Meeting the need Every year there is a rise in the number calls for help received by the RNLI's volunteer crews. In 1994 lifeboats launched 6,156 times - itself a record - but just a year later the figure for 1995 stood at 7,312 launches, an increase of almost 20% twelve months.

Even though the crews are volunteers, willingly giving their own time to save lives at sea, each launch still costs a great deal of money. For example an all-weather lifeboat running at operational speed uses £1 worth of fuel in only one-and-a-half minutes. With the increasing sophistication and cost of equipment now needed to effect quick and safe rescues, it is small wonder that it costs £173,000 a day support the lifeboat service.

Over the years as much as 60% of that money has come from legacy gifts in the wills of supporters. Over the past few years the amount received in this way has fallen significantly and in 1995 alone the drop was some £3.5m - which is nearly three weeks' worth of running costs.

New rates and grades Two years ago, when membership subscriptions were last raised, it was decided that the rates would need to be reviewed regularly. If they were kept in line with the RNLI's needs - and not allowed to lag behind - a large and long overdue increase could be avoided.

The fall in legacy income combined with the increasing number of lifeboat launches has meant that the RNLI has had to take a hard look at the other ways in which the service is funded.

New initiatives are already successfully underway, including more effort raise money from commercial concerns, and it is also proposed to increase the membership subscription rates from 1st September, this year, as shown in the table (right).

This increase is not something that the RNLI has done lightly. Indeed, a considerable amount of time was taken to research it with supporters. We also recognise that a great many members are generous enough to give more than the minimum and will not necessarily be affected by the increase.

The opportunity has also been taken to respond to requests from husbands and wives who wish to join at, or move to,a higher joint grade and so a Joint Governor grade will be introduced as from September. Both Joint Governor members will receive an invitation to the AGM and have voting rights - and they will also save some 10% on the individual rates.

Remember that monthly or quarterly instalments by direct debit are available for members subscribing £48 or more per year.

More information about the changes will be included with the membership renewal invitations sent from September 1996 onwards. If you are concerned about the increase in any way please do not hesitate to contact us - we will try our very best to help. Simply phone us on (01202) 663000 and ask for the membership services department.

Membership grades Shoreline Joint Shoreline (husband and wife) Governor Joint Governor (husband and wife) Life Governor Current minimum £10 £17 £33 £500 New minimum from September 1996 £15 £26 £50 £90 £1,000 Storm Force membership rate increase From 1 September 1996, a small subscription increase is planned to allow us to keep pace with inflation. The current membership rate of £3.00 will change to £5.00 - the first increase for 11 years.

NEW - A Stormy Stan Lifeboat Pack will become available through RNLI (Sales) Ltd. These will be initially 'trialled' through our shops during the summer and, if sales are successful, will subsequently be available through our branches and guilds network. The packs will sell for £5.00 each and will contain a registration card to join Storm Force at no extra cost.

For further details, please contact: Storm Force Headquarters, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ. Telephone: (01202) 663000.