The club has some challenges with access and hot water - two membership benefits we all take for granted.
Our hot water system, now over 15 years old, is inefficient, expensive to run and is on its last legs. Emergency repairs last week saved the coaching group from the prospect of cold showers, but expert opinion is that the system is going to give us more trouble more often. With our annual electricity bill well over $3,000, the committee believes there must be a better way to provide access to hot water when it is needed. We could stay electric and install an 'on demand' heating system or we could change to a gas or solar system. Lachie Gibson last year provided a quote on a new gas system - that seems the front-runner option at the moment but before we get that quote revised we are keen to hear from members with expertise, knowledge or strong opinions on the matter to help us to make the right decision. Please contact andrewhill@live.com.au with your input.
Club access has also been a topic of discussion at the committee in recent times with cost and control over keys a constant headache. With the acquisition of the new tractor we are facing a $1,000 bill to provide keys to all members who need access to the tractor to launch their boats. At our committee meeting yesterday we baulked at approving that outlay on the basis that $1,000 could get us a fair way down the track of an electronic / smart card access system that will provide greater control over access to the club, ensuring that those using the club facilities are actually entitled to do so and keeping costs down in the long term. After all, why issue dozens of keys to the tractor when only one person can be driving it at any one time? Maybe we just need one key in a key locker and control access to that with regularly changing codes, smart cards or even biometric identification! There are many options here to evaluate, so we are very interested in systems that members have seen, read about or have some knowledge of that we might consider. If you don't have an answer but do have concerns as to the implications of a new system then we also want to hear from you - we are sure there are 'gotchas' that we haven't thought of yet. Frank Jurovic is going to immerse himself in this issue so please send your input to frankjurovic@bigpond.com
Member comments:
Hi Frank, the smart card is a great idea as the club can keep tabs on who is
access the club and at what times. The question of security is something
that has been a low priority as far as I can see over the many years I have
been a member. Many times, especially if the club has been leased out to
school groups prior to Christmas, I have arrived at the yacht club mid week
to find all gates and the club house open and no one there as they are all
down the beach. Protocols should include closing the main gate after entry
to maintain security of members and club property. As for the tractor, the
key kept in a secure box accessed by they smart card is a good idea. My
membership is for fishing now as the kids are grown up and I am only too
pleased to see the club making sure that only paid up members launch their
boats and look after the tractor. Even when I had my 5mtr boat I never put
the tractor in the water as it is really not necessary if you winch the boat
on. I drive tractors for a living and I can't believe some members don't
know to back the boat down on high tides when it is impossible to turn
around. Every year There should be a refresher training day which if you
don't attend you can't use the tractor. Thanks for taking the initiative on
these issues Frank , it is long overdue.
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When I went to the training session yesterday morning, I was a bit disappointed with the rigmarole that’s been put in place for the tractor and ensuring that it is only used by current members. If the issue is that the Fergie keys are in the possession of people who aren’t entitled to use them, wouldn’t it be far simpler to replace (or by-pass) the standard ignition switch with an aftermarket ignition switch ($15) and provide copies of the key to tractor authorised members. We only need one instance of the key’s not being returned to the key safe and someone’s going to be pretty pissed off. Judging by the comments made to me about the new arrangements, there are at least a few people who are already disgruntled by the change and see it as overly complicated and destined to cause problems.
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In the weekly bulletin distributed last week I read an article entitled ‘Security and Warmth- your suggestions required’. I was then somewhat surprised when attending the Club on Sunday to be informed that a decision seemed to have already been made on the issue of access. It appears that we have ended up with a complex system of accessing the tractor that is thwart with the danger of the key not being available when required; which is of concern to a number of members that I have spoken to. It would not take much for the key to be unavailable due to a member simply forgetting to return the key to the safe or not remembering the code to access the key, particularly if it is to be changed on a regular basis, etc.
As a fishing member paying a fee of $529, I would expect to have a key to access the club and drive the tractor. With the potential risk of not being able to access the tractor, due to the key not being in the lock box, there will be a number of disgruntled members. With the fees as they are it would make more sense to either issue the appropriate number of keys to the paid up members or as you suggested in your article looking at total access to the club through an electronic swipe card to access the grounds. This would go a long way to supporting the current membership as opposed to focussing on the few non-members who have been found to abuse the current system.
Last Modified on 23/10/2013 09:41