Probably a long shot but...

[arkady_tsep]

I'm a member of the Tidewater Fencing Club in VA and a little while back we started having some problems with the place where we meet. We used to meet twice a week (mon and wed), but due to the cost of renting the space we had to cut down to only wed nights which ended up loosing some of our membership.

Here's an excerpt from the newsletter that was sent out:

"While we are trying to avoid raising the dues
substantially, as in option 2 above, we have not ruled
out option 3 -- moving. Wesleyan is so conveniently
located and the space so comfortable, that we'd really
prefer to stay. However, if any of you know of a new
location, we would like to hear about it. These are
some of the parameters of the ideal situation: it
would cost no more than $500/month for two nights a
week (Monday & Wednesday), from 7-10pm (utilities
included); it could handle 50-60 fencers on Wednesdays
and about 25-30 on Mondays; it would allow us on-site
storage space for our club-owned gear; it would have
adequate restroom facilities; it would be heated and
air conditioned; it would be located somewhere near
Interstate 64 so that our members from the Peninsula
and the distant areas of Southside can reach it as
easily as Wesleyan. Here is some information you
might need as you pursue option 3: TFC is a volunteer
organization with a non-profit tax status. We
currently have 117 members. We carry liability
insurance through the US Fencing Association, of which
we are a member club. "

I don't suppose that anyone has any either "specific" ideas of where there might be a place for us to relocate, or just general ideas of where to look. If you have one please drop me a message!

Thanks!

[Jason]

Raise your rates. With that many members, you should be looking to turn your little club into a business.
Look for a way to increase your club days, not decrease them.

[CvilleFencer]

Gotta go with Jason on this. If you had your dues at $50 a month that would give you almost $6000 before taxes. RFC and CFA have been looking at permanent venues in the 2-3000 square foot range and can find places for about $2500-3500 a month in Cville and Rmond. I can't be that much more expensive down your way! It would also give you a place that would be yours week around and you could rent out the venue on your off nights to other groups such as dance and martial arts clubs to help make up the shortfall.

Contact a local business realestate agent and tell them you are looking for warehouse type space, not office or retail space. The same building can be priced a fair amount differant depending on what your perceived purpose is for some reason, at least in this area. PM me if you would like some more specific ideas. By the way, is this Tim or anyone else that I know like Al, Dave, David or Bill?

The other option is to use one of the spaces that CFA uses! $15 an hour everything included, but it is a bit of a drive...

Good luck!
James