Newsletter

Second Quarter

2008

1. Trading has improved over the last 6 months and although gross trading revenue does not yet cover expenses and the trading results are still below break even point, we can say that the Revenue for this period has increased and the deficit has decreased in comparison with that of the corresponding 6 months last year. The trading deficit for the last 6 months is R131.619,00 and this has had to be made up from investment income. The last 4 months of 2007 were very busy for the Catering department and showed a substantial increase in usage and revenue for the Club. However the seasonal slowdown in January and February has brought down the results for the period as a whole.

2. In this period the Manager has introduced new events to attract usage of the Club. Successful has been screenings of major sporting events and the Rugby World Cup games in the Sports Bar, Jazz evenings in the Sports Bar, Family lunch on Sundays with an amusing quiz, and a number of lunchtime speakers. Each of these will be being continued at various times throughout the year and members and guests who come are delighted by these.

3. The Club has received some very useful publicity from a number of articles in newspapers and magazines, radio and TV interviews. By and large these have been sympathetic to the Club and have made known to a wide sector of the public some of the delights and advantages of membership - not the least the beauty of the building itself. This has led to an increased interest in the Club and a rise in new applications for membership. Over the period, September 2007 to the end of February 2008 we lost 21 members through deaths and resignations. However, 70 new members were elected and there were 38 candidates on the waiting list at the end of February 2008. This shows how the tide is turning.

4. Our Catering Manager of many years standing, Artur de Quaresma, is stepping down to well deserved retirement. He has spent some 30 years in the service of the Club. The new Catering Manager, Tyrone Jacoby, started at the Club at the beginning of April after some years experience in similar positions at the Blue Room, the Blue Train, the Flight Meal Centre and Rustenburg Plats.

5. New Tax legislation is about to come into operation. This will limit the tax free income of a club to that portion of revenue derived solely from members in pursuance of the objects of the club. This concession will apply only to a club which accepts, and provides in its constitution and rules, certain limitations upon the club’s activities and freedom of movement. It appears firstly that these limitations would not be acceptable to the Rand Club and that secondly the Club could only suffer any prejudice (i.e. taxation) when it reaches a position where it makes a taxable surplus of revenue over expenditure. That is not the case at present and indeed not likely where the chief aim of the Club is to provide facilities to the members at reasonable charges. The Committee is keeping this situation under review at the present time and will take any appropriate steps if and when these may become necessary.

Peter Briggs - Chairman

Due to the Chairman’s Report the General Manager will have his usual report in the next edition of the newsletter.

SURREY HOUSE LUNCHTIME PARKING
Parking in Surrey House is still available during lunchtime, for three hours only. Please note that parking tickets are now available from David Lobban at the Porters’ Lodge to the value of R15.00, which you must present to the Surrey House parking attendants when you leave the parking area. Please note that the R15.00 voucher will cover three hours of parking only. Any time over and above three hours will be for your own account.

This facility is for members only. There is additional parking within walking distance of the club at Beyers Naude Square & Gandhi Square, for members’ guests.