I got the idea that maybe the club isnt successful because you said Phil and others had to personally subsidise it, that would suggest a club that is not self sufficient from subs and other revenue avenues.
Please note i am not criticising Phil at all, i have no doubt he works tirelessly for the club, as do most RO's and i think his efforts to listen to some kent scoobies members and try to find a compromise were excellent, even though it ultimately fell on deaf ears. Or course he does his best for the club, it is HIS club, and i didnt suggest anything less.
I was a paid up member, but i didnt rejoin for a couple of reasons. Firstly i didnt get a reminder, i literally logged in one day and was told my inbox was full (obviously as you have reduced storage as a non member) and then i noticed i have no member sign under my name, i didnt know my "time was up" so to speak. Maybe i did get a reminder by pm but maybe it was lost as my inbox went over capacity. Secondly i didnt rejoin because i didnt use any of the benefits of being a member in the first year, so i didnt really see the point.
And maybe most importantly i should say the ads are a minor nuisance, i dont find them offensive but i didnt want a load of people to critcise them and then somone to just say they are helping support the club by the club being able to offer more items at a discount.