What to do with the kitty!

After the 100% price increase in annual subs (aren't we mean!) - the club kitty is now looking rather healthy.
Our domain name and ad-free status is good until Sep 2016.

So does anyone have any requests on what to spend funds on? Any ideas welcome.

Better prizes at the Christmas Party?
Summer Party?
Green felt covering for the boards?
Club merchandise?
The Club games library?

Bit hard to make recommendations without a figure, but I'd like to comment on one of those suggestions:

Aneurin wrote:Green felt covering for the boards?

This would be *great* except for one small problem - I think it would get ruined quickly being stored as they are in the loo - most of the boards have water stains along one edge as a result of this already

I agree with Dave about the boards. It'd be nice, but they'd get ruined.

I like the idea of having a better club library, but it'd only really work if we had somewhere to keep them at the club. Could we get a lockable cupboard somewhere to keep stuff in? I'd be happy to leave some of my own games in there so we always have access to obvious stuff like KoT or Machi Koro.

DaveB wrote:Bit hard to make recommendations without a figure, but I'd like to comment on one of those suggestions:

The Kitty value is in a private thread for members only (on the main page)

DaveB wrote:

Aneurin wrote:Green felt covering for the boards?

This would be *great* except for one small problem - I think it would get ruined quickly being stored as they are in the loo - most of the boards have water stains along one edge as a result of this already

Yes this would need to be discussed with Jeff... perhaps we purchase a 'small' cupboard to hold them...

Aneurin wrote:The Kitty value is in a private thread for members only (on the main page)

Doh! forgot about that

On that note then, if "Shanna" in the contributors list for this year is my wife then it's spelt "Sannah"

On a semirelated note regarding getting the tables covered - do you know somewhere that can do them for a decent price?

I think we should paint the tables but not bother to cover them.
I think we need to put a little money into membership cards to regulate the subs slightly better.
I'm happy to coordinate club merchandise as I have done with clothing. We now have a new supplier that can do loads of different stuff we might be interested in.
Some communal storage would be good too.

As previously discussed, I'd love felted boards, but it's just not practical.

I'm not sure the current club games are played enough to justify owning them (says the guy with 30+ unplayed games at home), and the club is growing to the point where at least one person seems to own a copy of every game that anyone is interested in. That said, I can see the benefit of having an always-available copy of a number of gateway games, for the benefit of curious newbies who might not want to get stuck into Kanban or Agricola on day one.

DaveB wrote:

On a semirelated note regarding getting the tables covered - do you know somewhere that can do them for a decent price?

Do it yourself - it's ridiculously easy. Even I could manage it.

Paul wrote:As previously discussed, I'd love felted boards, but it's just not practical.

Even if we sort out better storage at the Redhouse?

Aneurin wrote:

Paul wrote:As previously discussed, I'd love felted boards, but it's just not practical.

Even if we sort out better storage at the Redhouse?

If they could be stored in a favourable environment, then it would be worth considering.

Paul wrote:

Aneurin wrote:

Paul wrote:As previously discussed, I'd love felted boards, but it's just not practical.

Even if we sort out better storage at the Redhouse?

If they could be stored in a favourable environment, then it would be worth considering.

Agreed, but how you'd do it I'm not sure... Those things aren't exactly small.

I'm thinking something like this:
http://eventhireuk.com/filing-cupboards-hire/4ft-lockable-cupboard

Aneurin wrote:I'm thinking something like this:
http://eventhireuk.com/filing-cupboards-hire/4ft-lockable-cupboard

Is that big enough? I'm not sure how big the boards are off the top of my head...

Also the question would then be where would you hope to put it in the pub? I can't imagine that in the disabled loo and nor can I think of anywhere else it could go on the ground floor, and those boards are big enough to be really annoying to take up/down stairs

Boards are 4ft by 4ft - we could trim slightly - and that link was just an idea of the type of thing I'm thinking... could get something custom made as the boards only take up a thin space when on their sides...

If it's purely storage rather than security then perhaps one of those plastic garden store bins might work - something like:

http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/garden/garden-storage/keter-store-it-out-garden-storage-261326

DaveB wrote:If it's purely storage rather than security then perhaps one of those plastic garden store bins might work - something like:

http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/garden/garden-storage/keter-store-it-out-garden-storage-261326

Again something thinner (like <1ft deep) would do...

Ideal dimensions 4'6" * 4'6" * 1'

I like the idea of a nicer playing surface. Why not have the felt tabletop covers, seperate to the boards? They could be folded and stored separately, and used as and when required (people could use the boards, with or without the felts)? Also, if a felt becomes damaged, stained, torn etc, it can be replaced without having to replace the board.

That's a good compromise.... well done Jamie - perhaps we can get them embossed with the club logo... Kes?

We could get a large vinyl easy enough

You want to price it up with your supplier... We need them to cover 4foot square boards - with room to drape over - maybe 4 boards initially?

Pin badges for all members? How much would that cost?

I like the idea of separate felts and also of membership cards (so I can flash my board game credentials!). I'm not really sure about the need for extending the library - if there were storage room for what there is now then that would give any new members plenty to go at, and people have individual collections large enough that there are always lots of games. I was thinking the other day that for basically any new reasonably major release I can guarantee that someone at the club will have bought it and so I'll have an opportunity to play it (which is brilliant!).

Smaller boards would be good. Anuerin - did you speak to Jeff about storage?

Wonder if we could get a round board? Or maybe octagonal (square with the corners chopped off). Just thinking for games that have a lot of players, it's not nice sitting at a corner, with the board pointing in to your chest, and limited elbow room. Just an idea, not sure how practical that is.