The Club Payne Board of Directors recently created a new membership category called “Honorary Membership.” The inspiration for this were Bill Chumley, widower of Peggy Payne Chumley, and Jay Taylor, widower of Betsy Rose Taylor.
Peggy and Betsy were not only matriarchs of the Payne Family, but were faithful members of Club Payne since its inception in 2009. Not only were they huge supporters of the Club and the Lone Mountain house, but their husbands were as well. Both Bill and Jay embraced the Payne family and always facilitated their wives active participation in the club.
Since membership in Club Payne brings with it an ownership/dissolution rights in the Byrd Payne Estate, and since our Charter restricts such rights to Payne descendants only, spouses like Bill and Jay essentially lost their connection to the club when they became widowers. This is certainly not in the spirit of our family, so the Club Payne Board of Directors sought to remedy that situation by creating the Honorary Membership.
The Honorary Membership conveys all Club Payne membership rights except ownership and voting rights. Honorary Members can stay at the house at reduced member rates, and will be included in all club correspondence. No dues or donations are required, but an Honorary Member may make donations if they wish. These donations can either go into the general fund or be assigned by them to other Payne descendants. For instance, they may want to assign a donation in the name of one of their children or grandchildren 18 or over.
It has been said before, that some of the best people in our family married into it. The Honorary Membership is our way of recognizing the spouses of our active members.
We love and appreciate you, Bill and Jay!