Secretary’s report

Another successful year for the Association has now passed and I wish you all Best Wishes for the New Year and a successful 2018 under the leadership of our new Captain Gerry Cotter.

I was delighted to be voted Vice Captain for 2018 and will continue to act as your secretary right through to 2019 with help from the Committee and particularly David Liston as Match Secretary.

Looking at the season ahead, you will get with this newsletter the annual booklet, the usual fixture details with the request that you indicate your interest in the respective fixtures by marking the adjacent boxes. Please where able, give some indication that you might be available at short notice, as this is so important when we have to deal with late withdrawals. We will ensure that everyone gets a game. The returns will be used as the basis of team selection in late March so please ensure you respond by the end of January. It is suggested that you enter your requests in your personal diary to avoid the chance of double bookings and the need to consider cancelling if selected later in the year. We could do with a couple more volunteers to be a match manager so please indicate on the form if you wish to be one.

You are also asked to pay your renewal fee for the season and there is a standing order form available on the website for this to make it a little bit easier for the Treasurer.

The winner of my Crossword in the September Newsletter was John French. Actually he was the only entry but will still get a bottle of wine for his correct entry

MEMBERSHIP

Whilst we show 132 members on the website only 85 actually played in matches and competitions in 2017. Quite a few said they were taking a year out and I hope they decide to rejoin but in reality many will not. We recruited fewer new members in 2017 than 2016 so it is important to try to recruit more now. As you can see from this newsletter only one new member joined since the summer. Age and illness are a factor but it is important that all of us, and especially the Club Ambassadors, do our bit to encourage new members.

I sadly have to report that Geoff Warrington has died. Geoff was Captain and President of Ellesbrough and a keen supporter of our Association being Captain in 1998. He had moved to Weymouth but there will be a memorial service in Aylesbury in the New Year.

Also Alan Kirkpatrick has died after a long illness. Alan was captain of Chiltern Forest in 1980 and had been a member of the association since then. He was the fifth member of the Association to die in 2017.

WEBSITE

I still get requests for information which is on the website. For example an application for new members is on the front page. Also all the information for each match is available from the homepage. Matches always start at 1pm with lunch at 12 and any difference will be notified. Phone numbers and email addresses are in the Booklet in the memberdownloads section. The newsletters are available on the front page and go back for a few years.

Finally please contact me if you have any concerns, issues or requests and I will do what I can to ensure the continuing smooth running, tradition and success of the Association.

Peter Short – Secretary