We would like to advise members that CMCA has made another statement regarding the effects of Coronavirus/COVID-19 on the Club and a 6-month membership extension for all CMCA members! 

CMCA Statement (7) – Coronavirus/COVID-19 – Important Update                                         6 April 2020

As we continue going through these unprecedented times together, the physical and mental health and well-being of the members, staff and volunteers of CMCA remains our first priority. But there is also the financial side of this crisis that cannot be ignored – the fall of the stock market, the lowering of interest rates, the decrease in business activity and resulting loss of many jobs and the seemingly increasing costs of basic food and other necessities. One balance to that has been the lower fuel prices.

The board and management are united in their efforts to ensure this Club and its members come out of the coronavirus ‘tunnel’ in the best possible way – so that we can all move forward and enjoy the happier times that will eventually return. When that is, no one can answer with any surety.

We do realise that many members are disappointed. This crisis has affected everyone – some more than others – but everyone has been affected in some way. Unfortunately, the virus, we are being told and witnessing, seems to have a greater effect on a vast number of our members due to age and/or pre-existing medical conditions. That is something we cannot control. But there is something the board can do.

To recognise, through no fault of the Club or its members, that a significant amount of member benefits are currently not available, last Friday the board unanimously, with the full support of management and staff, made the decision to extend all CMCA memberships, current as at 1 April 2020, for six months. That means that if your expiry date was 1 April 2020, it will now be 1 October 2020 or 1 July 2020, it will now be 1 January 2021 and so on.

To explain further and answer some questions you may have:

• When we say every member, we mean just that – all those who have just renewed their membership, those who are due in the next six months, those who are due in the next year and all those who have pre-paid for multi-year memberships.  Everyone will be extended by six-months.
• We will not be reissuing new physical membership cards, but your electronic card on the CMCA Connect app will be updated in due course.  
• Those members who have been offering to extend or renew their membership early to assist the Club financially or show their ongoing support – we say thank you. And yes, you can still do this and get the six months extra added in.
• Members who have paid, as part of their membership fees, for the delivery of a hard copy The Wanderer till their renewal date, will continue to receive The Wanderer posted to them during the six-month extension.
• To be fair to those members who have recently chosen not to renew, for many reasons including financial and inability to travel, you will be shortly contacted by one of our staff. You will be offered the chance to re-join at the normal cost of $44 but receive eighteen months of membership.
• We are aware that some members endeavour to coincide their CMCA membership renewal dates with their KTA insurance renewals, we apologise that this could cause an inconvenience, however the board and management have implemented this extension in the best interest of all members.
• This extension does not stop members continuing to renew as previous it just means your expiry date will be adjusted 6 months in the future.

The board has taken this decision to support our members who have continued to support the Club over the years and particularly during this crisis. We want you to be able to enjoy the Club’s benefits when current social distancing and travel restrictions have been removed. This Club has planned well over the years and the continued support of the members has provided us with the reserves to be able to undertake this without posing any financial threat to the Club.

We must continue to work together to beat COVID-19. Please keep safe and abide by all guidelines that have been established regarding essential travel, border restrictions, closures, self- isolation, social-distancing and when and how to seek medical advice/treatment – for more information please refer to https://www.health.gov.au/ or download the new Coronavirus Australia app.

On behalf of all directors, thank you again for your continued support of both the Club and actions needed to overcome COVID-19.

Kim Atkinson                                                                                     Richard Barwick

Chairman                                                                                            Chief Executive Officer

Read the PDF HERE!

Page Last Updated: Monday, 6 April 2020 12:00 AM, Session: