Club members unanimously backed the option of continuing to hold meetings at the Intercontinental Hotel next year, but agreed to switch to meeting on Monday mornings to avoid higher costs.

The club has been faced with the challenge of having to pay room hire charges if it wished to meet on the major hotel meeting days of Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. The proposed room hire would have pushed the cost of breakfast to $36 a head.

Investigations by Christopher Robertson and David Shackelton found that the James Cook would offer a full breakfast for $25, but only on a Monday, and this did not include important features enjoyed at the Intercontinental such as a free data show projector, use of a lectern, storage of club equipment and the free use of a room once a month for the Rotaract group.

Two members came up with other proposals: one for the Copthorne Hotel in Oriental Bay where the club has gone for ANZAC breakfasts, and for the Wellington Club. These were for similar prices as club members currently pay and the Wellington Club was offering a Wednesday meeting.

However, members spoke strongly of the long association between the club and the hotel and of the valuable assistance (said to be worth several thousand a year) which the hotel provides.

A show of hands was very much in favour of staying – even if it meant switching the club meeting to another day. A second show of hands clearly favoured Monday over Friday as the meeting day.

The Board will meet on Monday this coming week to finalise arrangements.

Members should note that:

This is a combined President’s column and meeting report.

Safe and happy holidays everyone.