Summer specials

Once again the committee has designated some summer periods as free of the minimum fee ($300).

We understand that for many members, the $300 minimum fee in summer is a deterrent. While we can't get rid of it all together (getting the lodge up and running does cost a bit), we are again exempting selected weekends/holiday periods from the minimum fee.

For this summer, you can stay without fear of minimum fee on

• Ignition Mountain Bike weekend - Fri 17- Sun19 November
• Christmas/New Year: Sat 23 Dec - Sat 6 Jan
• Australia Day weekend (Dragon Boats): Thur 25 - Sun 29 Jan
• Longest Lunch: Thur 15 - Sun 18 Mar
• Easter: Thur 29 March - Tue 3 Apr

Come up and enjoy the lodge in summer. At $30 per night for members it's a very affordable getaway.

Extended Season to 8 October

The lift company have extended the season until Sunday 8th October. To allow you to enjoy this to the full, we are pleased to announce that the off-peak season at the lodge will also be extended. Linen service, continental breakfast and room cleaning will be provided. Summer season will now commence on the night of Sunday 8 October.

It's our best season in over a decade. All runs are open, with great cover. Enjoy some lovely September skiing, right up until the end of Vic & NSW school holidays.

Another summer special

The weekend of Thur 30 March to Sunday 2 April will have no minimum fee at the lodge.

The Falls Creek Longest Lunch will be held on Friday 31st March, catered by Barry Iddles (Elk and Sorrento Catering Company)

more info

If you can't make it for Friday lunch, it's still a great chance to get up to the high plains. Ride the mountain bike trails, fish for trout, enjoy a walk on the high plains or a stroll along the aqueduct or just relax in the mountain air.

Blue Dirt now operate Mountain Bike shuttles and bike hire every weekend until 23 April

Easter will also be a minimum fee free time at the lodge.

Minimum fee free periods aim to make it easier for members and their guests to enjoy a short stay at the lodge over the "green" season.

Summer specials

The committee understands that for many members, the $300 minimum fee in summer is a deterrent. While we can't get rid of it all together (getting the lodge up and running does cost a bit), we are continuing the trial of selected weekends/holiday periods having no minimum fee.

For this summer, you can stay without fear of minimum fee on

• Ignition Mountain Bike weekend - 18-20 November
• Christmas/New Year week
• Easter

The committee hope to be able to announce one or more extra times for 2017, probably to coincide with mountain bike shuttles.

September Special Offer

September can be a great time to stay at the lodge. More sunshine, longer days, less crowds and usually plenty of snow. It's also a great time to introduce friends and family to our fabulous sport. Now we can offer another reason to enjoy the relaxed September vibe.

On top of the already low off-peak price, this season you can save even more.The 3rd person in a standard room can stay for 1/2 price (applied to the lowest tariff in the room). That's approx $120 for a whole week for an adult member or a guest under 17.

the best spring skiing in years

The conditions are fabulous with over a metre of snow falling in the last 2 weeks

• all lifts are open 
• 179cm average in the snow-making areas
• fantastic cover on summit
• the whole maze is open
• there's heaps of snow in the village for true ski in / ski out
• more snow is forecast for later this week

Prices are great value

• from Sunday 2nd it's low tariff time, eg
• members are $38 per night or  $228 per week
• guests are $152 for a weekend

The lift company is offering a Spring lift pass that will let you ski till the end of September 

•  $499 for adults
• only $299 for kids and seniours
• free for over 70s

Spring is a terrific time at Falls

• fast morning groomers
• fun in the slush bumps or the park
• gorgeous off-piste corn snow 
• touring or xc to explore beyond the resort
• blue skies
• relaxing sunny afternoons
• barbecues on the deck

Don't miss out on the best spring conditions for years

• School holidays are filling up quick - only a few rooms left
• The phones are running hot for September 2-8
• September 9 - 22 still have plenty of room
• Don't leave it too long to make your spring booking

Capital Raising for Lodge redevelopment success

Thanks to all the many Debenture holding members and even some Juniors who provided "up front" payments to the capital raising to finance the redevelopment of the Lodge.
We had a strong response as you will have seen from the Annual report.
For those that chose to pay by instalment, the second payment was due in May. If you have not made your payment for that instalment, a reminder notice will soon arrive.
We are now completing a 100% check of all payments and a statement will be sent to all members with their capital payments made and also a guide to future payments, for those paying by instalment.
There are a small number of members, mainly juniors, that will see that their future payments increase over time. This is probably due to movement into more senior membership categories.
The next round of instalments for the capital raising will be in the next subscription invoice round, which will be issued in November for payment in January 2012.

David Stogdale
Treasurer

Boali Lodge Thredbo - rate clarification

The AAC booking sheet says "AAC at club member rates" for Boali Lodge at Thredbo. Unfortunately this is not quite correct. It should in fact read "Member guest rates", which is essentially a 60% reduction of their commercial rates.

Apologies for any confusion or  inconvenience

locker policy

A locker policy has been implemented to make best use of the lockers available at the Falls Creek Huette. The next stage in implementing the policy is the introduction of a $10 Locker Fee from 2010. If you have a locker, you can expect an invoice for this fee.

The Locker Policy in full:

AAC Falls Creek
Policy : Lockers
Date : November 2009
Objective:
To allow the equitable use of the 98 lockers across the membership and to allow the responsible transfer of use of the lockers as a club asset occupying space in the FC Huette.
In general:

• 1 membership debenture will entitle the debenture holder to a request for 1 locker.
• Lockers will be returned to the club on relinquishing a debenture.
• Lockers will be transferred with the debenture if the debenture is transferred to a family member.

Records:
The committee will maintain a register of lockers with Member Names and Debenture Numbers. To be reviewed annually at the Working B and/or the Committee weekend.
If a locker is unclaimed then it will be reallocated by the locker sub committee or the full committee.
Initial Implementation:
A $50 credit against future locker fees will be attributed to each member holding a locker as at 2000 as per the register held at that time and still a financial member.
Implementation:
From calendar year 2010, additional invoices will be sent to each member for the sum of the “Locker Fee” for each locker held.
As at 2010 the “Locker Fee” is set at $10 p.a.
Review: this policy is subject to Committee review from time to time.

new rates have been set for 2010

The committee has agreed rates for Falls Creek Huette for 2010. As the Treasurer's Report explains, the increase will allow us to start the planned building works.

The new Falls Creek rates can be viewed at the www.aacfallscreek.com website.

Treasurer's Report

The Club has again performed well from a financial standpoint in 2009.Your Committee has taken the view that if we are to have adequate funding to be able to undertake the substantial redevelopment of the lodge that is required for our Lease renewal, the Club had to be able to operate at a recurrent profit for years in advance of major works being undertaken.To this end the rates for subscription, accommodation, both Winter and Summer including guest rates, must increase a little ahead of inflation in order to ensure that we are able to commence the major project that will include the re securing of our Alpine Lease.Occupancy rates are higher now that the "Blog" has been able to show when rooms are available and our Summer bookings are increasing steadily as Falls Creek increases its attractions in the high Summer period.  

The Committee is pleased to advise that the Club has again delivered a strong "cash" profit,  but this will be reduced as a "reported" profit after capital items and depreciation are deducted. However, our bank balance has increased strongly in the year and broadly speaking we are optimistic about the likely financial position for 2010.

DW Stogdale
Treasurer

2009 booking rates & dates

Details of the 2009 booking rates and dates have been sent to members. These rates represent a small increase on the standard winter night rates over 2008. A copy of the 2009 Australian Alpine Club booking information sheet can also be downloaded here.

membership matters

waiting list
We are currently in a strong membership position. We have closed the membership temporarily as we don’t have any members wishing to sell their memberships and we currently have a small wait-to-buy list.

Since the wait-to-sell list has now been eliminated , the member-get-member incentive which was started some years ago no longer applies.

joining fees
Joining fees for new members were increased from 1 January 2009 as follows:

• Adult member: $4,700 (inclusive of a $2,000 debenture, previously $4,200)
• Intermediate member (18-24): $2,820 ( previously $2,640)
• Junior member (under 17): $940 (previously $880)

The 20% upfront joining fee discount for adult members has also been withdrawn. These changes reflect our current strong membership position (a 'wait-to-join' list) and the relative price of joining similar snowsports clubs. Prospective members on the wait-to-join list at 31 December 2008 will be able to join at the current rates when memberships become available.