The January Board of Directors meeting was informative and productive. In addition to the new member approvals, the board approved a recommendation by the Finance Committee to pay off the balance of the bank loan taken out in 2009 for the downstairs renovation. With a strong cash position to sustain operations, a positive view towards dues and initiation revenue, and a favorable trade-off on the 6% loan versus 0.55% savings interest, the Committee believed the cash is better used in saving additional loan interest expense for the term of the $39,000 loan balance.

 

Since late last year the Finance Committee and the Audit and Oversight Committee have been jointly looking into alternatives to accepting only cash or our club debit card for payment for functions and at the bar. The motives behind this study are several: increased flexibility and convenience for how members pay for purchases, increased utilization of our POS system, and stronger controls over our current cash-based system. At the January board meeting the committees made a presentation which prompted a good discussion from the directors present. Over the next two months the committee will refine options and provide additional analysis on alternatives to the current system, then make their next presentation at the March Board of Directors meeting (there is no meeting in February). Comments from the membership at large will then be solicited. We will keep you apprised on future developments of this important study.

 

As always, your feedback and suggestions to me, the other Flag Officers, and the Directors are welcome. Please don’t hesitate to contact any of us with our thoughts or questions. Thank you for your continued support.

 

Buz Thomas

Commodore