It's that time of year when thoughts turn to long balmy evenings, barbecues, fireworks, the latest version of the iPhone. The hardworking SMUG board has also been preoccupied with  matters of state - the sate of SMUG, that is.

At our recent Board of Directors meeting we discussed the fact that several members had questioned the membership dues and wondered what they paid for.

It is true that currently we are not paying rent to SLAC for the use of the Redwood Room at our monthly meetings and that we have gradually discontinued the printing of our monthly newsletter in favor of an email version.

However, we do have other significant out-of-pocket expenses: we pay insurance for using the Redwood Room; the newsletter still costs something - we pay Constant Contact for the service that sends it out and keeps us within the anti-spam legalities; shareware CDs for members who want them; occasional party expenses; postage and other mailing costs (membership renewals, etc); occasional printing costs (advertising for new members, mainly); occasional raffle prizes and guest expenses.

We calculated that these expenses would require a minimum of $20 per annum per member to maintain club solvency.  Currently membership dues are $30 per annum. Hence we are proposing that membership dues be reduced to $25 p.a. going forward, which would allow us to maintain a "buffer'  for any unexpected expenses or events.

Also at this time of year, it's traditional for us to hold elections for Board members. Two members of the Board have departed in the past year, so please consider volunteering to fill their place - a convivial hour's meeting once a month, what's the downside? Dave Strom and I will be buttonholing prospective candidates in the near future.