Belkind announces 'no dues increase' for 2012

There will be no dues increase next year, the first time in several years that dues have been held steady, National Press Club Treasurer Myron Belkind told the Club's general membership meeting on Oct. 7.

The no increase in dues was a priority for the Club's Board of Governors and the Budget Committee. But to keep building reserves, pay down debt, and invest in the Club, there will be an increase in drink prices in the Reliable Source for the first time in at least a decade, Belkind said.

“Even with the proposed drinks increase, we will still be the best bargain in town,” Belkind said. Food prices in the Reliable Source will not increase and Happy Hour will be extended to Thursday. Reliable Source Happy Hours are longer than those in many other establishments, and there will continue to be free popcorn and hors d'oeuvres Monday-Thursday, and free Tacos on Friday night with a drink purchase, he said.

The Club has continued to make strong financial progress: meeting its goal of having $1.5 million in cash reserves by Aug. 31, a $500,000 increase in 12 months. The goal is still to have $3 million in reserves by the end of June 2012.

“We achieved those results by controlling costs and performance. In a challenging environment, we’re heading to $1 million profit this year. This kind of consistent performance in a really bad economy is doing some really good things for the Club’s financial health. Long-term debt is down to $ 1 million, the lowest since 2006 when we built the Broadcast Operations Center,” Belkind said.