Would like an Opinion - Page 1

This isnt a reference as per directly a SchH Club but a working one.We have a group together and have been so for a year and a half now and all is well,the land owner wants to implement a fee for us working there, and this isnt a problem. We are trying to form a solid club. I am wondering if many of you can give me ideas of what members pay, or non members pay at some of your clubs. We have been paying 10.00 per session,but now one of the decoys says there should be a 20.00 club due, as well 20 to 25 per work session,and Im am the decoy that says this is outrageous. We went people to come train with us and have fun, not kill the enjoyment of it all.We even help them with Obedience,Agility etcetera. Can you all give me ideas of what you pay as per a club? Regards

Our main field, we don't have to pay for the use of the land. We pay our decoy $15 a session for members. Another club we sometimes visit charges the same $15 for dogs, but another $5 fee for lights. This is in addition to our normal club dues which we only charge to cover insurance, trial entry fee and club renewal fee.

I belong to a club that recently had to implement a rather substantial dues increase... we were $125 a year per single member, $180 for a family, really really cheap IMO. We had to increase to $320 per single and $480 per family just this year and lost several people over it.... there are no charges per session. Our dues are due by the 15th of January but this year because of the increase, we allowed payment over a 3 month period. We have the use of a beautiful piece of property - some land for tracking, our field and a building and an outhouse bathroom for which the owner charges us nothing!! We pay the electric which covers the field lights, refrigerator and an a/c unit for the summer in the clubhouse. We are also responsible for maintenance. Due to all our busy schedules lately and the distances some of us have to travel to get there, we have had to contract someone to take care of the lawn mowing etc... but we have a pretty sweet deal from a guy the property owner found for us. The increase in dues was primarily to pay for the field maintenance and other repairs that need to take place such as lighting repairs and upkeep and we really need new blinds.... We also are hosting the SE Regional in the fall and felt we needed a cushion in the account for those expenses.. This is under $30 a month if broken down and we typically train twice a week. Our helpers ask for no money but the club does take care of sleeve covers.... Hope this helps - it's a tough subject to have to make decisions about.

Our club members pay $30 per month per member working a dog. There is a $75 per member insurance fee per year at present but our insurance is $540 and membership being small, dues do not cover the full fee. We also have an excellent paid helper. Any person whose dog is doing sleeve work is expected to pay $10 per session. I work multiple dogs and pay the bulk of the fee therefore to make it worth the time of the helper to travel here, plus the helpers' gas. There are no fees for using the facility as I own it. We can track, train indoors, swim or run dogs on the outside track, cook, shower etc. as it is a full-service facility. Despite the membership paying their dues, because we are a small club, dues do NOT begin to make up for the costs associated with hosting a trial, conformation show and Kör each year and I end up having to pay the bulk of the costs associated with the club. Unfortunately, to have a club is expensive, no matter how one cuts it. Dues in our region are $210. Another $100 goes to the organization. Equipment is expensive. In our case, I own it all because the club simply can not afford to buy it.

I belong to a PSA club and our dues are $30/month for one dog and $45/month for two dogs and a $130 one time intiation fee. We train 2 to 3 times a week. Our training director owns both places we train so no costs there. Our decoys (2 of them) train dogs at our club so they get to train for free. The training director takes 15% a month from the dues to cover his time. And all training equipment (Sleeves, suits, batons, etc.) come from the club account.

WOW! We pay $100 a year in both clubs we belong to... Train several dogs or just one dog - doesn't matter. I guess its a great deal we are getting!