Salle Auriol Seattle Membership Update
August 2020
Hello Salle family! It is incredible to me that we are still in the midst of this pandemic. August will mark the 5th month that we have been impacted by these extraordinary times, to the point where saying “extraordinary” no longer seems so. Once again, the club sincerely thanks our members for their continued financial donations (dues and class fees are considered tax deductible donations at this time).
Even though the governor has issued a statewide pause on advancing to further opening stages, the stage we are currently in allows us to be open for limited service so long as we follow established Washington State and CDC guidelines. This means members can reserve times to work out, including:
Use the cross-training room for weight training, aerobic training and stretching
Use fencing strips for working on footwork and technique
Use fencing strips for household/co-habitant fencing time
Wall target practice (we have installed many new wall targets that are socially distanced from one another)
One on one fencing lessons with a coach, socially distanced
Participate in small, coach led group classes of 5 or less people, socially distanced
While mask use is required, members who have been using the club say that they have adjusted quite easily to working out with them on
We have an abundant amount of space with great ventilation that allows us to provide socially distanced space for members, please contact us if you want to come into the club.
The online Zoom classes will continue as scheduled until further notice. If you would prefer not to come into the club, please don’t hesitate to take advantage of these online opportunities.
We also have Salle branded masks for purchase! They have received great reviews for breath-ability from members who are using them, whether to work out or to represent the club when you are out and about.
We know that the summer has traditionally been a time when members take some time off from fencing training and classes, reducing their financial commitment to dues only.
The club has traditionally made up for this shortfall by running summer camps. We are running summer camps again this year, but the revenue the club is receiving from them is a small fraction in comparison to previous camp seasons.
This makes your continuing generosity even more important. Basic dues only covers about half of our monthly fixed costs (which are mostly rent and payroll) so all donations are extremely important to the continuance of the club. We understand that your financial situation might have changed; please contact Kundry if you need to make adjustments to your account.
On the topic of donations, some organizations (such as Microsoft) offer matching donations; please consider investigating whether your organization has a program for that and use it to supplement your personal donations.
Be assured that we continue to do everything in our power to use your donations frugally and to secure funding from other sources, such as our successful use of the federal Payroll Protection Plan.
Our financial reserve fund, although shrinking at a small steady rate, is still healthy. The only way it will remain healthy and be used to supplement our monthly shortfalls will be because of your continuing generosity.
I appreciate your time and your commitment to the Salle and to everything that fencing has come to mean in all our lives.
Wear your mask and wash your hands!
Marshall Hibnes
President, Salle Auriol Seattle