Base clubs to consolidate Published Jan. 2, 2009 By 4th Force Support Squadron SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- The clubs here have struggled financially for years and are currently under Air Combat Command financial review after losing more than $118K over the last year. Membership numbers are up, but even that income does not keep the clubs out of a deficit. By Congressional mandate, club activities are self sustaining, meaning they have to make money to continue to operate, to reinvest and to respond to customer needs. When money gets tight, everything is used to continue operations and any reinvestments or improvements become luxury items that get pushed to the right. That means without a significant change, we won't ever get to the level of financial health for reinvestment, which in turn, affects you, the customer. What can we do about it? In addition to consolidating all possible positions (one club manager, caterer, cashier ops, etc.), we will now consolidate club operations. Consolidating club operations, while maintaining the officer's lounge, will help shore up the overall financial health of the 4th Fighter Wing's morale welfare and recreation fund. What does this mean? This consolidation enables a single financial statement with the exception of our lounges. All employees and assets would be under one club, making for a better team concept, better trained employees, improved quality service, higher morale and much better efficiencies and focus with our staffs. In addition, we will optimize use of space by moving some community center activities over to the officers club, while still maintaining the lounge operation for our officers. This move changes the categorization of the structure itself, which allows access to a different funding line to maintain the structure, one that is budgeted and appropriated versus one that is dependent upon profit from club activities. What does this mean to the customer? Up front, this change should be fairly seamless and transparent. Behind the scenes, your leadership is working hard to capitalize on available resources and space while maintaining activities that you and your families enjoy. In reality, other than a location change for community center activities, this consolidation is relatively invisible. Events will continue to occur in both facilities and there will be minimal impact to the traditional venues offered or heritage items in the clubs. Activities like the crud tournaments, sumo night, promotion parties, graduations, and Daedalians will still continue to occur at the same location. Business operations will be housed out of the consolidated club and offer venue choices for your events. What can you do? We'll continue to push membership events and activities for your consumption and invite and encourage your participation. We will attempt to tailor these events to your needs and will need your active involvement to do so. We are open to your ideas but must work within realistic financial constraints. The current community center building will eventually be closed completely for structural analysis and potentially taken down to reduce the base footprint and is in line with the Air Force's initiative to reduce costly infrastructure. Built in the 1950s, the estimated cost to bring the community center back up to safety codes is more than $500K. As you can see, the overall impact to customers is very minimal. The significant change and driving reason behind the consolidation occurs primarily at the administrative level. This consolidation provides reduced infrastructure and associated utilities and maintenance costs and lowers the administrative staff needed to operate these services. The Force Support Squadron appreciates your patience and support during this exciting transition and challenges Team Seymour to get involved in the base club advisory councils. These forums offer a great opportunity to have your voice heard and steer the clubs of the future. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this consolidation or participation in the advisory councils, please contact Maj. Debra Lovette, 4 FSS commander, at 722-5331.