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Show NEWS .Jan. 26, 1990 Hilltop Times - Co mmand club cred 1 card s a ves mon ey 1 by John R. Fortuna Director, AFLC Morale, Welfare and Recreation WRIGHT-PATTERSO- AFB, N Ohio (AFLCNS) Several people have asked why Air Force Logistics Command is converting to a new club card and why it's necessary for members to apply for a MasterCard to be a club member. Although the new AFLC club card provides attractive features for the individual, the bottom line is that it saves money for the club system. First, we will no longer have to maintain accounts . and run the billing system. The savings will be somewhat offset by what the bank charges us; however, there is still a net gain in dollars to the club system. Secondly, the new program will convert the money that was previously tied up in accounts receivable into cash, since the bank instantly credits the club account with the money when you charge with the new card. It's called an e system. Why is it mandatory for each member to apply for a MasterCard? v Basically, banks weren't interested in carrying our accounts unless there was some assurance that a large proportion of bur membership would get the on-lin- MasterCard. The relationship has to be profitable for the bank, as well as for our clubs. The key ingredient of profitability is the number of club members who hold the MasterCard. TBinrae 5s btow Why switch to the AFLC club card at all? The simple answer is economics. In the past, this might not have been necessary. Now it is. Congress has directed that business activities-clu- bs, bowling centers, golf courses be starting Oct. 1. On that date, club systems throughout the Department of Defense will lose all direct appropriated fund support. Within the command that means making up a loss of approximately $2 million a year. The AFLC club card is one way to help make up the funding loss. We estimate recovering several hundred thousand dollars with this system. ; But we are not relying solely on that step. ; No Annual MasterCard Grace Period Our club will and managers develop implement inMembership Fee Monthly AFLC Club Dues dividual plans to deal with the impending loss of A Low Annual Percentage Rate Billing funds through innovative programs which increase Account Information Ability To Revolve AFLC Purchases ... First Time Cash Access At GulfNet participation, improve service and streamline operAvailable! And Plus System Automated ations. Teller Machines Automated Payment Processing We ask you to support the AFLC club card, as In Convenience Checks That Let You Charging Privileges Major MWR And Billeting Activities Transfer Balances From Other well as any new initiatives your club manager will Credit Cards h Throughout The Command be introducing in the near future. Worldwide Acceptance If you have questions as to why we are implement ing the new club card or other programs, please take In order to get banks to bid on the contract, we the time to discuss them with your club manager had to require club members to apply for the Master- or the chief, Morale, Welfare and Recreation DiCard. Making it mandatory, and therefore more like- vision. .. '"' to be also for the These new programs are good for the clubs, and ly profitable bank, helps hold down the cost that the bank charges us for running Jhp with your full support they will make your club a system. We have very attractive rates. better, more enjoyable facility. self-supporti- - 25-D- ' ur ur V ; : . - m smd ft New AFLC card a must for club members propriated to the clubs through Congress have led to the conversion to the new club card system. The conversion is expected to save thousands of dollars annually in accounting expenses, improve cash flow, reduce loss and help assure survival of the clubs in the by Michelle Ruff MWR marketing director Membership privileges will soon end for members of the Hill AFB Officers' and Noncommissioned Officers' clubs who have not yet filled out an application for the new Air Force Logistics ' Command club card. After Feb. 1, the only acceptable club identification card will be the new .. card. ." "Club members who have not yet applied for their new card, as well as those military and civilian workers who are interested in becoming club members, need to apply immediately." said Maj. Steven Zamparelli, chief of Hill's Morale, Welfare and Recreation Division. Reductions in financial support ap . '90s. Commercial credit cards will soon become the standard for club cards Air ' Forcewide. John Fortuna, AFLC nonappropriated funds comptroller, said, "If the open messes are to survive into the 1990s, we must seek out new and better ways to expand markets, increase club membership and reduce operating . ng costs. "Our command open messes are faced with the prospect of losing in ex- cess of $2 million in appropriated fund support by the end of the fiscal year. This meant we had choices of cutting services to the bone, closing some open messes or creating new ways to reduce operating costs and enhance cash flow. We chose the latter." Since October, almost 75 percent of officers' club and NCO club members have converted. This figure is just short of the 80 percent conversion rate expected at this time. The deficit is a "source of concern for MWR officials, since dues offset a large portion of club operating expenses. Officials are aware that filling out a new application is an inconvenience, but they are trying to make the conversion as smooth as possible by sending forms and envelopes to members' homes. "Many members have voiced concern because the AFLC club card is also a credit card. The truth is, this card is simply a club card from which , self-address- " you will be billed your monthly club membership dues," Major Zamparelli said. Each club member chooses whether or not to use this card, or any other Visa or MasterCard, to charge. If not, the only billing will be for the NCO or officers' club dues, and wives' club and aero club dues if applicable. "Once you sign up, I'm sure you will find the quality of billing services to be as good or better than under the old card. The new AFLC club card will also provide additional benefits for those who choose to use them. Those account inforf benefits include mation from a touch-ton- e phone and access to automated teller machines located all over the world." i Applications are available at the cashier's cage of both clubs and at most other MWR facilities. For more information on the new system, call the Hill Officers' Club at Ext. 72525, the Hill NCO Club at Ext. 73841 or the MWR Division Office at Ext. 73611. 24-ho- ur . Operating vehicle on Hill flightline requires caution Could be by MSgt. Vasco M. Campos dangerous Though this vehicle is safe and was set up for the photo, drivers on the flightline have to use caution and obey all the rules, to ensure incidents between planes and automobiles don't happen. 1881st Communications Squadron Operating a vehicle on the flightline is pretty serious business wherever you go in the Air Force. One mistake and lives could be lost, as well as millions of dollars in damages to an aircraft or other expensive equipment. Careful attention and strict adherence to flight-lin- e safety precautions will prevent a disaster. There are many rules and common sense practices to follow to safely mix vehicular and aircraft traffic. First of all, prior to operating any vehicle on the flightline, you must obtain a flightline driver's license. Next, you must receive a briefing from your vehicle control officer or noncommissioned officer and abnorregarding the base's flightline specifics ' ; ' malities. Hill's tower controls all ground traffic (motor vehicle as well' as aircraft) on the movement area. The movement area is the entire runway and taxiways 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 9 as well as the north and south runup areas. Vehicles operating on the movement area must . ' ' : . U.S. Air Force Photo If you find yourself on the flightline and are not radio communications with the conhave two-waof your position or whether you should be there, sure tower. trol 1 look on toward the control tower for light gun signals. There are a few vehicles operating taxiway All vehicles communicawho don't have to establish operating on the Hill flightline must tower or obtain tower ap- have a light signal placard posted inside the vehitions with before operating on this taxiway, but must cle within plain view of the driver. All flightline veproval the monitor appropriate radio net in order to be hicle operators must be familiar with these signals. It is the driver's only contact with the control towresponsive to tower instructions. Before entering the runway for any reason, you er in case of radio failure. When driving in the flightline environment, give must have specific permission from the.control tower. Hand-helradios can be obtained from Hill Base way to all aircraft. Play it safe. An aircraft is a valuOperations, located in the north side of Hangar 1. able asset, but a life is worth much more. y two-wa- y the-contr- d |