In the previous edition of MCC News, we outlined to members a proposal designed to achieve the committee’s long-term aim of maintaining an acceptable waiting time for membership.

Among a number of other rule changes put to Full members at the Annual General Meeting on August 12, the core of the proposal was the introduction of a third tier of membership, to be called Provisional, that carries fewer benefits and more limited access to the Members Reserve than those provided to Full and Restricted members.

The proposal was approved by Full members at the meeting, with more than 70 per cent voting in favour.  However,  in accordance with the Club Rules, a resolution was passed to put the rule changes to the entire Full membership for consideration by postal vote.

Of the 18,719 votes cast before voting closed on September 11, more than 67 per cent voted in favour, which was more than the required 50 per cent to successfully pass the motion.

Provisional membership now becomes the first step in the flow of membership before Restricted, and then Full. It serves to give waiting list candidates a membership during the period when they would otherwise be waiting for Restricted membership.

The club has since elected its first intake of Provisional members, with offers posted to eligible waiting list candidates in late-October. Based on historical acceptance rates, it is expected that 8000 candidates will have accepted Provisional membership before the membership season ends next August.

By reducing the number and type of events, and facilities within the Reserve, that Provisional members will have access to, the introduction of these new members is expected to have minimal impact on the use of the Members Reserve by existing members.

As noted by president Steven Smith in his column (page 3), the club has taken careful note of the concerns of those members who did not support the Provisional membership proposal.  The offer made to candidates included some revisions to the original proposal to assist in accommodating some of those concerns.

We understand and respect those concerns and will carefully monitor and implement measures as necessary to minimise their impact on members' use and enjoyment of the Members Reserve.

To manage capacity and comfort for existing members, the club will place each MCG event into a category according to expected demand in the Reserve (see table). 

Provisional members will have no access to the Reserve on the first two days of this year’s Boxing Day Test, with a sliding scale of access and benefits according to event category for all other cricket days this summer.

Arrangements for the 2016 AFL season will be confirmed in January and communicated shortly thereafter, as will plans for improved and additional food and beverage facilities for members.

Provisional membership summary

Event	Access to Reserve	Dining bookings	Long Room or Balcony passes	Visitor tickets	Reserved seats
Category 1	No access
Category 2	Levels 1 and 4	No	No	0	Level 4
Category 3	Levels 1 and 4	No	No	2	Levels 1 and 4
Category 4	All levels	Yes	Yes	2	Levels 1 and 4
Domestic	All levels	Yes	Yes	4	N/A

Note:

• Category 1 – Forecast is more than 18,000 members and guests in Reserve.
• Category 2 – Forecast is between 15,000 and 18,000.
• Category 3 – Forecast is between 8000 and 15,000.
• Category 4 – Forecast is fewer than 8000.