Fee Increase Eyed for Flaherty

GROUNDS FEES

MAY DOUBLE 

AT FLAHERTY

The annual Flaherty Yearbook, which generates $2,500 to $3,000 a year in revenue for the Flaherty Association, needs someone to compile it.

 If no one volunteers for the job, and if no other fundraising idea is presented, those monies may have to be made up by doubling the ground-use fees at Flaherty from $75 per day to $150, says Flaherty president Rich Murphy.

This publication sets the Flaherty Association apart from the rest of the country and has made Flaherty a recognized regional facility dedicated to field trialing.

"The Flaherty Association is at a crossroads in 2015," said Murphy. "For the first time in 25 years, we do not have anyone willing to step up and take over the publication of the Yearbook. Sue DeSilver and Bob Fleury have done a remarkable job publishing the book and I thank them for the many years that they have worked on the project. For the past 25 years, the Flaherty Yearbook has been the primary fundraiser for the Association. 

"It takes approximately $6,500 to $7,000 per year to run the Flaherty Association and the grounds fees basically cover the day-to-day operation of the Association. The revenue generated by the yearbook provides the extra money to do the necessary and not-so-necessary improvements that we have all enjoyed. (Who doesn't like flush toilets?) The schedule for the upcoming year shows that we will be running a total of 84 days, which is down from 103 days in 2014 -- resulting in a loss of $1,475 in grounds fees. At $75 per day, the grounds fees will generate $6,300 which will leave us in the red for 2015. Normally, the yearbook would help offset these changes in the schedule and provide a cushion so that we can continue to operate as normal.

"We cannot run this Association at $75 per day," said Murphy, "if we don't have any other source of income. I'm afraid that we would have to raise the daily grounds fees to $150 per day next year to maintain what we have to do and do some necessary improvements. My biggest concern is that at $150 per day, that will put some clubs out of business and we as an Association are not in business to do that.

"In order to avoid an increase next year, it is imperative that we come up with a fundraiser that will generate $2,500 to $3,000 annually. The yearbook already is in place and it is a proven money-maker but it will require a person or two to organize and follow up by contacting these advertisers."

According to Bob Fleury, who started the Yearbook many years ago with the late Truman Cowles, "Presently we have around 80 advertisers for the book who renew yearly. We have a printer who has been doing the book for over 20 years who is very easy to deal with. The person who takes over will have the support and guidance of the past chairman to guide them through the process. 

"All this requires is making contact with the advertisers by email or phone and getting the new ad information.  

"This work can be done from home. The job doesn't not require previous publishing experience. If this book lapses for a year or or two it will require momentous effort to revive it."


If anyone is interested in helping out with this project, or suggesting an alternative fundraiser, contact Rich Murphy at flahertyfta_president@yahoo.com or at (860) 376-five6three6. 

Time is of the essence as the first field trial is less than 80 days away.