Sport & Reha Freising increases fees: New board to close financial gap

At its annual general meeting, Sport & Reha Freising reorganized the club's leadership – and at the same time responded to noticeably increased ongoing costs. The members decided against sectional fees and in favor of raising the uniform annual fee from 84 to 120 euros.

New club leadership takes over – Continuity in key positions

At the head of the club in the future will be Mechthild Hamberger as 1st Chairwoman, with Heike Miller elected as 2nd Chairwoman. Sabine Lotz will assume the office of 3rd Chairwoman in accordance with the statutes, Werner Brisch will remain on the board as an assessor. Renate Schwabe was re-elected as treasurer, Richard Klehr as secretary, Dagmar Sixt and Paul Podolinsky as assessors, as well as Antje Deutschmann and Franz Schwaiger as cash auditors.

The orderly transition is more than a formality for the club: Two years ago, according to its own account, Sport & Reha Freising faced an existential problem because for a long time no one could be found for the chairmanship; only when Sabine Lotz made herself available was a dissolution averted.

Hamberger justified her candidacy with her responsibility towards the club: "As a member, I feel closely connected to Sport & Reha. I made myself available for the position of chairwoman to prevent the dissolution of the club." According to her own statement, club leadership is new territory for Hamberger; at the same time, she brings many years of commitment to the Freising sports scene, including in inclusive sports. She described her main goal as leading the club in such a way that members continue to feel well cared for.

Why the pressure is growing: More offerings, higher fixed costs, fewer subsidies

The financial situation is currently considered the central construction site. Sport & Reha Freising has 279 members, including 207 women. The offerings are particularly aimed at people who want to stay active and find community even at an older age – a profile that often comes with high demand for courses and corresponding organizational effort.

With increasing membership numbers, additional training sessions have been set up in several departments, including:

• Bioning
• Fistball
• Gymnastics
• Bowling
• Line Dance
• Nordic Walking
• Seated Gymnastics
• Water Gymnastics
• Yoga

But this very growth has a downside: When training operations are expanded, so do fees, association dues, and hall costs – and thus those items that can only be controlled to a limited extent in clubs in the short term.

For 2025, the club estimated the additional expenses at:

• 2200 euros for trainers
• 1300 euros for association dues
• 3300 euros for hall rentals

Ultimately, that's 7000 euros in additional costs that are no longer covered by membership fees.

Additionally, it weighs in that "for two years now, subsidies from the Sparkasse have failed to materialize" – a circumstance that causes reserves to shrink more quickly.

This clearly outlines the challenge for the new board: It's not about a single outlier in the budget, but about permanently higher ongoing costs, especially for hall fees and mandatory dues. Such structural additional burdens can, as experience shows, only be absorbed through a mix of income adjustments, sponsorship, and consistent expense management.

Uniform fee instead of sectional model – Members choose the simple way

An alternative fee model was also discussed: sectional fees, where cost-intensive offerings are priced higher. The idea is obvious, because some areas – such as water gymnastics or bowling – are usually more expensive for a club to organize than offerings that require less infrastructure.

However, the members rejected this model. Instead, they decided on a general increase in the annual fee from 84 to 120 euros. A solution to authorize the club committee to adjust the fee in the fall if necessary also did not find a majority.

The decision follows the club's self-image as a broadly based community offering: A uniform fee reduces administrative effort, avoids debates about boundaries between departments, and keeps membership easy to calculate. At the same time, the model means that the club bears cost increases collectively – an approach that is often deliberately chosen in clubs with a strong social character.

Saving, sponsors, small adjustments: Where the club is also taking action

In addition to the fee increase, the club discussed further measures to increase income or reduce expenses. Mentioned were the search for sponsors as well as concrete savings steps in everyday club life. For example, the bus for the club trip to Inzell on Saturday, June 13, will no longer be free in the future. In addition, invitations and information could increasingly be sent by email instead of by post to reduce ongoing costs.

This marks the beginning of a phase for the new board in which financial stabilization and club identity must be brought together: The offerings are to be maintained, while at the same time the cost base must realistically match income. The decision to increase the fee initially gives the club some breathing room – but sustainable consolidation will depend on whether additional sources of income can be tapped and expenses permanently limited without diluting the profile of Sport & Reha Freising.