by Robert Dorning

Members will be saddened to read that the Committee believes that one or more people are not paying for their purchases from the bar in the clubhouse, or are removing money from the bar cash register. Earnings from the bar are considerably less than could be expected.

At this early stage it is difficult to gain an accurate picture of the situation as it is difficult to estimate the level of actual sales and the quantity of stock. Steps are being taken to rectify this. Regular stock-takes are being implemented and changes to the cash register are planned. Other security measures are being investigated. However, it is not the purpose of this article to go into these measures - these will be reported in future Airflow articles. Rather, the intention is to bring this sad situation to the attention of members.

Given the nature of the Club it is difficult to imagine how the bar could be operated other than as an un-staffed self-serve operation. The earnings are insufficient to employ a bartender and a volunteer roster would be difficult to organise. However, such an operation is based on trust, but if this is abused there are few obstacles to theft.

The bar plays an important role in the social fabric of the Club and should be a good source of income for the Club. As improved security measures are developed they will be announced to members and it is hoped they will be understood and receive strong support.