[Rik]

Limiting membership? There's a description which fits a club which doesn't welcome new members: it's "dead". The appearance of life might persist for a while, but eventually it will fade...

We're currently undergoing a period of expansion. Big beginners courses and trying to retain as many people as we can. We believe it's the only way for a (smallish) club to survive for the long term. With less than 100 (paper) members you're probably always teetering on the edge of extinction - it only takes a few key people to leave (or expire!) and a club is in real trouble. Normal turnover suggests that if you aren't always taking on new people, your club will be dwindling in size. You have to take on new people, even to *maintain* a steady state!

We had to expand our indoor usage to two days last year, to cope with extra people, but our outdoor facilities aren't stretched yet (could probably take twice as many regular attendees), so we're looking for a bigger indoor venue. It's not urgent yet, but we're trying to think ahead (even working on a development plan! Lord doesn't that sound organised...?).