FAQ

Q. With Boeing leaving Wichita can I still keep my membership?
A. If you retire you will always be able to have a retiree membership at SBEA. If you are laid off you can keep a membership for 4 years. If you are still working for Boeing but are being transferred and want to retain your membership you can. We have several options available for memberships please call 316-522-2996 and we will be glad to help see what options are available for you.

Q. What happened to BEA when Boeing sold?
A. Many of you have called and asked that question. Your SBEA membership did not change. Boeing does not own SBEA. We are member-owned and NOT for sale. We have been your Employees’ Association since 1937. We will continue to be your Employees’ Association whether you are a Boeing employee or a Spirit Aerosystem employee. The only change that will happen is a name change: Spirit/Boeing Employees’ Association. We want to continue to serve you in our stores and at our lake facility. The only goal we have for the future is to strive to improve SBEA in every way we can.

Q. I am retiring and want to know if I can keep my membership in the SBEA?
A. When you retire from Boeing or Spirit, and do not go to work for the other company, you are eligible to keep you membership current. Bring something to show your retirement status down to the lake or the lake office and it will cost you $50 a year. If you would like to have a newsletter mailed to your home every month this cost will be $10. The Spirit Boeing Today newsletter is available to view for free at www.beatoday.com or you can have it email to you simply by filling out the form on the back of the newsletter with your email address and send it to Stephanie at K30-35 or email it to her steph@beatoday.com.

Q. What about payroll deductions for purchases at the SBEA Store?
A. If you are a SBEA member you are allowed 2 payroll deductions per month. Deductions must be at least $25, and if your purchases total over $100 you may choose whether they come out of 1 or 2 paychecks. Each payroll deduction can not go over $300. If your account balance goes over $600 for any reason your account will be stopped until you have it paid down to $300. If for any reason your account is not paid off in 60 days you will not be allowed to do any more payroll deductions until the full amount is paid in full. If a member does 2 payroll deductions in one week the deductions will be added together and processed as 1 deduction.

(SBEA has the right to put a stop to all payroll deductions at any given time.)

Q. My spouse is a member. Am I eligible to process a payroll deduction?
A. Yes! If your spouse is a member, and you also work at Boeing or Spirit, you are a member through their membership and this entitles you to do a payroll deduction. However, you must take the deduction out of your check, not your spouse’s.

Q. What are the numbers (1-12) on the back of my membership card for?
A. As a SBEA member, you are allowed to bring 24 free guests into the lake per year. A free guest pass is good for 1 day at the facility. Your membership card will be punched to allow your guest admittance to the lake. If you are camping and you stay more than 1 day a second punch per guest will be added to your card. If you use all your free passes, there is a daily charge to bring in a guest: $3 for adults and $1 for children 5 -13 (under 4 free). As the member you are responsible for the behavior of your guests.

Q. Can my spouse bring in a guest for free on my membership?
A. Yes they can, all they need to do is bring with them the membership card and their spouse membership card, so we can punch the free guest on the membership card. Dependents 18 years and over may bring in 1 guest by paying a guest fee or presenting their card and the member’s card to be punched for free admittance. Guests may NOT stay at the lake without the member or spouse of the member present. If you bring in guests and you leave the lake, your guests must also leave the lake.

Q. Why do special event tickets sell for one price and then increase in price towards the day of the event?
A. The reason we have this price increase in tickets about 2 weeks before the date of the event is because we must order food and sometimes hire extra help. The committee changed the ticket policy for this type of events because we were having problems with people waiting until the last minute to buy their tickets and then we would not have enough food or enough gaming tables. They hoped that by raising the cost of the tickets two weeks prior to the event when we had to call in food that it would help alleviate this problem and encourage them to buy their tickets early.

Q. I want to have a large picnic at the SBEA lake. Can I reserve the pavilion at the lake?
A. Yes you can. Call 316-522-2996 to find out what the procedure is and if the day you want to reserve the pavilion is available. The receptionist will explain the procedure and the cost associated. You may check out the rental facilities at the SBEA web site. www.beatoday.com or www.spirit.beatoday.com. Go to the lake page and at the bottom of the page is links to each building.

Q. How can I keep up with all the current activities?
A. The SBEA has a newsletter online at www.beatoday.com you can check out or have it emailed to you each month. It’s called Spirit/Boeing Today.

3Q. Someone told me that I could pay my Weststar and Wichita Water bill at the SBEA Store. Is that true?
A. Yes, you need to have your bill (Weststar or Wichita Water) in sealed envelopes. Just give it to a SBEA employee. They will take care of it for you.

Q. Does the SBEA provide notary service?
A. Yes we do. There is no cost to SBEA members. If you are not a member, the cost is $2.00. Call ahead at 316-522-2996 or at 316-526-2111 to see if the notary is available. The main store, strut store, IPB3 store and administration office all offer notary service.

Q. I heard there is a private lake for SBEA members. Where is it located at?
A. Yes there is a 55 acre private lake at 4226 S. Gold. We stock the lake monthly with a variety of fish including trout in the winter and bass, crappie, catfish in the summer months. There is a pavilion, volleyball courts, softball fields, playgrounds, 46 fishing docks and a lake store.

Q. Do I need a fishing license to fish at the lake?
A. No, we are a private lake so you do not have to have a Kansas State Fishing license.

Q. Can I put a boat on the lake?
A. Yes you can however, there are certain requirements. Please check Boating Rules for details.

Q. What are the lake hours?
A. The hours for the lake varies on the time of the year. Check the lake page for hours and days.

Q. I heard that the SBEA has a hunter safety class. When is it?
A. We do offer a hunter safety course for free through the SBEA. We usually have the class in September. Watch your Spirit/Boeing Today for dates and times. We usually start advertising for enrollment two months in advance.

Q. Can I get discounted movie tickets through the SBEA?
A. Yes, tickets must be bought at a SBEA store.

Q. Why can’t I buy concert tickets up to the day of the concert if they haven’t sold out?
A. On events at the Cotillion you can purchase them up to the day of the event. All other concerts we call in the tickets we have sold each day, and then we have to pick up the tickets from the ticket agency and get them back out to the stores where the tickets where order from. So we have to close the ticket sales to these concerts at least a week early to get all the paper work done, and get the tickets to the customer in time for the concert.

Q. Why are the items in the stores marked with two different prices?
A. The two different prices on merchandise is member price and non-member price. The lower price is member cost.

Q. I forgot to buy my movie tickets before I left work. Can I buy them anywhere else?
A. The lake store at 4226 S. Gold sells all the tickets that the stores in the plant sell. They are open Wednesday through Sunday. The hours depend on the time of year.

Q. Can I get my wife a card so she can get her discounts at the merchants around town?
A. Yes, there are family cards for the spouse and any children between the ages of 14 – 20 living at home with the member. You may pick up a family card application at any SBEA store or call 316-522-2996 and ask for one to be mailed to you.

Q. I have lost my SBEA membership card. What do I need to do to get another card?
A. The cost of a replacement membership card is $1.50. Visit any SBEA store and fill out a duplicate membership form. Within 2 weeks your new lamented card will be mailed to your company mail code. If you have a duplicate card and go to the lake facility you will be required to show your card and a picture ID.

Q. Does the SBEA sell memberships to the Kansas Aviation Museum, or any other discounts with them?
A. You must show your SBEA card at the door to get $2 off admission or $10 off a yearly membership.

Q. Does the SBEA rent boats at the SBEA lake?
A. Yes we rent boats for fishing and we also rent paddle boats. Call the lake store and inquire at 316-522-5966.

Q. If I have a problem with one of the vendors in the merchant discount book who do I call?
A. Please take time to call Missy at 316-522-2996 and tell her the problem so she can check with the vendor and correct the problem.

Q. How do I cancel my SBEA membership?
A. Pick up a green cancellation card up at any SBEA store. Fill out the form and attached all current membership cards (member, spouse and family cards). Turn the form with attached cards back in to the SBEA clerk. This process takes about 2 – 3 weeks.

Q. I have something I would like to discuss with all the Board members. How do I go about doing this?
A. The Board members have several meetings in a month. It would depend on the item you would like to discuss with them. Per our by-laws all members are welcome to attend. If you have an item for discussion you need to submit it in writing 5 days in advance so we can get it on the agenda and get prepared to discuss the item. You may call 522-2996 and visit with Trish Pulliam.

Q. My neighbor is a fireman with the Wichita Fire Department. I heard he can now join the SBEA. Where can I get more information for him?
A. The Board has extended the opportunity to join SBEA to the armed services and emergency relief personnel. firemen, policemen, EMS etc. They can join at the administration office at 4226 S Gold. For more information contact the office at 522-2996.

Q. I am getting laid off and wondered if I was eligible to keep up my SBEA membership?
A. Yes you can keep up your membership up to 4 years after you have been laid off. You must pay for your dues at the SBEA Administration Office at the lake. They are open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Q. What happened to SBEA when the Boeing Company sold?
A. Many of you have called and asked that question. Your SBEA membership did not change. Boeing does not own SBEA. We are member-owned and NOT for sale. We have been your Employees’ Association since 1937. We will continue to be your Employees’ Association whether you are a Boeing employee or a Spirit employee. The only change that has happened is a name change: Spirit/Boeing Employees’ Association. We want to continue to serve you in our stores and at our lake facility. The only goal we have for the future is to strive to improve SBEA in every way we can.