VJCC Finance 101 |
By Gail Sharp
When I got my first job after college and my dad handed me my car registration and insurance bills to pay, it was quite an “ah-ha” moment. And, so it was when I sat in on a VJCC Finance Committee meeting last month. Realistically, I knew that memberships and rents - money paid by clubs for regular use of the Center - were not covering the VJCC operational expenses. What I didn’t realize is that it now requires almost all of the Festival income to fill the gap.
Did you know that it costs $10 per hour to keep the lights turned on in the gym? Did you know, overall, the utilities at the Center cost around $15,000 per year? And, did you know that the Center insurance tab is approximately $25,000 per year?
My bookkeeping skills are a little rusty, but with annual membership dues currently costing $30 per family, I figure the VJCC requires 1,333.33 family memberships to cover utilities and insurance alone. Our family paid for a lifetime membership at the old cost of $200 close to 10 years ago. We are no longer contributing annual dues to help pay for those gym light bulbs.
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In recent years, we have been able to purchase new furnishings and upgrade equipment thanks to funds raised through events like Bingo Night, the Golf Tournament and through donations from clubs. The expansion of the conference room and construction of the much needed new lounge area were partially financed by deferring other needs, like a new PA system, for a year or two. Because we are growing in numbers and needs every year, the VJCC planners and thinkers are looking at |
how to bring our membership and rental incomes closer in line with costs so that more of our fundraising dollars can go toward the dream of a bigger and better VJCC. The purpose of the Center is to provide affordable programs, especially to our seniors and youth. So, in reality, those incomes will probably continue to fall short and we will still be using some money from fundraisers to pay the monthly bills. But, if all of us contribute what we can monetarily and make up the difference by volunteering our time, it can happen.
Did you know that an expensive self-collating and self-stapling photocopier exists, but we don’t need to buy one because we have wonderful volunteers who come once a month to copy, collate and staple the VJCC newsletter by hand? Did you know that we save hundreds of dollars at every Spring and Fall Clean-up Day because we all pitch in and help? And we have fun and build community at the same time!
VJCC Super Drawing Winners
By Gail Sharp
On October 22, 2005, immediately after the Halloween Bingo Night, the 2nd VJCC Super Drawing was held. Only 483 tickets were sold at $100 each. There were 10 prizes given out- 4-$1000, 3-$2000. 1-$5000, 1-$7,500, and 1-$l0,000; the odds of winning a prize was better than 1 in 50. Because the drawing was nearly canceled due to lack of participation, we would like to again thank all who purchased tickets. A special thanks to the Line Dance Class which purchased 80 tickets in response to a last minute request for support.
Congratulations to the 2nd VJCC Super Drawing winners:
1st Place- Joe Yamagawa & VYC Fireballs
Hitoshi Shimizu Presenting the 1st place prize to Joe Yamagawa
2nd Place - Priscilla Guy
4th Place - Yoshiko Uyeno
4th Place - John & Susan Tsukahara
5th Place- Steve & Miyo Nakaji, Sayeko Kubota, Line Dance Class, and Tomoshige Miyasato.