Dear Valued Members of The Connection,

As a non-profit organization, our mission is to strengthen our community by providing essential resources, programs, and a safe, welcoming facility. We are profoundly grateful for your continuous membership, which makes all our work possible.

Investing in Our Community
We are thrilled to share that thanks to your support, we have been able to make significant investments in enhancing our facility and ensuring its longevity. Over the past year, we committed over $242,000 to critical upgrades, including:

• The creation of our fantastic new Game Garden.
• Necessary water intrusion and foundation repairs to secure the building’s future.
• New, welcoming interior flooring and safer walkways.
• Upgrades to our locker room showers.
• Enhanced security cameras and a fully resurfaced parking lot.

These projects ensure The Connection remains a beautiful, safe, and modern place for you and your family for years to come.

Navigating Rising Costs
While our commitment to accessibility and value remains, we are currently facing considerable budget pressure from double-digit increases in core operating costs, including energy, insurance, and key goods and services.

To responsibly manage these external pressures while continuing to invest in our facility and maintain the high quality of our programs, we must make two necessary adjustments, effective January 1, 2026.

1. Membership Rate Adjustment
Effective January 1, 2026, membership rates will increase by approximately 3%. This adjustment directly aligns with local inflation rates, which were 3% as of September 2025 (per the CPI), allowing us to keep pace with the rising costs of maintenance and daily operation.

2. Credit Card Fee Adjustment
To give us critical relief regarding payment processing expenses, we will begin charging credit card transaction fees of 3% for credit card payments, effective January 1, 2026.

Please note that we will continue to offer several payment options that allow you to avoid these fees entirely:

• ACH (Automated Clearing House) bank draft
• Debit Cards (input as you would a credit card) 
• Checks
• Cash

Our Commitment to Staff
Crucially, in making these tough financial decisions, we remain committed to taking care of the dedicated employees who serve our members every day. We are proud to offer meaningful compensation adjustments, health care coverage, and a 401k plan with matching funds, ensuring our staff remains supported and able to continue supporting our community.

We understand that any fee or rate adjustment can be challenging, and we appreciate your understanding as we navigate these financial realities. Every penny helps us maintain our beautiful facility, deliver essential programs, and keep our mission thriving.

Thank you for being a vital part of The Connection family. We look forward to seeing you at The Connection in 2026!

Very Respectfully,
Chris Bonner
Executive Director