Club Newsletter - Winter 2019

Happy New Year to all our members and as we move into 2019, we can look back on 2018 as a very successful year both on and off the green. However, this new year will bring both new opportunities and new challenges for the club.

On the horizon of course are the Atlantic Championships which will be held at our club alongside other clubs in Cardiff and the Vale. The Atlantic Championships will be held at the club over 12 days starting on 10th May 2019, and the green will be closed to members for the duration of this event. We are also expecting requests for practice time on the green for the visiting teams in the week leading up to the start of the tournament, so green space might be also restricted during this period.

We have had a taste of what will be expected from us earlier in 2018 when we co-hosted the 10 Nation event, but this year will be an altogether larger event with many more teams competing over a longer duration. We are in regular contact with the competition organisers regarding the arrangements that will need to be put in place but, as always, we will be calling on the support of our club members to ensure that we are able to showcase the club at the highest standard, both in terms of hospitality, facilities and, of course, our world class green. The committee would like to appoint a lead event coordinator / liaison officer to put in place and finalise the arrangements for the event so if there is anyone that would like to take on this role for the Atlantic Championships would you please let a member the committee know as soon as possible.

And whilst we are thinking about roles and responsibilities for 2019, it was particularly disappointing in the Annual General Meeting that we were unable to fill many of the key positions that will help to move the club forward. In 2017, we agreed a five year plan for the club but this plan can only be delivered if our members put themselves forward for key positions of responsibility. As things stand, we are looking for nominations for a number of important positions as follows:

• Club Treasurer
• Club Captain
• Club Vice Captain
• Club Catering Manager
• Bar Manager
• Sponsorship & Events Officer
• Profile and Media Officer
• Recruitment and Coaching Officer

If we are to achieve our plans and objectives, it is essential that these roles are undertaken by club members or there is a risk that the club will go in to decline like so many other bowling clubs. We have a healthy stable membership so it just needs more people to put some time in to helping the club to grow and develop. In our Spring meeting we will be opening up nominations for these positions and it is hoped that we will receive enough nominations from members willing to undertake these roles.

If anyone has visited the club over the winter period, you will have seen that there has been a great deal of work undertaken to ready ourselves for the new season. Firstly in order to better maintain our green during what will be a heavy season of use, we have replaced and updated our sprinkler system to ensure more even coverage. And we have also undertaken a complete kitchen refurbishment to put in place a purpose-built kitchen for members. I would like to thank all those that have contributed to this work particularly Dave Snelling and Russell Harris for the work on the green and Peter Rogers, Paul Shepherd, Keith Selley, and Lol Paige on the great job on the kitchen. And, with thanks to our friends in the wider Athletic club, we now have a WiFi signal in the club for the benefit of members.

Over the winter, I am pleased to be able to let you know that we have renewed our sponsorship deal with our premier sponsor, the King William IV for a further three years. As a result we have been able to design and supply new playing shirts for all Tier One club members which will be ready at the start of the season. Orders for sizes for the shirts will be taken at the Spring meeting which will be held earlier this year to ensure that the playing shirts will be available for our first games - please look out for this date which will be notified in the next couple of weeks. We are also looking for a small number new sponsors for this season so if anyone would like to suggest a business that might look to benefit from sponsoring the club then we have a number of sponsorship options available for the 2019 season.

Can I take this opportunity to remind members that club subscriptions are now due and I am pleased to let you know that the club committee have agreed to maintain subscriptions at the same level as 2018 which are:

• Tier 1 Full playing membership: £110 per annum
• Tier 2 Playing Membership: £50*
• New Player Tier 1 Membership (for first season only): £55
• Junior Membership (under 16) - Free
• Student Membership (over 16 and following a full time course of further education) - £35
• Social Membership: £25
• Green Fees for non-members: £2 per session

* Tier 2 Members are not eligible for selection for club matches, nor entry to club competitions. Tier 2 members will be able to purchase items of club wear at full retail price and will not receive complimentary playing shirts .

The Treasurer will be happy to forward details of the club’s bank account for any members that want to pay their fees direct online or to set up a monthly standing order. Please note that if membership subscriptions are not paid by May 1st 2019 then your membership will lapse and you will not be considered eligible for selection

And finally, one date that you can all add to the diary is our 2019 season opening day, which this year will be on Saturday 13th April 2019. Weather permitting, there will be usual fare of friendly competitive play and refreshments available so it is hoped that many of our members will turn out to kick the 2019 season on a positive note.

Richard Bowen

Club Chairman