Commander’s Direct Line: Service Club Published May 1, 2008 FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- The following is a question to the 92nd Air Refueling Wing Commander submitted by a member of Team Fairchild or the local community: Question: I want to know why Club Fairchild requires me to apply for and be granted a credit card before I can utilize the benefits that I spent 20 years of my life earning. Having a credit card should not determine if I can be a member of a service club. Answer: I appreciate this opportunity to address your concerns expressed on this important issue. Club membership is not a prerequisite for service in the club or any other 92nd Services Squadron activity at Fairchild or, for that matter, any other Air Force base around the world. The membership card affords active duty, retired and civilian members an opportunity to take advantage of discounts in their club and other activities that non-members do not receive. However, there are no circumstances whatsoever under which a customer would be refused service in any Services activity at Fairchild because he or she is not a club member. A customer who is not a club member simply would not be able to take advantage of the wide array of discounts available exclusively to club members. This policy came into effect as a result of some lessons learned with respect to improving efficiencies and maximizing savings. In the late 1980's, the Air Force's Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Task Force recommended Services relinquish some of its administrative and business responsibilities, such as billing and collections, to maximize efficiencies. The Air Force found its accounting process was costly and did not provide responsive service to its customers. As a result, inefficient business practices and processes significantly reduced the ability of base Services organizations to fund programs and capital investment opportunities. Additionally, Air Force club members voiced concern about having to cancel and rejoin clubs every permanent-change-of-station move and not being able to use their club membership card at other Air Force Clubs. All told; customer service and quality of life were suffering immensely under the old system... the need for change was apparent. In 1995, after extensive testing over a four-year period, the Air Force Services Agency signed a contract with a national bank to assume the Club Membership Program via a credit card billing program. As a result, benefits to members and the Air Force as a whole have substantially improved. Base Services organizations are no longer responsible for managing and writing off the levels of debt they had in years past, allowing them to reinvest those dollars into the programs and quality of life initiatives that had suffered in previous years. Nevertheless, the program requires all active duty, retired and civilian personnel interested in becoming club members to maintain an account with the bank, but there are varying levels of credit based upon credit scores. Regardless of the level, however, the account is still considered a line of credit. While this is not ideal for some, the overall benefit to the Air Force community is well worth this commitment. One additional benefit to being a Club Fairchild member is that we have recently instituted a new program called "R-U-A FAN" whereby Club members also enjoy discounts at virtually all MWR programs. The bottom line, though, is that all retirees and authorized service members can utilize the Club and other Services activities... member or not. Members, while required to have a credit card, will receive discounts at the club and with MWR services.