Happy New Year to our Club Members ~

As we look forward to the 2023 summer season, the Board has a lot on its plate. Things are progressing well in the search for a new general manager while Bob K. continues in his role through June. Those folks with scheduled weddings at the Club won’t find their planning disrupted, as Bob will see those through no matter what our leadership situation.

Weddings

Speaking of weddings, the Board encourages members to consider the Club either as their family wedding venue or to sponsor friends and extended family who wish to use the Club for this purpose. Although not available during the high season, June and September are both ideal times for a wedding or large family event. You may contact Bob, until a new general manager is in place, at gmsmallpointclub@gmail.com or (717)917-4208.

“Closets, Collections, and Creative Experiences”

Please place the Club fundraising event on your calendar for Saturday, August 12, 2023. The theme this year is “Closets, Collections, and Creative Experiences”. The idea is inspired by Louise Hoffman’s retrieval from her closet, a couple of years ago, of two original Bodwell Spinney blueprints. She generously donated these to that year’s fundraiser auction, which were bid on passionately, to the great excitement of the crowd. This put in mind the idea that we all have cherished items that we don’t have a use or place for any longer – either languishing in your closet or elsewhere. Folks may have collections family members aren’t interested in (Waterford crystal,  Aunt Marie’s depression glass?). Contributing to the auction could do two things: find a welcome new home and raise funds for the Club! Donations of creative experiences (fishing lessons, painting lessons, sailing in Casco Bay, a get-away opportunity…) are welcome donations as well. Our fundraisers are integral to the ongoing maintenance of the Club not covered by the Preservation Fund. New appliances, sinks, painting, carpeting… the list is endless and ongoing. Members’ dues go toward operating expenses, thus the participation of our members in our fundraising efforts is necessary and greatly appreciated! Further information will be provided in the coming months, but in the meantime please search your spaces and capabilities for contribution ideas.

2023 Dues

The Board, after much discussion and consideration, has made the decision to match the inflationary rate of 10%, increasing dues for 2023:

  • $550 for full members
  • $275 for associate members
  • those associate members who joined at the $100 dues rate are grandfathered at that rate until they become full members (at age 35 or 5 years of associate membership, whichever comes first).

Associate members’ dues will continue to accrue toward their initiation fee when converting to full members.

  • New member initiation fees are increasing to $1,000;
  • current associate members are grandfathered at the $500 full member initiation fee in place when they originally applied.

As always, The Board wishes to thank both the contributors to the Club’s Preservation Fund as well as our Sustaining Members. These two categories of contributing members are emphatically important to the Club. Tax deductible contributions to the Preservation Fund go toward the maintenance of the historical aspects of the building. Our Sustaining Members, who contribute beyond the obligatory annual dues, help with our operating expenses and building maintenance not covered by the Preservation Fund’s 501(c)3 guidelines.

Long-range outlook

A further word needs to be added concerning the long-range outlook for the Small Point Club.
Conversations will take place through the summer and beyond with the Board and Club members discussing how we want to proceed into the future. Currently, the Club operates by its fingertips, while major projects loom that can not be avoided. Renovations are badly needed and are currently dealt with through patchwork updates. The septic system leach field is reaching its final days and needs to be relocated from its current precarious location, as the water encroaches during severe storms. At the same time, stress is put on the facilities and budget to offer more and better. We are at a crossroads and hard decisions need to be made on what we want the Club’s future to look like. We want everyone to be in on this discussion; decisions must reflect what the members are willing to support.

But for now, we wish everyone a healthy winter as we wait to connect with you all once more for our 126th season at the most beautiful place – in our opinion – on earth!

All best from The Small Point Club Board

Martie Janeway, Co-President
Sumner Miller, Co-President
Lynn Pawley, Treasurer

Virginia Adams Dittrich
Roger Farrington
Phoebe Ijams
Anne Lee
Richard Henry Lee
Liz Mitchell
Roberta Tenney
Bob Vaughan