Founded 1980
Chair:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Graham Smith
Jan Thompson
Graham Mumby-Croft
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From The Treasurer
Is it me, or are the Spring Newsletter deadline dates coming around even more quickly? To me it seems as if I have only just finished writing about the 2023 financial year than I am now looking at reporting on the 2024 end of year results.
As I am writing this, and checking the dates, I cannot help feeling somewhat amazed that it is now 25-years since we all thought the world would end as all the computers refused to recognise a date of 2000. Looking back on the past 25 years I think it fair to say that the first quarter of the 21st century has been interesting to say the least, and it certainly seems that the next few years at least will be equally, if not more “interesting”. The trouble is that the current world situation makes me feel that I would like to move to a remote cottage, on an island, and just shut the door to the troubles of the world.
However, in the more calmer waters of the RPGA I am pleased to report that the changes that we have implemented in the past few months, with regard to how we operate as an association, have now come to fruition and I am quietly confident that we can face the next few years from a relatively stable financial position. The final piece of work that the committee has undertaken was the introduction of producing the Newsletter in both printed and electronic format. In the past year a total of 90 members opted to take the Newsletter via email, allowing us to reduce the print run, and just as importantly from a cost perspective, to reduce the postage costs.
The result of bringing our costs under control has meant that the deficit of income over expenditure of £559.96 in the 2023 financial year has now turned into a surplus of £646.30 for 2024, a difference of some £1206.30. This turnaround has come almost entirely from a reduction in expenditure and despite the fact that our income is gradually reducing year on year, although for 2024 this was a reduction of just £47. However we do know from the work that we do at the end of the year to reconcile the subscriptions received against the membership list that our membership is reducing each and every year and that the reality is that we are not recruiting new members at anything like the rate we are losing people, most sadly to old age, and age related illness.
We ended the financial year with a cash balance in the bank of £15, 628.07 and given that, my aim as treasurer is a very simple one, in that I am looking to hold the basic subscription rate of £13/year at this figure for as long as I possibly can. However, as you will appreciate the cost of providing diaries for those members who have chosen this option, continues to increase and it is likely that this year the cost of postage alone will exceed the £7 premium that members pay for this option. We could also freeze this subscription rate but the question here is about the fairness of those on a basic subscription subsidising those who receive a diary. Let us know if you have any particular view or opinion on this issue. We will look to hold this subscription rate at £20 for 2025 but it looks certain that we will need to increase this in 2026.
Finally a personal appeal. If Dave Lockerbie is reading this will you please make contact with me at graham.mumbycroft@gmail.com or call me on 07597 397425? I need to speak to you about your subs as I think you are paying too much.
Graham Mumby-Croft Treasurer March 2025
Graham Mumby-Croft
Treasurer
Issue No. 92 Spring 2025
