IMPORTANT NOTICE  

May 2009 marks the 3rd anniversary of the Edmonton Blues Society.  During the past 3 years membership fees, guests’ admission fees and bar prices have remained the same while our costs have been steadily increasing. Recent liquor price increases due to the Government of Alberta’s revenue generation initiative announced in the 2009 Budget to increase the mark-up applied to all types of liquor products has resulted in a major increase in the EBS bar expenses. Therefore, effective Saturday, May 23rd, the prices at the EBS bar will increase as follows: 

The hall rental, insurance, sound production and band payments have also risen substantially. When EBS was formed in 2006, our policy was to ask bands to play without monetary compensation and to rely on volunteers to act as sound technicians. We have since revised our policy to provide compensation to bands and the sound technician. All of this has resulted in our fixed costs per event increasing steadily from $350 in 2006 to $1100 in 2009.

If EBS is to continue providing the caliber of music and sound that we’ve become accustomed to and remain a viable society, we must increase our membership and admission fees accordingly. The EBS Board is proposing an increase for the 2009/2010 season. All memberships purchased or renewed on or after September 19, 2009 will be subject to the new rates.

We have created a new forum topic at this link to gather input from our members on this proposal. We welcome your comments and suggestions at this forum topic until July 15th. Our bylaws also provide that any change in membership fees must be approved at a general meeting. Discussion and voting on membership and admission fee increases will take place at the Edmonton Blues Society General Meeting to be held on September 12th, 2009. All members in good standing are encouraged to attend this important General Meeting.

Sincerely,
The Edmonton Blues Society Board of Directors