Membership Subscriptions

New Subscriptions Rates from 1 July 2018

This article is a reminder about the new membership rates which will take effect from 1 July 2018.

Decisions Taken at the 2017 AGM

At the Annual General Meeting held on 19 August 2017, the Society decided:

1. That the membership subscriptions be set per Household instead of per Person in order to make the system fairer.
2. That there should be 3 types of membership subscriptions:
   1. Family Household. A Family Household is defined as a household consisting of two or more adults without any children, or two or more adults with any number of children under 15.  This is the equivalent of a Family Membership, or a Dual Adult Household Membership, or a Triple Adult Household Membership under the current membership categories.
   2. Single Adult Household. A Single Adult Household is defined as a household consisting of a single adult who is not eligible for any concessions.  This is the equivalent of a Single Adult Household under the current membership categories.
   3. Concession Household. A Concession Household is defined as a household consisting of one or more adults where all members of the household are eligible for a concession.  This is the equivalent of a Single Concession Household, a Dual Concession Household, or a Triple Concession Household under the current membership categories.  If the household includes a person who is not eligible for a Concession membership, the membership will be treated as a Family Household Membership.
3. That the membership subscription rates as from 1 July 2018 should be set as follows:
   1. Family Household rate = $30.00 per year, regardless of the number of adults and children living at the same address.
   2. Single Adult Household rate = $20.00 per year (for a single non-concession adult).
   3. Concession Household rate = $15.00 per year, regardless of the number of eligible adults living at the same address.
4. That membership subscription rates should be the same regardless of what payment method the member chooses to use.
5. That membership subscription rates should be the same regardless of the member’s preferences for receiving communications from the Society.

The aim is to make the subscription rates fairer, not to raise extra money.  The new rates will be per household instead of per person because the Society’s costs are per household.

Please note that the annual cost of providing membership services to a household is about $17.00.  These membership services include conducting the AGM and other general meetings, publishing the newsletter each quarter, publishing the web site, printing and distribution of membership cards, sending out membership renewals and reminders, etc.

Impact of These Changes

These changes will have the following impact:

• If you currently have a Family Membership, you will be asked to pay $5 more each year. You will be making a positive contribution of about $13 per year towards the Society’s Heritage activities ($30 annual membership less the cost to the Society of about $17 per year).  This still offers very good value for money because you will be paying $30 each year but the value of your membership is conservatively estimated to be in the range $42 to $70 per year.
• If you currently have a Single Adult Membership, you will be asked to pay $5 more each year. Instead of getting a subsidy of about $2 each year, you will be making a positive contribution of about $3 per year towards the Society’s Heritage activities ($20 annual membership less the cost to the Society of about $17 per year).  This also offers very good value for money because you will be paying $20 each year but the value of your membership is conservatively estimated to be in the range $23 to $34 per year.
• If you currently have a Dual Adult Membership, you will be asked to pay the same amount of $30 each year. Instead of paying $15 per person you will be paying $30 for a Family Household.  You will be making a positive contribution of about $13 per year towards the Society’s Heritage activities ($30 annual membership less the cost to the Society of about $17 per year).  This still offers very good value for money because you will be paying $30 each year but the value of your membership is conservatively estimated to be in the range $36 to $59 per year.
• If you currently have a Single Concession Membership, you will be asked to pay $5 more each year. Instead of getting a subsidy of about $7 each year, your subsidy will be reduced to about $2 per year ($15 annual membership but the cost to the Society is about $17 per year).  This still offers very good value for money because you will be paying $15 each year but the value of your membership is conservatively estimated to be in the range $19 to $28 per year.
• If you currently have a Dual Concession Membership, you will be asked to pay $5 less. You will be receiving a subsidy of about $2 per year ($15 annual membership but the cost to the Society is about $17 per year).  This also offers very good value for money because you will be paying $15 each year but the value of your membership is conservatively estimated to be in the range $28 to $45 per year.

Membership Benefits

The current membership benefits will remain:

1. Unlimited entry to Churchill Island during operating hours plus discount for special events.
2. 25% off entry fees to Phillip Island Nature Parks attractions.
3. 20% off purchases in Phillip Island Nature Parks Gift Shops.
4. 10% off at the cafes – Churchill Island, Penguin Parade & Koala Conservation Centre only (excluding liquor).
5. Regular issues of the FOCIS Newsletter which will be sent to you by email or post in accordance with your preferences.

Membership Value

Even though some members are being asked to pay more, FOCIS membership still offers good value for money for all members.

Estimating the value of a membership is based on these assumptions:

1. The value of FOCIS News has been conservatively estimated be $2.50 per issue.
2. Each member will visit Churchill Island at least one per year and will use their membership card to gain free entrance.  The current entrance fees for Churchill Island are: Family – $32.00; non-concession adult – $12.80; concession adult – $8.95.
3. Some members will buy lunch at the Churchill Island café and will use their membership card to get a discount.
4. Some members will visit the Penguins and will use their membership card to get a discount.
5. Some members will visit the Koalas and will use their membership card to get a discount.

What Will Happen Next

1. New memberships which take effect from 1 July 2018 will be subject to the new rates.
2. When you receive your membership renewal notices in early June 2018, the new membership rates will be applied.

Tom O’Dea, Treasurer