Dear MCEI members,
 
First, thank you so much for your investment and participation in MCEI. Two key things make MCEI special: it’s unique programming and the wonderful networking opportunities the organization provides every month. MCEI could not be what it is without you.
 
I am writing to give an update on MCEI, share new options for your membership in the new year, and update you on changes that will put MCEI on a path to continued growth and success.
 
After you read the following, please share your thoughts here.

 
MCEI Has Operated in the Red Since 2014 – Let’s Fix That
 
A combination of pricey annual meeting locations, dues that haven’t kept up with costs, and the annual picnic have resulted in unsustainable losses for MCEI. Here is the breakdown:
 
2014-2015: -$1,180
2015-2016: -$8,511
2016-2017: -$6,518
2017-2018: +112
2018-2019: -$6,312
 
MCEI maintains two reserve accounts. One was tapped this year to cover operating expenses and monthly losses resulting from the cost of food and drinks that exceed our income.
 
We continue to receive favorable terms from the Seattle Yacht Club and research into other venues reaffirms the value of our meetings there. The Yacht Club is also a favored location for members and we will not make changes to that.
 
Here is how we will get back on track as we continue to grow and provide great experiences.
 
 
New Dues Options that Meet Your Needs
 
Currently, there is a single dues structure that is an annual cost of $725. It is not enough to cover the administration of the club nor meals and drinks. We want to fix this deficit while providing additional options that suit your budget and schedule. Beginning in 2020, you can choose from the following options upon your renewal. All of which are designed to be as affordable as possible while keeping MCEI in a good fiscal position.
 
Annual Membership: $800 Annually
 
This is the plan you are currently on. One payment covers entry for every meeting and the new rate, $75 more than the current one, ensures we are covering our costs and not losing money. This is the best overall value.
 
Package of Six: $640 Annually
 
This plan allows you to pay a flat fee and attend up to six meetings during your year of membership. They do not need to be sequential. You will RSVP for the meeting like normal; up to six total meetings.
 
Pay-As-You-Go: $250 Annually + $85/Meeting
 
There have been years of conversations about an emeritus rate for our longtime members. We want to make this a reality starting now. As we investigated this option and reviewed attendance trends, we determined this rate can be offered to anyone who’d like it – emeritus through brand-new members.
 
The model requires a one-time payment of $250 and allows for the attendance of any and all meetings at the per-meeting cost of $85. The purpose is to allow maximum flexibility for members who can only attend sporadically while giving them the choice about the meetings they attend.
 
Note, if you plan on attending more than four meetings the package of six is a better deal.
 
Upgrade Reminders and Recommendations
 
There are no changes to upgrades, but I want to share reminders and recommendations with you.
 
No single person can attend MCEI more than twice per year as an upgrade. The purpose of the upgrade is to introduce your colleagues to MCEI or, better yet, a potential new member who can attend in your stead.
 
If you select one of the new payment options above, RSVP for an event, and realize you cannot make it, you can still send an upgrade. If your employer pays your membership, sticking with the annual package may be beneficial so you can access more upgrade meetings that your colleagues or direct reports can use.
 
 
Programming and Membership
 
As I said at the top, programming and membership are essential to MCEI. We won’t attract and retain great members if we have weak programming. We won’t recruit quality speakers if membership is low.
 
MCEI currently has 56 members. Our goal is 70 members total across any of the dues structures above. This is a responsibility of everyone in MCEI. Please introduce your friends and peers to MCEI and encourage them to attend as your guest and join. Our two membership chairs cannot do it all alone and are more than happy to support your individual efforts.
 
The board is working very hard to introduce communications leaders to MCEI and are so pleased to once again welcome our new 2020 members:

• Dan Lee

• Ed Boyle

• Lauri Hennesey

• Debi Naanes

• Kristi Ellefson

• Chandler Downs

• Jaymelina Esmele

• Helen McClenahan 

I have been so impressed by the people and topics our programming leads brought to us in 2019. We will continue that trend in 2020 and strive to schedule programming at least three months in advance so you can plan on which events to attend. Speakers for Q1 of 2020 are already scheduled and on the website. They are:

• Kathryn Grandy, the woman behind the launch of the Cosmic Crisp Apple

• Alan Adams, CEO and Founder of Navazon

• Elanor Bradley, CMO and CCO at Pacific Science Center 

 
Hosting the Annual Meeting at the Yacht Club & Changing the Picnic to Outdoor Cocktails
 
The annual meeting, held at a special location, is prohibitively expensive. Moving forward, the annual meeting program, where we vote in new board members and conduct our annual business, will be held at the Yacht Club.
 
The annual outdoor picnic with the buffet and tent rental is also a significant investment. But everyone loves the great weather and we want to be outside when we can. We are working with the Yacht Club to determine if we can hold our networking and cocktail hour on the lawn. The outdoor cocktail hour would be followed by the meal in our normal space inside the club.
 
A Note on Meals
 
A three-course meal and a glass of wine will continue to be served at every MCEI meeting. We are committed to offering a wide variety of high-quality menu choices and will work with the Yacht Club to deliver those.
 
 
There are 11 Meetings Per Year. There are no August Meetings
 
Following the 2018 member survey, consistently low attendance, and the assessment of our fiscal state, the board voted in 2018 to permanently cancel the August meeting. This was communicated to the membership via email and announced in-person.
 
There has been confusion about this change and it’s clear the board didn’t do a good job sharing that the August meeting was cut. The confusion partly arose from the canceled February 2019 meeting when the snow was bad. We kept the August meeting since February acted as the gap month.
 
There will be no August meeting in 2020. MCEI hosts 11 meetings per year. The dues structure above reflects 11 meetings per year.
 
 
Tell us What You Think
 
We want to hear from you at meetings, over email, on the phone, and anytime in between. This is your organization. The board are just temporary caretakers.
 
Please click here to take a brief survey about the information we shared in this message. We want your reaction to the changes and to determine which of the membership options people may plan to select in 2020. The survey is anonymous.