CAT club meeting(s)

[66TigerMK1A]

I see there is another CAT monthly meeting next weekend... I've been a 'long distance' member of CAT for a few years now and am wondering why I don't receive or have access to any meeting minutes ? I belong to other car clubs and am sent minutes via email and/or they are printed in the club newsletters. I just finished a 4 year stint as newsletter editor for an English car club and had not only general but also exec. minutes included in every bi-monthly edition. About 3 years ago we decided to save the cost of mailing/printing and made the newsletter available online as we found that with printing/mailing costs, it was using up almost the entire yearly dues! I wonder if our CAT exec. has ever considered that ?? I would hate to think that all my dues are just to 'maintain' the newsletter

 

[cobrakidz]

Jim--I have asked a board member this very same question. I wanted to see if they could be posted online on the forum, would be nice to see what goes on and what is being talked about.

 

[at the beach]

Jim,

You've figured it out. Almost all CAT dues go to the printing and mailing of "Tiger Tales". Insurance and this Forum are also paid out of this "general fund".

We try to design CAT events to break even. Events fund seed money is kept separate from the general fund so that the general membership dues are not paying for local Southern California events.

CAT is the largest Tiger club with membership world-wide. In fact only 1/4 of CAT's members live locally. So 3/4 of the membership get two main benefits - the newsletter and ability to purchase CAT Parts (whose budget is also self sustaining and also independent from the dues supported general fund.) This is not secret and has been described in several recent "President's Columns".

As space permits, the meeting minutes have been printed in Tiger Tales. I checked with CAT's Secretary and she simply has never been asked to post them. She doesn't mind doing so. I think it's a good idea so I'll bring it up at this weekend's meeting.

Thanks for the input.

bt
at the beach

 

[1966 TGR]

meeting minutes

Good suggestion to post meeting minutes on the forum. Let's start right away with this Saturday's meeting. In the past we have sporadically printed minutes in Tiger Tales, but lack of room and lack of interest probably were the reason that faded away. Regular posting of minutes will enhance transparency, so consider it done.

The minutes include the financial report. While Tiger Tales does represent some cost to the club, there are quite a few other costs covered by dues, including insurance for autocross and other events, the web site and forum, parts warehousing and reserves to cover shortfalls on events. One thing for certain: the cost of site rental and insurance for autocrosses will continue to rise, if we can find locations at all.

By comparison to other owners clubs, C.A.T. dues are quite reasonable. For members who live out of the area, the principal benefits of membership are Tiger Tales, the website/forum, and parts purchase privileges. From my observations, the cost of publishing Tiger Tales has not prevented the club from providing any other activities or benefits to members.

C.A.T. exists to enhance the Tiger ownership experience and to provide resources and assistance for the enjoyment of our hobby. The officers and board welcome suggestions and discussion.

-- Mike Michels CAT President